Gerbkime kapines | EN / 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. Our letters below are wonderful examples of impactful letters. Thank you! Andrius Kulikauskas, Gerbkime kapines

2026 Letter Writing Campaign

In June, 2026, we are writing letters to the Republic of Lithuania Seimas. Email: priim@lrs.lt

Send us a copy of your letter to ruta@kapines.com and we will share it below and elsewhere.

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.

Dear Republic of Lithuania Seimas Committee on Culture: Please respect the EXISTING Jewish cemetery in Šnipiškės, where many thousands STILL lie buried. Please move the convention center to another venue where it can be celebrated by all the peoples hailing from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and by all people of good will everywhere. Thank you,

This message was sent, individually, by signatories of Ruta Bloshtein's petition, in response to this request:

2026.06.08 Rachel Levy Sarfin, Eli
2026.06.07 R. Grosz, Justine, Jody Levitus, Jacob S, Laurie Ross

2026.06.21

Statement on Behalf of Chesed Advocates for the Protection of Cemeteries

Dr. Bernard Fryshman, speaking on behalf of Chesed Advocates for the Protection of Cemeteries, issued the following statement in connection with the proposed conversion of a Soviet-era structure situated within the Vilnius Shnipishok Jewish Cemetery into a Concert and Convention Center.

Lithuania, like all Western democracies, is bound by the fundamental principles of Western civilization. Among these principles are respect for human rights, property rights, and religious freedom. The proposed project, however unintentionally, would undermine all three.

Those interred in the Vilnius Shnipishok Jewish Cemetery were laid to rest with the expectation—shared by all who are buried in cemeteries throughout the world—that their graves would remain undisturbed in perpetuity. To alter the character of this sacred ground is to violate the understanding under which they took possession of their final resting place. In this sense, the rights associated with that burial are property rights deserving of respect and protection.

The proposal also raises profound concerns regarding religious freedom. A cemetery is more than a repository for the dead. It is a sacred place that embodies the values, traditions, and beliefs of a faith community. It serves as a link between generations and as a means by which religious teachings and historical memory are transmitted to the young. Activities incompatible with the sanctity of a cemetery diminish its religious character and interfere with its essential purpose.

There is also a broader human rights concern. Every individual who chooses a burial place does so with the reasonable expectation that a civilized society will honor and protect that choice. Respect for the dead is inseparable from respect for the living. When a government permits the desecration or inappropriate use of a cemetery, it disregards the rights of those who, during their lifetimes, entrusted their remains to the care and protection of future generations.

By proceeding with plans involving this Soviet-built structure, erected in 1971 at the heart of an ancient cemetery, the Lithuanian government risks departing from the standards of respect for human dignity, religious liberty, and historical memory that characterize democratic societies.

As advocates for the protection of all cemeteries, regardless of faith or nationality, we call upon the Lithuanian government to dismantle this lingering symbol of Soviet domination and to permit the restoration, to the fullest extent possible, of this sacred site.

Chesed Advocates for the Protection of Cemeteries serves as a voice for the departed. We affirm that all cemeteries are sacrosanct and that every cemetery, as a member of a revered class, is entitled to protection, preservation, and respect.

Dr. Bernard Fryshman, New York, USA

2026.06.18

Urgent Appeal to Protect the Historic Shnipishok Jewish Cemetery in Vilna

Dear Honorable Members of the Committee,

Greetings and respectful regards.

We respectfully write to express our profound concern regarding ongoing discussions and proposals relating to the Historic Shnipishok Jewish Cemetery in Vilna.

The Jewish world is deeply disturbed by the very fact that activities, deliberations, or proposals concerning the use, development, or future of this sacred cemetery site continue to be considered. This ancient burial ground remains the resting place of thousands of Jews and is regarded as holy by Jewish communities throughout the world.

As we work daily with vast collections of historical documents, records, testimonies, and memories of Lithuanian Jewish life, we are continually reminded of the immense spiritual, historical, and human significance of this sacred place. It is therefore deeply painful and difficult to comprehend that any form of intervention, development, construction, or other activity affecting this cemetery could still be under discussion.

The Historic Shnipishok Jewish Cemetery in Vilna is not merely a historical landmark. It is a sacred resting place, a witness to centuries of Jewish life in Lithuania, and an irreplaceable part of the heritage of the Jewish people. The dignity of the deceased and the sanctity of burial grounds are universal values deserving of the highest respect and protection.

We respectfully and urgently appeal to the Committee to ensure the complete and permanent protection of this sacred cemetery and to reject any proposal, initiative, activity, or action that could compromise its sanctity, dignity, integrity, or the eternal rest of those buried there.

