VILNIUS AND JERUSALEM SIGNED A LETTER OF INTENT
Signing the Letter of Intent both parties acknowledged that it would be the first step towards new two-sided cooperation in the field of culture, science, sport and education. During the course of conversation with the Senior Deputy Mayor of
“Our aim is to pursue links which united us in the past, unite us at present and will unite us in future,“ Vilnius City Mayor Juozas Imbrasas stated.
Until the signing Vilnius City Municipality had not been in a formal bilateral cooperation with the Municipality of Jerusalem or other local authorities of Israel.
The meeting was attended by the Director of Jerusalem Cinematheque Yigal Hayo who took interest in the culture programme of “
Kaddish (Requiem) for Holocaust Victims and the educational programme ( 23 August 2009). The Jewish community has left a lasting imprint on the spiritual heritage of Vilnius. By activating this heritage the effort is made to commemorate those departed whose work and lives had a great impact on the world: Jascha Heifetz, Chaim Soutine, Jacques Lipchitz, the Great Cantors and, the greatest authority on Judaism of all time, Vilna Gaon Eliyahu, among others.
The programme will include a specially written oratory by Anatolijus Šenderovas to be performed by Lithuanian and foreign artists together on the 23rd of August. The oratory will reflect the art of Jewish cantors, the influence Jewish culture had on Vilnius, and a modern interpretation of the past. The concert will be held in the form of a mystery play with religious highlights (men’s choir and a cantor, sounds of a shofar horn), elements of secular culture (orchestra and soloists) and music (klezmorim) and the effects of contemporary rhythms (percussionist group), light and lasers.
The premiere will be followed by the educational programme on the Jewish Holocaust in Lithuania that was specially designed for Vilnius schoolchildren.
The purpose of the 3rd World Congress of Litvaks (23-31 August 2009) is to support and develop the contacts among Litvaks scattered throughout the world. The Congress held in Vilnius, the land of Litvak fathers, will promote mutual cooperation, address hot issues in today’s life of Litvaks concerning more active involvement of Litvaks in the economic, cultural, etc. fields of Lithuanian life. The International Scientific Conference Upholding of Yiddish Culture will take place during the Congress.
The Congress is to remind Vilnius residents and guests of Vilnius as the city of unique Judaism, which deserved the name of Lithuanian Jerusalem. It was known for its spiritual sages such as Vilna Gaon, artists, scholars and Jewish education system. Well-known Litvaks, world-famous celebrities and Nobel Prize laureates with Litvak origins plan to attend the Congress.
The guests will be provided with an opportunity to learn about the present life of Lithuanian and Vilnius Jewish Communities that despite Holocaust and emigration have survived and are thriving.
The Klezmer Festival (27-31 August 2009) that will take place during the Third Litvak Congress has been in existence for several years and is analogous to the Klezmer Festival in Krakow, which attracts worldwide attention. The Vilnius event will feature concerts in public areas and concert halls by Jewish folk music artists and world renowned Klezmer musicians like Frank London.
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