Visit of high school students from Lithuania 2019 — Association of Jews of Vilna and vicinity in Israel

Wrote: Shoshana Reshef

In February 2019, about forty students from six high schools in Lithuania arrived to Israel, accompanied by their teachers and a representative of the Israeli Embassy in Vilna. They came on a mission of discovery of Israel with the aim of touring, becoming acquainted, and getting closer to the geographical, cultural and human landscapes in Israel.

It should be noted that this was the second delegation in the last two years to arrive in Israel in the same format. Vilna House activists in Tel Aviv held for them a warm and exciting welcome on the first evening of their arrival.

I, like the others, waited for them. When I heard the commotion on the stairs, I realized they had arrived. As soon as they crossed the threshold, there was silence. I managed to exchange a few words with one of the teachers named Saul - from the Bible he explained. The students toured the Remembrance Tent, heard explanations about the founding of Vilna House by the survivors, and were moved to see the memorial plaques the survivors had dedicated to the family members who perished.

Later, the students sat around tables laden with typical Israeli refreshments, including the delicious and colorful fruits of the country.

Young people aged 17-18, high school students from Vilna, Kovno, and towns across Lithuania, became acquainted with the next generation’s Lithuanian history from Saadia Bahat, an artist who survived the Holocaust. They heard about his happy childhood in the city of Alytus, and later about his personal survival, his immigration to Israel, and in general about the revival of the people of Israel.

I later learned that all the accompanying teachers were English teachers, and all students who came, underwent aptitude tests under the Ambassador’s sponsorship, including the knowledge and ability to express themselves in English, and from these were selected the students who would participate in the trip.

Speeches were made by Mickey Kantor, Chairperson of the Association, who welcomed the delegation upon its arrival, and the Lithuanian Ambassador to Israel, Edminas Bagdonas,, who spoke first in English and then in Lithuanian. At the end of his speech, he said that Vilna is for him a special city, but that Vilna House is a center of memory ... and added: "Here I feel the voices from there."

There is no doubt that the young people, each group individually, had prepared storytelling, music and singing for the meeting. Each group prepared a presentation on the sites of its city, and cultural centers, raising as well the subject of the Holocaust, and the Jewish community.

The main importance and purpose of the fascinating and exciting evening was that these young people left with the feeling that even though the dark period must not be forgotten, they were the future generation…

Chairperson Mickey Kantor’ remarks summarizing the event:

We hosted a large group of teenagers, high school students, and teachers, members of the Israeli and Lithuanian embassies. It was a warm and businesslike event, both exciting and very emotional.

The entire execution - from the planning, organization, management and guidance phase - was simply superb. I am constantly amazed at our cooperation and efficiency, both as individuals and as a team.

As always, the feeling that follows success is satisfying, uplifting and empowering - and especially – the feeling of pride!

I believe the guests’ experiences were also satisfying (appetite-wise as well) and they left having learned an important life lesson - it is important to bravely face the terrible fact that the Nazis and Lithuanians destroyed the Lithuanian Jewish community, and at the same time - acknowledge the rescuers human goodness, and most of all, create a human identity that accepts and encompasses all human beings as equals.

The meeting at Vilna House and all it represents, with people having the same roots in the same homeland, with the survivors, the pictures, and what they read and studied in school, in books and museums, made for them, in my opinion, a huge difference to their understanding of the history of Lithuanian Jews, the Holocaust and the Lithuanians.

Along with tours around the country and various meetings with teenagers, with cultural and commemorative events, the landscapes and the historical heritage awaiting them, I am sure they will return home with a completely different worldview of Jews and Israel than the one they brought with them from home.

And for our small part in this important process, we will say - each one and all of us together - we succeeded.

And thanks for the opportunity and the possibility.