We trust that the Committee will act with wisdom, sensitivity, and a deep sense of historical responsibility.

Respectfully,

Members of the Board of Directors

Moshe Shalom Malachi, Chairman of the Board of Directors

Lita Shel Maalah, Archive of Lithuanian Jewish Civilization

2026.06.17

Please don't desecrate the old Jewish cemetery in Vilnius any further

Dear Members of the Committee on Culture of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,

For centuries, the Grand Dukes of Lithuania protected the historic Vilnius Jewish Cemetery in Šnipiškės. There is substantial evidence that thousands of individuals remain buried there. In 2025, the Chancellery of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Vilnius City Municipality marked the cemetery’s boundaries with a stone wall and installed signs stating: “Please respect the solemnity of this place of eternal rest.”

I respectfully ask that you honor the sanctity of this cemetery and refrain from permitting any activities unrelated to its purpose as a burial ground. In particular, I urge you to abandon plans to renovate the former Soviet Palace, a structure that stands in violation of this historic cemetery.

Jewish communities in Lithuania and throughout the world, together with many friends and supporters, are deeply troubled by any action that diminishes respect for this sacred site. We ask that you honor our belief—and the belief of our ancestors—that a Jewish cemetery is not temporary but eternal. This principle is upheld by all of Lithuania’s rabbis and by Lithuanian rabbinic authorities and yeshivas throughout the diaspora.

Let us unite in preserving the peace and dignity of this cemetery. Let us also remember and empathize with the Jews who once defended it and who would have continued to do so, had they not been murdered in the Holocaust.

On September 16, 1940, Soviet authorities declared that the activities of the Vilnius Jewish community were “no longer compatible with the aspirations of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic,” dissolved the community, and transferred control of the cemetery to the Vilnius City Municipality (Documents LCVA f.401, a.2, b.518, l.6, 20). The Soviet regime subsequently committed further injustices by destroying the cemetery’s tombstones and constructing, at its center, a monument to Soviet power—the Vilnius Concert and Sports Palace.

Today, we have an opportunity to distance ourselves from those Soviet-era wrongs. We can teach future generations that a cemetery is eternal, while buildings erected in violation of its sanctity are temporary. Let us honor the rich Jewish history of Vilnius by treating this cemetery with the respect due to a sacred place of eternal rest.

Sincerely,

Shulamis Weissman

2026.06.12

A Cemetery is Sacred

Dear Republic of Lithuania Seimas Committee on Culture:

Considering how complicit your government was in eradicating almost the entire Jewish population of Lithuania, that you would even consider putting a center in an old Jewish cemetery is just tone deaf and immoral. Do the right thing and DO NOT desecrate what little is left of a once thriving and vibrant Jewish community where my grandfathers family fled from and another uncle and his sisters also had to flee for their lives. Lithuania has done enough damage to the Jewish community, it's time to stop and respect the dead.

Sincerely, Julie Sherman, United States

2026.06.11

Proposed convention centre in Jewish cemetery

Dear Republic of Lithuania Seimas Committee on Culture:

I visited Lithuania recently, and I was impressed by how modern-day Lithuanians are coming to terms with what has happened to Jewish Lithuania during World War II, and then further during Soviet rule.

Please act in keeping with these commendable attitudes and actions, and move the convention center to another venue where it can be celebrated by all the peoples hailing from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and by all people of good will everywhere. Thank you!

Linda Stern

Australia

2026.06.10

Machine translated from Lithuanian

Request

Dear members of the Seimas Culture Committee of the Republic of Lithuania, I ask that you:

1. restore and patronize the Vilnius Jewish Cemetery in Šnipiškės.
2. abandon all activities unrelated to them in this cemetery.
3. abandon the Soviet concerts and sports palace.
4. propose in writing to the Lithuanian and world Jewish communities to finance the restoration, care and/or memorialization of the Vilnius Jewish Cemetery in Šnipiškės, and the removal of the Soviet Concert Hall and Sports Hall from the cemetery territory.

Argument

1. By desecrating the oldest Vilnius Jewish Cemetery in Šnipiškės, Soviet Russia also desecrated the conscience and history of the Lithuanian people, thus seeking to turn us into Soviet mankurts.

2. By abandoning the Soviet Concert Hall and Sports Hall, the wound inflicted on the memory of the people of the Lithuanian colony of the Soviet Bolshevik Russian metropolis would be healed, respect would be shown for the Jewish citizens of Lithuania, and the Jews of the world would be given the opportunity to restore/care for/marry the Vilnius Jewish Cemetery in Šnipiškės together with the state of Lithuania.

