2026Letters
Thank you to all who are writing letters to Lithuanian authorities that they understand the importance of respecting, defending and protecting the old Jewish cemetery in Vilnius at Piramontas / Šnipiškės.
2026 Letter Writing Campaign
In June, 2026, we are writing letters to the Republic of Lithuania Seimas. Email: priim@lrs.lt
You may send even a short letter: Dear Republic of Lithuania Seimas Committee on Culture, Please respect the EXISTING Jewish cemetery which the Soviet palace desecrated (or your own formulation) and let Lithuania's leaders know who you are and why you care about Lithuania, Vilnius and Vilnius's oldest Jewish cemetery.
Send us a copy of your letter to ruta@kapines.com and we will share it below and elsewhere.
Our letters below are wonderful examples of impactful letters. Thank you! Andrius Kulikauskas, Gerbkime kapines
2026.06.03
Save the Holy Shnipishok cemetery
Please do your utmost to prevent desecration of the Holy Shnipishok cemetery. Any attempt to use the cemetery for any other purpose is a direct affront to G-D and the Jewish people.
Please help the Jewish people to accomplish full restoration of the entire cemetery. May G-D help you in this endeavor.
Stanley Perel
2026.06.03
Convention Center
To Whom This Does Concern,
The shocking decisions being contemplated in Lithuania are being heard across the globe in every Jewish community.
Human beings have constant choices to make. Choices to listen to one’s conscience or not to listen to one’s conscience.
In Lithuania, the scene of the largest destruction of the Jewish population, in Europe, you now have a choice.
First choice is: Close your hearts and your minds and your souls and go full steam ahead to build a convention center on sacred land or second choice is: Listen to your soul and build elsewhere.
A decision to move forward with this project will go down in the history books as the despicable choice that it is. First, a country assists in the murder of all its Jewish citizens and then they stomp all over the remaining Jewish graves. Why not allow your country to repair and atone for their actions, instead of compounding their culpability!
You will, no doubt, have to answer to history and you will have to answer to G-d himself for such depraved actions.
Shoshana Begun, An American Jew
2026.06.03
Regarding the Fate of the Vilnius Concert and Sports Palace
Attached please find my letter to the Lithuanian State President in light of recent moves by the Seimas to develop a conference center on the Snipiskes cemetery. I am hereby registering my protest with the Seimas Culture Committee against any attempt to further desecrate the cemetery by developing the defunct Sports Palace. I am presently galvanizing world opinion to prevent this travesty. Please take note: IT WILL NOT HAPPEN!
Rabbi Elchonon Baron, President, Society for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Heritage in Lithuania
”Žydų paveldas Lite” NGO (Jewish Heritage in Lita) to the Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania. Response to the Letter Dated 2026-04-22, No. 20-1506, Regarding the Fate of the Vilnius Concert and Sports Palace and the Šnipiškės Jewish Cemetery. English Lithuanian
Dear Chancellor P. Zapolskas, We appreciate your correspondence outlining the position of the President of the Republic of Lithuania and the initiative to break the current deadlock regarding this complex historical and moral issue. While we value the attention shown, we feel compelled to share a deeper insight rooted in the pursuit of truth and reverence for our ancestors' memory.
On the Origins and Symbolism of the Building
We must confront an uncomfortable truth: the Vilnius Concert and Sports Palace is, in its essence, a relic of the authoritarian Soviet regime, designed as a modern instrument of propaganda to exercise spiritual control over Lithuania through mass spectacles. Attempting to link this brutal Soviet tool—constructed atop desecrated remains—with the symbolism of the Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence is a grave historical anachronism. The identity of a free state cannot be constructed upon foundations of coercion and the mockery of the deceased. Transforming a vehicle of Soviet propaganda into a symbol of freedom would constitute a significant moral defeat on the front of historical truth. We view current efforts to restore this “ghost building” not as a historical necessity, but as a distortion of facts that replaces truth with propaganda regarding the individuals interred in the soil of Šnipiškės.
On the Guardianship of the Cemetery and Authoritative Representation
The management and maintenance of the cemetery must be conducted with honor, in collaboration with institutions that represent the genuine continuity of the Lithuanian Jewish tradition and maintain a direct link to the descendants of those interred. While we respect the Lithuanian Jewish Community (LŽB) as a political partner of the Government, it must be noted that it lacks the specialized religious expertise required to resolve, manage and oversee the cemetery according to the specific standards of the Lithuanian Jewish tradition. To meet those requirements, it is incumbent to engage with authentic representatives of the international rabbinate who are willing and able to undertake this responsibility. Unfortunately, it is important to note that relying on the involvement of the London-based Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemeteries in Europe (CPJCE) often serves merely as an "alibi partnership" in the propaganda theater, betraying a lack of will to engage honorably with the authentic Jewish world.
