In early July, GWF Co-Chairman Andrew Baker and Agnieszka Markiewicz, Director of the American Jewish Committee’s Central Europe Office in Warsaw, visited Vilnius. They reviewed projects implemented by the Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) Community: archaeological excavations at the site of the former Vilnius Great Synagogue (following the dismantling the kindergarten-school built there during the Soviet era), a kosher cafe run by the Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) Community, and the restoration of the mikveh (ritual bath) in the Vilnius Choral Synagogue.
During the visit to the archaeological excavations at the site of the Vilnius Great Synagogue, they were pleased to see the participation of students from the Vilnius Sholom Aleichem ORT Gymnasium in excavations meaningful for Jewish history and culture. The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Lithuania, Dr. Cornelius Zimmermann, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Republic of Lithuania, Lars Wahlund, also visited the site, showing interest in the archaeological excavations.
Additionally, Andrew Baker and Agnieszka Markiewicz, along with Faina Kukliansky, Chairwoman of the Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) Community, and Indrė Rutkauskaitė, Director of the Public Institution Good Will Foundation, visited Lithuanian government institutions to discuss important issues for Lithuanian Jews.
Andrew Baker and Faina Kukliansky joined in a Shabbat dinner celebration with the Budapest Jewish Community in the Kosher Café of the Lithuanian Jewish Community. They traveled to Seduva to visit the “Lost Shtetl Museum” and were guided through the exhibition by the museum’s education director, Dr. Jolanta Mickutė. Later they traveled to Siauliai, where they met with the Mayor and with leaders of the Siauliai Jewish communities in order to properly implement the further activities of the Public Institution Good Will Foundation.
Photo © GWF