3. By abandoning the Soviet concert and sports halls, and by providing the Jews of the world with the opportunity to finance the restoration/guardianship/commemoration of the Vilnius Jewish Cemetery in Šnipiškės together with the Lithuanian state, the friendship between Lithuanians and Litvaks and other Jews would be maintained and strengthened.

4. The protection of property is enshrined in Article 1 of the First Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. It guarantees every natural or legal person the right to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions and establishes that no one shall be deprived of his possessions except in certain cases provided for by law and the principles of international law. The state may expropriate property only if it is necessary for the public interest, and only in accordance with the procedure established by law and with fair compensation for damage. The occupation, Bolshevization, Sovietization, colonization, and Russification of the Lithuanian state by Soviet Bolshevik Russia are illegal, therefore the expropriation of the Vilnius Jewish Community Cemetery in Šnipiškės by the occupying authorities is also illegal - by not recognizing this, the Lithuanian state would illegally continue to legitimize the consequences of the Molorov-Ribbentrop Pact, the occupation, Bolshevization, Sovietization, colonization, and Russification of the Lithuanian state.

Political prisoner of the occupation and pro-occupation, pro-Bolshevik, pro-Soviet regimes in the Republic of Lithuania, dissident Vincas Jokimas

2026.06.10

Snipisek cemetery

Rabbi Pinchos Hecht, Executive Director, Mirrer Yeshiva Central Institute, Brooklyn, NY, USA

2026.06.10

The Old Jewish Cemetery in Vilnius

Dear Members of the Committee on Culture of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,

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.”

The Grand Dukes of Lithuania protected the Vilnius Jewish Cemetery in Šnipiškės for centuries. There is evidence that thousands of bodies remain buried there.

I ask you to respect our cemetery and not allow any unrelated activities there, including any building or construction on top of it. Please abandon all 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.Below is a link regarding rulings of Rabbis regarding the status of cemeteries, and the obligation not to disrespect them: https://kapines.com/gerbkime/bylos/20200209-BneiBerakRabbinicalCourtRuling.pdf

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 to respect cemeteries, so that in the future they will respect our graves!

Yours respectfully,

Mrs HR Lichtenstein

2026.06.09

Please Don't Erase Us Again

[...] My Grandfather was murdered by the Lithuanian Guard who assisted the Nazis in their work. I know this does not reflect the feeling of most Lithuanians, however you have a duty now to the millions who died on your soil, some of which by the hand of Lithuanian collaborators. Let them at least rest in peace and their place of rest be a reminder for never again. Vilna was the center of the worlds Jewish Culture for centuries. Please preserve the memory of this.

I respectfully suggest that you not provide any funding [...] for the Vilnius Sports and Congress Building Complex Project ...

The Soviets desecrated the Vilnius Jewish Cemetery with this building and the planned activities there will further injure the people who were buried there and all who care about them.

Please heed the 52,000 people worldwide who have signed Ruta Bloshtein's petition Please Move New Vilnius Convention Center Project AWAY from the Old Jewish Cemetery

Please respect the ruling by the world's senior authority among the rabbinate in the Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) tradition, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, and the rabbinical court in Bnei Brak.

I respectfully disagree on this issue with the Lithuanian Jewish Community led by Faina Kukliansky and with the Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemeteries in Europe. They have no right to represent my interests in defending the sanctity of this cemetery.

Sincerely,

Dr Jon Barrett

Dr. Jon (Yosef) Barrett MBBch, MD, FRCOG, FRCSC

2026.06.08

Machine translated from Lithuanian

To the LR Seimas Culture Committee regarding the preservation of the Jewish Šnipiškės Cemetery

Dear members of the Culture Committee,

The Sports Palace is a building that symbolizes not so much freedom as the centuries-old contempt for cemeteries. And today's aspiration to declare it a "shrine" means continuing the inhuman Soviet tradition.

A multitude of spiritual authorities, teachers, pioneers of the Vilnius Talmud publishers, and scholars are buried in this cemetery, the fruits of whose labors today and until the end of days will be enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of students all over the world, whose names and teachings resound and will resound continuously. They are the roots of the Jewish people, nourishing our souls with the juices of wisdom.

Just as the roots of the Lithuanians are Vytautas the Great, Donelaitis, Maironis, Vaižgantas, Basanavičius, and many other prominent personalities. Would you allow others or yourself to despise their burial place by declaring a "shrine" a pseudo-value imposed by barbarians, erasing true values? I believe not.

