2023-2024 “WORKING GROUP” ON VILNA CEMETERY | LIST OF MEMBERS | MOUNTING OPPOSITION | OLD VILNA JEWISH CEMETERY AT PIRAMÓNT | EARLIER OPPOSITION TO CONVENTION CENTER | INVOLVEMENT OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE (AJC) | CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN RABBIS (CER) | THE “CPJCE”  | CEMETERIES & MASS GRAVES

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VILNIUS—The Vilnius Jewish Community, the democratically run Jewish community representing most of today’s Jewish citizens in Lithuania, today led a small, dignified protest at the Old Vilna Jewish Cemetery at Piramónt (in the storied Shnípishok section of Vilnius, today’s Šnipiškės in modern, beautiful Vilnius), calling on the government to cancel plans for a “memorial complex cum museum” (potentially with seating for thousands — in the middle of a cemetery!)  in the hated and derelict Soviet “Sports Palace.” Instead, the demonstrators made clear the monstrosity should come down and the cemetery, the most important Jewish cemetery in all the Lithuanian lands, and one of the most sacred to Litvaks worldwide, be lovingly restored.

Elected Vilnius Jewish Community (VJC) chairperson Alexander Chernov led the protest, partnering with VJC activist Arkady Kurliandchik. Others in attendance included Dr. Andrius Kulikauskas, Julius Norwilla (Norvila), Remembering Litvaks, Inc. president Philip Shapiro, and, visiting from Israel, Rabbi Elchonon Baron, one of the prime international leaders of opposition to desecration of the cemetery.

The event attracted mainstream Lithuanian media coverage. The following images are from LRT’s report today (please scroll down for their photo gallery which includes many more photos). See the report for quotes from participants and further details.

Clockwise from top left: Alexander Chernov, elected chairperson of the Vilnius Jewish Community; Rabbi Elchonon Baron, head of the Baranovich Yeshiva in Jerusalem; Dr. Andrius Kulikauskas (left) greets Julius Norwilla (right), watched (center) by Philip Shapiro, founding president of Remembering Litvaks, Inc., a major international force for preserving Litvak culture, civilization and memory; Vilnius Jewish Community activist Arkady Kurliandchik speaking to reporters. PHOTOS: LRT.