The Mission and Concrete Proposals of “Jewish Heritage Lite”
The mission of our organization is not only to preserve but to restore historical justice. The restoration of the Šnipiškės Jewish Cemetery is a fundamental objective of our activities. We are resolute in our commitment to mobilize international human and financial resources and to engage in high-level political dialogue and executive decision-making. We recall that in 2022, we offered support to the State Property Bank (Turto bankas) to conduct an independent expert analysis of the building's technical condition, utilizing a world-renowned engineering firm. Although that proposal did not receive ministerial approval at the time, we are prepared to act upon the President's current initiative as follows:
- 1. Resubmitting our proposal to the State Property Bank and the Vilnius City Municipality to fund and execute an independent technical audit.
- 2. Ensuring transparency and competence, providing conclusions that are independent of political conjecture.
- 3. Mobilizing the global Jewish community to support a solution that results not in another construction site, but in the rectification of a crime that cries out to the heavens—a dignified memorial that Lithuania and the world need far more than another conference center.
We believe that a true breakthrough will only be achieved when the courage to call things by their true names overcomes the fear of losing Soviet concrete. True freedom begins with respect for those who can no longer defend themselves.
With profound respect and hope, President, „Žydų paveldas Lite“ NGO
2026.06.03
Old Vilna Jewish Cemetery
Dear Honorable Member,
I am a Lithuanian Jew by heritage and hope that the Old Vilna Jewish Cemetery will be preserved and restored. To develop a conference center on a centuries-old Jewish cemetery would be a tragic and preventable desecration. I have visited Lithuania and am impressed with the open-mindedness and liberal thinking of its citizens, as well as their recognition of the historical role of Jews in Lithuania and the tragic near-destruction of Jewish life in the country during the Holocaust and Soviet occupation. I trust that their representatives in the government will honor that history and be sensitive to the cultural significance of the Old Vilna Jewish Cemetery to Lithuanian Jews. Please act courageously to preserve such a significant cultural site.
Respectfully,
Z. Miller, USA
2026.06.03
Urgent Appeal: Halt the Desecration of the Historic Old Vilna Jewish Cemetery (Šnipiškės / Piramónt) – Do Not Build a National Convention Center on Sacred Ground
Dear Members of the Seimas Committee,
I am writing with deep urgency as someone born in Vilnius, whose grandmother was a Holocaust survivor from the 9th Fort. I appeal to you to immediately stop the proposal to develop a national convention center on the site of the Old Vilna Jewish Cemetery (Holy Vilna Shnipishok Cemetery) in Šnipiškės.
This ancient cemetery, dating back to the 15th–16th century, is one of the most significant Jewish burial sites in Europe. Thousands of souls — including many prominent rabbis, scholars, and members of the historic Vilna Jewish community — still lie buried there. Constructing a large convention center, with all the associated building work, heavy traffic, and public events, would cause a grave and irreversible desecration of these sacred remains.
Respect for the dead and Lithuania’s historical memory must prevail. Turning this hallowed ground into a venue for conventions would inflict profound pain on Jewish communities worldwide and dishonor the memory of Lithuanian Jewry.
I strongly urge you to reject this proposal, protect the cemetery, and choose an alternative site for the convention center. The dignity of those buried there must come first.
Thank you for your immediate attention to this critical moral issue.
Sincerely,
Gennady Krupnikas, Sunny Isles, Florida, USA
2026.06.03
Concerns Regarding Development on the Historic Šnipiškės Jewish Cemetery and Access to Religious Services
Dear Members of the Lithuanian Parliament,
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding plans or permissions that have been granted for construction on the historic Šnipiškės (Piramónt) Jewish Cemetery in Vilnius.
According to traditional Jewish religious law and longstanding Jewish practice, a Jewish cemetery is a sacred burial ground that should remain protected and undisturbed. Many members of the international Jewish community believe that construction or infrastructure works within the boundaries of a Jewish cemetery are inconsistent with the respect owed to those buried there.
The Šnipiškės Cemetery is of profound historical and religious significance. It is the resting place of generations of Lithuanian Jews and forms part of the heritage of a community that suffered devastating losses during the Holocaust. For this reason, decisions affecting the cemetery continue to generate strong concern among Jewish communities in Lithuania and around the world.