I believe that the Šnipiškės Jewish Cemetery will be restored to respect and will once again become a place of calm and concentration. Only such and no other - not a space for entertainment and fun, not a museum or memorial, which is what is being sought now, trying to revive the demon of the Sports Palace.

Such a step would be a true symbol of Lithuania's spiritual freedom, the most precious and eternal legacy for future generations!

For those who claim that the cemetery no longer exists

The Šnipiškės Jewish Cemetery was founded at the end of the 15th century. This means that it has existed for over 500 years. Citizens of the country, residents of Vilnius, who bought places were buried there.

In 1831, only a part! of the cemetery territory was used for fortification. Fortifications were built, embankments were formed, which, paradoxically, partially saved the burial places (there was no deep excavation and feeding). Therefore, during the construction of the King Mindaugas Bridge and the construction of green houses during the independence period, many intact graves were found at the site of the fortification.

In 1935, the spiritual authority of Vilnius, Rabbi Ch.O. Grodzenskis, appealed to the Jews of the world with a request to save the cemetery from the Polish authorities' plans to build a stadium there (document available). The Polish plans failed.

During the Nazi occupation, hundreds of monumental texts were registered and written off in the remaining territory of the cemetery by order of the Rosenberg headquarters (document available).

In 1946, the Vilnius Jewish community appealed to Sniečka to provide construction materials for the arrangement of the cemetery after the German presence (document available). The request was granted.

In 1950, the remains of the Gaon and only a few other Jews were moved.

In 1955-56, during the construction of the Sports Palace, the cemetery territory was ground down. However, the majority of the remains remained. Messed up, crushed, but not gone anywhere (2002 Lithuanian Archaeological Research Report).

Ruta Bloshtein, Vilnius, Lithuania

2026.06.08

Dear Committe members,

As an American Lithuanian that actively supports the Lithuanian nation, I urge the honorable members of Šeimas Committee on Culture to please do the right thing, and respect the existing Old Vilna Jewish Cemetary at Piramont. This cemetary was desecrated by the Soviets but still contains the remains of Jewish families that lived for centuries in this neighborhood. It is land sacred to the Jewish people, and an essential part of Lithuania‘s cultural heritage. Thank you for your attention.

Dennis Pultinas

2026.06.07

Cemetery

Dear Members of the Committee on Culture of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.

These are some of the most well known considerations about this ancient cemetery and Lithuanian jewish history.

A. The Grand Dukes of Lithuania protected the Vilnius Jewish Cemetery in Šnipiškės for centuries.

B. There is evidence that thousands of bodies remain buried there.

C. 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.”

What is important now is to... Please respect this cemetery and do not allow any unrelated activities there. Please abandon plans to renovate the Soviet Palace which desecrates this cemetery.

Believers in Lithuania and abroad, many friends in fact, are offended by all disrespect for this cemetery. Please respect all belief regarding this matter, and the specific belief that this Jewish cemetery is not temporary, but an eternal one. Today in 2026 all of Lithuania’s rabbis teach this, and in the international Jewish lithuanian diaspora it is very imporant.

It could be that we are ALL best united in respecting the peace of this cemetery. Let us have empathy with those who once defended it, and would still defend it, but were it not that they were murdered in the Holocaust.

As we know.

Let us distance ourselves from these events together.

Let the words of the Lithuanian anthem guide us, “May your children walk only in the paths of virtue.”

Thank you for your time.

William A. Pahl

2026.06.07

[ Machine translated from Lithuanian ]

Dear Members of the Committee on Culture of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania:

I am a Lithuanian American, born in Šiauliai in 1939. Our family fled to the West after fleeing the Soviets at the end of World War II.

Let us not forget that the Grand Dukes of Lithuania protected the Vilnius Jewish Cemetery in Šnipiškės for centuries. In 2025, the Chancellery of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Vilnius City Municipality firmly decided and marked the boundaries of this historic cemetery with a stone wall. The corresponding signs state: “We ask you to respect the solemnity of this eternal resting place.”

I humbly ask you to respect this historic cemetery and to abandon plans to renew the actions of the Soviet Union, which in 1940 illegally desecrated this cemetery when it liquidated it and transferred its management to the Vilnius Soviet City Municipality. I ask you to respect the fact that this Jewish cemetery is not temporary.

