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On May 10, Lithuania’s Consul General in New York Valdemaras Sarapinas participated in the event, which was co-organised by the Consulate General in New York and the American Society of Yad Vashem. During the event, the titles of Righteous among the Nations were bestowed on Lithuanian citizen Bronė Budreikaitė (after death) and other eight persons for their efforts to save Jews. According to V.Sarapinas, Lithuania and, especially, its capital city Vilnius were famous for their numerous Jewish communities already in the 17th century. On the eve of the Second World War about 60 thousand Jews lived in the capital city, which made up 28 per cent of the city’s population at that time. There were 110 cemeteries and 10 Yeshivas. According to the Consul General, Vilnius was a renowned centre of Jewish spiritual and cultural centre, the so-called Jerusalem of Lithuania.

“Therefore, this tragedy that befell our Jewish brothers and sisters during the Second World War is even more painful and horrible to us, Lithuanians. And, therefore, people who saved Jews from death at that time are worthy of great respect. These people became symbols of goodness and mercy for all of us,” Sarapinas said.

Holocaust Survivor Rosian Zerner shared her memories during the awards ceremony. She was still six years old when Budreikaitė rescued and hid her.

The event was attended by heads of consulates general of Israel, the Netherlands and Germany in New York. Representatives from these countries were also honoured with the titles of Righteous among the Nations.

During the ceremony, cellist Elad Kabilio gave a performance and writer Caroline Stoessinger read excerpts from her book “A Century of Wisdom”.