News

  The history of Lithuanian Jewish communities has been marked not only by a continuity of religious tradition, but also by cultural dynamism.This will be discussed at the special international symposium on November 10 in Philadelphia. This conference will offer insights into Lithuanian Jewish culture, seek to throw light on losses during World War II, and attempt to assess conditions for preserving and reviving Jewish heritage in today’s Lithuania and among Lithuanian Jews worldwide. Orginizer of the event is the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Washington, DC in association with the Consulate General of Israel in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Regional Office of the American Jewish Committee, and the National Museum of American Jewish History. The event will be held at The National Museum of American Jewish History (101 South Independence Mall East, Philadelphia, PA)

12:30 pm   Welcome & Introductory Remarks

Moderator: Bonnie Freundlich, Diplomatic Liaison Chair, American Jewish Committee

• Šarūnas Birutis, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania
• Marcia Bronstein, Regional Director, American Jewish Committee
• Yaron Sidemen, Consul General of Israel
• Ivy Barsky, National Museum of American Jewish History

12:45 pm         Session I: The Early History of the Lithuanian Jewish Community

Moderator: Batame Hertzbach, Lithuanian Liaison, American Jewish Committee

• Antony Polonsky, Albert Abramson Professor of Holocaust Studies at Brandeis University / “What is the Origin of Litvak Identity?”
• Eliyahu Stern, Professor, Yale University / “The Genius: Elijah of Vilna and the Making of Modern Judaism”
• Darius Staliunas, Deputy Director of the Institute of Lithuanian History / “Jewish History in Recent Lithuanian Historical Studies"
• Šarūnas Liekis, Professor at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania

2:00 pm          Session II: The Holocaust in Lithuania

• Saulius Sužiedelis, Professor Emeritus of history at Millersville University in Pennsylvania / “War and Holocaust in Lithuanian Historiography and Memory”

3:00 pm           Session III: Preserving and Reviving Litvak Heritage

Moderator: Krista Bard, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania

• Herbert Block, Assistant Vice President of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, representing Faina Kukliansky, President of the Lithuanian Jewish Community
• Antanas Zabulis,  Founder and President of the non-profit public institution “Northern Jerusalem” / "Case Study  of the Initiative to Preserve the Heritage and Culture of Lithuanian Jews: The Virtual Litvak Museum”

4:00 pm           Questions & Answers

4:30 pm           Conclusion

Downlod program here.