With respect, Vaidotas Baipšys

2026.06.07

Dear Republic of Lithuania Seimas Committee on Culture,

I am very disturbed to learn the Lithuanian government is planning to turn the Soviet Sports Center on the Snipiskes Jewish Cemetery into a Lithuanian convention center. This is a desecration of place where thousands of Jews are buried. If my many Lithuanian Jewish ancestors had not been murdered by Lithuanian Nationalists during the Holocaust in 1941 their descendants would be protesting this desecration. Sadly, there are few Jews still living in Lithuania to speak out and we Litvaks abroad have to speak on their behalf.

Are there no other places in Vilnius where a Convention Center could be built? We know this would not be proposed if it were a Catholic cemetery.

Respectfully,Rebecca Cook

2026.06.07

Dear Sir or Madam:

More than five years ago, I wrote to the Lithuanian government to add my voice to those who called for Lithuania not to build a convention center on the site of the old Jewish Cemetery in Vilnius. My family is from Vilnius and Kupiskis, I visited Lithuania in 1999 and 2016. I continue to follow these matters because they are very important and tangible to me. I do not need to repeat the reasons for not desecrating the cemetery, as I am sure that you ae familiar with the arguments. But you should be aware that Lithuania's actions will not be unnoticed. Please take the sensibilities of the Jewish population into account. The dead should not be disturbed.

Steven Kessel

Red Bank, NJ

USA

2026.06.07

Dear Republic of Lithuania Seimas Committee on Culture, Please respect the EXISTING Jewish cemetery which the Soviet palace desecrated. I wish you good luck in funding for your planned convention center. However, I do hope you will find a location more suitable than the Old Vilnius Jewish cemetery, which has great meaning and holiness for many people. A convention center at that site would be a grave desecration – and a desecration of graves -- at a historically important and emotionally significant site.

By respecting the victims of the past, you will be showing greater honor to those who will enjoy the convention center in the future. They will come to understand that each generation brings value and lessons of its own and will not be so soon forgotten. Respectfully.

Mollie Fisch

2026.06.07

Dear members of the Republic of Lithuania Seimas Committee on Culture

It is with profound shock and tremendous sadness that i am writing to you to protest in the strongest terms possible your decision to once again make plans to rebuild the Concert and Sports Palace which the Soviets initially built on the sacred grounds of the Old Jewish Cemetery in Vilnius.

After the previous Lithuanian government abandoned its plans to rebuild this Palace some years ago,we,who greatly care for the cemetery to remain undisturbed,are extremely angry that respect for all those who have been laid to rest there has been utterly ignored as if this site has never been a cemetery.

All those who care for the sanctity of the cemetery,of which i am one of very many,appeal to you to immediately stop your plans to disturb the peacefull eternal rest of all those buried in the cemetery,show sympathy to the feelings of the Jewish decendants of those buried there and halt your plans to attack this place which is what you are essentially planning to do.

Disturbing the remains of those defenceless bodies does not require very much courage,and no one in their right mind will consider the Lithuanian Government as heroes for doing so,in fact just the complete opposite,they will consider the Government as complete cowards for attacking the utterly defenceless !

Wishing the Government and people of Lithuania a peacefull future in the merit of honouring and respecting the remains of those who helped with great courage,self-sacrifice and loyalty to build the Republic of Lithuania into what it is today.

Sincerely,

Mr.I.J.Bas

2026.06.07

Dear Republic of Lithuania Seimas Committee on Culture I am writing to ask that you please respect the EXISTING Jewish cemetery in Šnipiškės, where many thousands STILL lie buried. Apparently several years ago you had agreed to move the new convention center to another venue where it can be celebrated by all the peoples hailing from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and by all people of good will everywhere. I hope you can go back to that idea. I visited your country 12 years ago with my family on a heritage tour and very much enjoyed it. I spent time at this cemetery which holds specific meaning and it would be a damn shame if others cannot have the same experience. My Grandparents and family came from there. Thank you!

Best, Judith Hellerstein

2026.06.07

Please Respect Vilnius’s Historic Jewish Cemetery. Reject the Soviet Palace.

Dear Members of the Committee on Culture of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, For centuries, the Grand Dukes of Lithuania protected the historic Jewish cemetery in Šnipiškės, Vilnius. There is substantial evidence that thousands of individuals remain buried there. In 2025, the Chancellery of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Vilnius City Municipality marked the boundaries of this historic cemetery with a stone wall. The signs erected there instruct visitors: “Please respect the solemnity of this place of eternal rest.”

I respectfully ask you to uphold that principle by protecting the cemetery from activities unrelated to its sacred purpose. In particular, I urge you to abandon plans to renovate the Soviet-era Palace, which stands as a violation of this burial ground.