I respectfully ask the Lithuanian Parliament to review the matter carefully, consult broadly with qualified religious and heritage experts, and ensure that the cemetery is preserved with dignity and respect. I also ask that the voices of concerned Jewish individuals and organizations be heard when decisions are made regarding this historic site.
In addition, I wish to raise concerns regarding my access to the Vilnius Choral Synagogue. I have been informed that I am not permitted to enter the synagogue, and I have not been provided with a satisfactory explanation or an opportunity to address the matter through a fair process.
I respectfully request assistance in understanding:
- 1. Whether any formal restriction concerning my access exists;
- 2. The legal or procedural basis for such a restriction, if one exists; and
- 3. What steps are available for me to seek review or appeal of that decision.
As a person committed to Jewish religious life and heritage, I would be grateful for any guidance that can help ensure that my concerns are addressed fairly and transparently.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Gedalia Mendlewicz, Belgium
2026.06.03
White House Correspondent protest of Lithuania
White House Correspondent Dr. Matthew Anthony Harper here with the InterMountain Christian News and I protest the Lithuanian parliament's committee proposal or any other efforts to develop a national convention center on the Holy Vilna Shnipishok Cemetery (the Old Vilna Jewish Cemetery) where thousands still lie buried.
I serve as the principal White House Correspondent exposing and reporting on antisemitism and I am informing U.S. President Donald J. Trump of these antisemitic efforts of Lithuania to desecrate the Jewish graves. As you are probably aware, President Trump opposes any act of antisemitism.
Dr. Matthew Anthony Harper, Boise, Idaho, USA
InterMountain Christian News, NEWSRAEL
2026.06.03
Vilna cemetery
Personally and on behalf of the Dutch Foundation "Penance & Reconciliation I sincerely regret that the old Jewish Vilna cemetery will be used for other means then a place of rest for the Jewish people that once made Vilnius the 'Jerusalem of the north'! I am convinced on the contrary that preserving this cemetery will be a statement and a blessing for the courageous people of Lithuania that once (1991) won there freedom back!
Pax vobiscum, Ds. Lavooij, (vice-chairman of a Dutch Foundation that helps to preserve Jewish cemeteries especially in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe)
2026.05.31
Respecting the Old Vilnius Jewish Cemetery
Dear Members of the Committee on Culture of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,
My grandparents were born in Vilnius. Lucky for me and my family they left before the Holocaust, but the rest of their family including my great aunts, great uncles, great grandmother and cousins were not so lucky. All of them were murdered in the Holocaust. The many generations before them were buried in the Old Vilnius Jewish Cemetery. I have many friends whose families have generations of family buried there. The thought that human beings would desecrate a cemetery, the sacred resting place for the dead is unconscionable. There is only one moral choice to return the Old Vilnius Jewish Cemetery to just that. Period. A cemetery.
The Grand Dukes of Lithuania protected the Vilnius Jewish Cemetery in Šnipiškės for centuries. There is evidence that thousands of bodies remain buried there. In 2025, the Chancellery of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Vilnius City Municipality marked the boundaries of our historic cemetery with a stone wall. The signs instruct, “Please respect the solemnity of this place of eternal rest.”
I ask you to respect our cemetery and not allow any unrelated activities there. Abandon plans to renovate the Soviet Palace which desecrates our cemetery.
Jewish believers in Lithuania and abroad, and our many friends, are offended by any disrespect for this cemetery. Please respect our belief, and the belief of our ancestors, that a Jewish cemetery is not temporary, but eternal. All of Lithuania’s rabbis teach us this, and in the diaspora, the Lithuanian yeshivas rule likewise.
Let us unite in respecting the peace of this cemetery. Let us empathize with Jews who once defended it, and would defend it, but were murdered in the Holocaust.
On September 16, 1940, the Soviet authorities decided that the activities of the Vilnius Jewish community were “no longer compatible with the aspirations of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic”, liquidated it and transferred the cemetery under its control to the Vilnius City Municipality. (Documents LCVA f.401, a.2, b.518, l.6, 20) The Soviets committed further crimes by destroying the tombstones and then, in the middle of the cemetery, building a temple for themselves, the Vilnius Concert and Sports Palace.
Let us distance ourselves from these Soviet crimes. Let us educate future generations that a cemetery is eternal, and a building that violates it is only temporary.
Let the words of the Lithuanian anthem guide us, “May your children walk only in the paths of virtue.”
Sincerely,
Risa Pulver, New York, United States of America