Storytelling Festival 2021

In September 2021, under the auspices of the Association of the Jews from Vilna and Vicinity in Israel, an evening of storytelling was held at the Givatayim Theater, led by Yossi Alfi.

Who is Lithuanian - the Kovnai or the Vilnai?

There was a period when Lithuania and Poland were united, and the situation of the Jews of Lithuania was the same as their brothers from Poland.

They spoke their unique language – Yiddish - established educational institutions and internal courts, and managed the affairs of the community; then the Russians came and annexed Lithuania to Russia and life changed.

The Jewish community of Little Vilna was a great cultural empire.

Marc Chagall, Leah Goldberg, Boris Schatz, Avraham Sutzkever, Abba Kovner and many others, are well-known Vilnai names.

Lithuanian Jewry had a special connection to Eretz Israel, and in 1809 a large number of students from the Vilna Gaon - HaGra - made Aliyah to Eretz Israel and settled in Safed and in Jerusalem. These immigrants founded, among others, the Bikur Cholim Hospital.

So who exactly are the Litvaks?

They spoke on the origins of culture, humor, creativity, thinking and especially community history.

It was an exciting evening alongside good Jewish laughter.

Moderator: Yossi Alfi

Music:

Piano: Regina Dricker - Director of the Nehama Lifshitz Yiddish Music Ensemble

Vocals: Ruth G. Davidson, the Nehama Lifshitz Ensemble

Kobi Luria - Musician and songwriter, songs by poets from Vilna

Participants:

Mickey Kantor - Chairperson of the Association of Jews from Vilna and Vicinity in Israel

Shmil Holland - Chef and researcher of Lithuanian Jewish cuisine

Saadia Bahat - Sculptor, Engineer, Security Award Winner