Jewish believers in Lithuania and throughout the world, together with many friends and supporters, are deeply troubled by any disrespect shown to this cemetery. We ask that you honor our conviction and the conviction of our ancestors that a Jewish cemetery is not temporary but eternal. This principle is affirmed by all Lithuanian rabbis and by the Lithuanian yeshiva tradition throughout the diaspora.

Let us unite in preserving the peace and dignity of this cemetery. Let us also remember those Jews who once defended it and would defend it today, but who were murdered in the Holocaust.

On September 16, 1940, the Soviet authorities declared that the activities of the Vilnius Jewish community were “no longer compatible with the aspirations of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic.” They dissolved the community and transferred control of the cemetery to the Vilnius City Municipality (Documents LCVA f.401, a.2, b.518, l.6, 20). The Soviet regime then committed further injustices by destroying the cemetery’s tombstones and, in the heart of the burial ground, constructing a monument to its own power: the Vilnius Concert and Sports Palace.

Today, Lithuania has the opportunity to distance itself from these Soviet-era wrongs. Let us demonstrate that a cemetery is eternal, while any structure that violates its sanctity is temporary. Let us teach future generations that respect for the dead is a mark of a civilized and moral society.

May the words of Lithuania’s national anthem guide us: “May your children walk only in the paths of virtue.”

Respectfully,Bassi Horowitz London, UK

2026.06.07

Dear Republic of Lithuania Seimas Committee on Culture:

My great great Grandfather, Girsch Tzukerman, lived in an Old Age home in Vilna until the outbreak of WW2. His ancestors and therefore my ancestors had lived in Vilna for hundreds of years. The old Jewish cemetery in Šnipiškės most likely is the burial place for hundreds of my ancestors. PLEASE DON'T DISTURB THESE SACRED BURIAL GROUNDS.

Please move the convention center to another venue without disturbing the historic resting place of my ancestors.

Thank you!

Avrohom Sugarman

2026.06.07

Dear Republic of Lithuania Seimas Committee on Culture,

I am writing as a United Kingdom representative and Trustee of Ohel Zadikim, to respectfully and urgently ask that the proposed Vilnius Convention Center project be moved away from the historic Jewish cemetery in Šnipiškės.

This is an existing cemetery where many thousands of Jewish people still lie buried, including great sages, scholars, and members of the historic Jewish community of Vilna. A cemetery of any faith or people should be treated with dignity and protected from development, particularly when human remains are still present.

We respectfully urge the Seimas and the Government of Lithuania to choose another venue for the convention center — one that can be celebrated by all communities and visitors, without causing pain or desecration to the memory of those buried in this sacred place.

Lithuania has an opportunity to show moral leadership by protecting this historic cemetery and ensuring that the dignity of the dead is preserved.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Yours respectfully,

Reverend Efrayim Goldstein, JP

Trustee and Chair of United Kingdom Ohel Zadikim

2026.06.07

Dear Republic of Lithuania Seimas Committee on Culture,

I'm writing you from Brussels who, between the '50 and the '70 of the 20th century, destroyed a lot of its cultural, architectural inheritage and a part of the soul of the city. We still regret it today. Do not make the same mistake.

Future generations will thank you !

Yves Ringer, Brussels, Belgium

2026.06.07

[Machine translated from Hebrew.]

To the members of the Seimas (Parliament) of Lithuania,

My name is Itzik Pines.

My parents and I were born in the Land of Israel, but my parents' parents, as well as many generations of my ancestors, were born in Lithuania. A family lived on Lithuanian soil for centuries. They never thought of leaving their homeland, and they even buried their dead in its soil.

In Jewish tradition, burial is called "eternal rest" - an expression describing eternal rest on a small piece of land, an area designated for only one person, who rests there until the end of time. Therefore, Jews are very careful to purchase the land where they bury their dead with full money, playing with all the permits from the origin, with a clear understanding of the right to eternal burial that cannot be canceled or changed.

For many generations, this principle has been respected, and few have harmed my family Jewish cemeteries.

In Lithuania, a country that has known many upheavals, changes of government and difficult conquests, the reality is different. Occupiers who saw cemeteries as symbols of the population and government that preceded them often desecrated the cemeteries.

The same goes for the ancient Jewish cemetery in Vilnius. It was damaged by the Swedish and French occupiers, and finally destroyed by the communist regime. However, after the previous damage, the Jews returned and restored the cemetery, and restored the rest to their dead. After the communist period, this was no longer possible.

Why?

