Five memorial stones (Stolpersteine) will be unveiled in Vilnius on May 17 2022 by Lithuanian Society of Art Historians in order to mark the last residences of five Jewish artists before their forced imprisonment in the ghetto. This commemorates Liza Daiches (1914–1944), Bencion Michtom (1909–1941), Fania (Uma) Olkienicka-Lerer (1899–1943 / 44), Rachel (Roza) Suckever-Ushaeva (1904–1943) and Jacob Sher (1890 -1944).
Project initiator and main executor prof. dr. (hp) Giedrė Jankevičiūtė, a member of the Lithuanian Society of Art Historians. The production and sending of the memorial stones was funded by the Lithuanian Society of Art Historians and the donations of its members. The architectural project was prepared pro bono by architect Tomas Valentinaitis. The memorial stones were installed into the pavement pro bono by the sculptor Vladas Urbanavičius.
PROGRAM
- 2:00 p.m. Presentation of the project at the Vilnius Museum (Vokiečių str. 6). Participants: Rasa Antanavičiūtė, director of Vilnius Museum, Tojana Račiūnaitė, Chair of Lithuanian Society of Art Historians, Giedrė Jankevičiūtė, project initiator, Adachiara Zevi, art historian, activist of the Jewish community in Rome, coordinator of the Stolperstein initiative in Italy.
- 3:00 p.m. Laying a memorial stone to Bencion Michtom at Žemaitijos str. 1.
- 3:30-5:00 p.m. visiting and honoring the memorial stones to Rachel (Roza) Suckever-Ushaeva near house at J. Basanavičiaus str. 16, Fania (Uma) Olkienicka-Lerer near the house at J. Basanavičiaus str. 19, Liza Daiches near house at Šv. Stepono str. 17, and Jacob Sher on the intersection of Sniego and Gudų streets on sidewalk near the square at a residential house Pelesos str. 47 installed on the eve of the event. Participants: violinist Saulė Buikaitė.
Photo © Saulius Žiūra/15min.lt