Because there are hardly any Jews who can do this. The Nazis murdered the vast majority of Lithuanian Jews, and the remnants of the community that remained were dispersed, exiled or cut off from their heritage in a way that changed the face of Lithuanian Jewry beyond recognition.

I do not expect the Lithuanian government to fix everything The damage caused by the occupiers over the generations. But I beg you to continue to harm the repose of my ancestors and of the tens of thousands of other Jews buried in this cemetery. The Lithuanian government must recognize that the licenses granted to establish the cemetery and bury the dead there have never expired, and that commitments made centuries ago also deserve to be honored. During my visits to Lithuania, I was impressed by the great respect given to Christian cemeteries, which are preserved and cared for in an admirable manner. This is a fitting expression of respect for the dead and the national heritage. There are loyal and honorable citizens of Lithuania for hundreds of years who will not be treated the same way. The fact that the Nazis destroyed Jewish life in Lithuania, and the Bolsheviks destroyed the tombstones on the graves of the dead, cannot serve as a justification for the continued harm to the repose of those buried there. I ask you to respect the men, to respect the commitments made to them, and to allow them to rest. The world that was promised to them when they were buried in Lithuanian soil.

Itzik Pines

2026.06.07

[Machine translated from Lithuanian]

To the Culture Committee of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania

APPLICATION ON THE STATUS OF THE ŠNIPIŠKIAI JEWISH CEMETERY AND THE LEGAL ASSESSMENT OF THE VILNIUS SPORTS CENTER

Dear members of the Culture Committee,

I am addressing you on a fundamental issue of cultural heritage protection – the legal status of the Šnipiškės Jewish Cemetery and the building of the Vilnius Concert and Sports Center, located in this territory. This place is a historical Jewish cemetery, which according to the laws of the Republic of Lithuania and international obligations is subject to an absolute inviolability regime.

Historical documents confirm that until 1940, the Šnipiškės Jewish Cemetery was under the legal control of the Vilnius Jewish Community. The decisions of the Soviet authorities on the liquidation of the Jewish community and the transfer of the cemetery to the executive authority of the city of Vilnius were made without a legal basis, in violation of both the principles of law in force at that time and today. Such decisions cannot be considered a legitimate basis for the transfer of property in the independent Republic of Lithuania.

In this regard, I ask the Culture Committee:

1. To establish and officially confirm that the building of the Vilnius Concert and Sports Palace is built on the territory of the Šnipiškės Jewish Cemetery, which is inviolable by law and must be protected as a religious and historical site.

2. To establish that the decisions made during the Soviet period on the liquidation of the Vilnius Jewish Community and the transfer of its property, including the Šnipiškės Jewish Cemetery, to the executive authority of the city were illegal, contradicted the principles of law and cannot be considered valid or have legal consequences today.

3. To oblige the responsible institutions to ensure that any activity on the territory of the Šnipiškės Jewish Cemetery is permanently and without exception prohibited, that may violate the integrity of the cemetery, religious respect or the requirements for the protection of cultural heritage.

4. To ensure that the Šnipiškės Jewish Cemetery is recognized as an inviolable religious and historical site, which is subject to the highest level of protection, and that all decisions related to the territory are made with the participation of the Vilnius Jewish community as the legal administrators of the cemetery.

The Šnipiškės Jewish Cemetery is not only a part of the history of Lithuanian Jews, but also a part of the cultural heritage of the entire state. Its protection is a moral and legal duty of the state. I ask the committee to take action to ensure the principle of the rule of law and respect for historical memory.

Sincerely,

Arkadij Kurliandčik, Vilnius

2026.06.06

Preservation of the Old Jewish Cemetery in Vilnius

To: The Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Vilnius, Lithuania.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to you as a concerned member of the Jewish community and as someone deeply committed to preserving the history, faith, and heritage of Jewish people in Lithuania and Europe.

I urge the Lithuanian government to respect and protect the Old Jewish Cemetery in Vilnius, a sacred site of immense historical and cultural significance. I strongly oppose any plans to revive or develop the Concert and Sports Palace, originally constructed by the Soviets on this hallowed ground, as such actions would desecrate the cemetery and cause great distress to the Lithuanian Jewish community and beyond. I appreciate that in 2020, following protests and appeals, the government abandoned previous plans and took steps to mark the boundaries of the cemetery with a protective wall. I sincerely hope that these respectful measures will continue and that no further development will be permitted on this sacred site.

Preserving the Old Jewish Cemetery is vital not only for honouring the memory of those buried there but also for maintaining the cultural and historical fabric of Lithuania. I respectfully ask that the government uphold its commitment to protecting this important heritage site.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Yours faithfully,

Dr Michael Gocman

2026.06.05

Vilnius Jewish Cemetery

Dear Republic of Lithuania Seimas Committee on Culture:

Please respect the Jewish cemetery in Vilnius and do not allow it to be desecrated by building a sports center on top of it.

For the good of Lithuania and that it may continue to have the blessing of God over it, please honor, preserve and protect these graves. Throughout human history, those who bless the Jews are blessed and those who curse and harm the Jews are cursed.

May you reverse course and stand with the good example of the previous government, who had humble hearts, stopped this plan from going forward and built a wall to honor the cemetery.

As an American, I am active in urging all levels of my government to stand with and honor the Jewish people. I do this because I know it is one of the best things I can do to bring more blessing and prosperity to America!

Sincerely,

Dr. Susan Lein, Minnesota, USA

2026.06.05

Please Save the Shnipishok Cemetery from Desecration!

Dear Members of the Committee,

I write as an American Litvak with deep family roots in Lithuania.

My late father was born in Tytuvėnai (Tzittevyan) and studied in the great Lithuanian centers of Torah learning, including Telšiai (Telz), and Klaipėda (Memel). My grandfather served as the rabbi in Tytuvėnai (Tzittevyan) and studied in the great Lithuanian centers of Torah learning, including Telšiai (Telz), Vilijampolė (Slabodka), Kaunas (Kovno), and Klaipėda (Memel). My wife's family comes from Kaunas (Kovno) and Wąsosz (Vaskai/Waski). Lithuania is not merely a country of ancestral origin for us; it is the soil in which generations of our families lived, learned Torah, built communities, and are buried.

For this reason, the continuing efforts to desecrate the Old Vilna Jewish Cemetery at Shnipishok through development and the addition of museums, cultural centers, and other additions cause profound pain. The cemetery is one of the holiest and most historically significant Jewish sites in Lithuania. Thousands of Jews remain buried there. It is not an abandoned parcel of land. It is a cemetery, a sacred resting place that deserves dignity and protection.

To Litvaks throughout the world, the Old Vilna Jewish Cemetery is the equivalent of Arlington National Cemetery in the United States. I ask you to consider how Americans would react if a cultural center, museum complex, or convention facility were proposed on top of the graves in Arlington National Cemetery. The answer is obvious. Such a proposal would be unthinkable because the sanctity of the dead transcends politics, development, and changing cultural priorities.

My family lost relatives in Lithuania during the Holocaust. Countless Jewish families suffered the destruction of entire generations. It is enough that so many of our family members were murdered, and that the Jews who survived often endured humiliation, discrimination, and indignities; there is no reason that the dead should now be subjected to further disturbance and dishonor in their graves.

There is a deep human pain in having to make this plea. Those buried at Shnipishok can no longer speak for themselves. They cannot protest. They cannot defend their dignity. They depend on the conscience of the living.

True respect for Jewish heritage begins with respecting Jewish graves. Preservation means preserving a cemetery as a cemetery. It does not mean repurposing sacred burial grounds for contemporary projects, however attractive or well-intentioned those projects may appear.

I respectfully urge the committee to reject any proposal that would further develop this sacred burial ground and instead ensure its permanent protection, restoration, and dignity.

Future generations will remember whether Lithuania chose to honor the memory of its Jewish citizens or to build upon their graves.

Please protect the Old Vilna Jewish Cemetery.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky

American Litvak

2026.06.05

Vilnius Jewish Cemetery

Dear Members of the Committee on Culture of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,

I feel a special indebtedness to the Republic of Lithuania as I and my whole family are alive due to the kindness of your great country which allow my father and thousands of other Jews to find refuge and safety in Vilnius.

Likewise 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.

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.”

With utmost thanks and respect

Eliezer Lange son of Moshe Langer who found refuge and safety in Vilnius in 1941

2026.06.05

Respect Vilnius’s Historic Jewish Cemetery. Condemn the Soviet Palace.

Dear Members of the Committee on Culture of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,

The Grand Dukes of Lithuania protected the Vilnius Jewish Cemetery in Šnipiškės for centuries. ...

Tal Bogart

2026.06.05

Respect Vilnius’s Historic Jewish Cemetery. Condemn the Soviet Palace.

Dear Members of the Committee on Culture of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,

The Grand Dukes of Lithuania protected the Vilnius Jewish Cemetery in Šnipiškės for centuries. ...

Rachel Levy Sarfin

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

[Andrius Kulikauskas: Gary Mendlewicz, my acquaintance, wrote the above letter. He is a self-titled rabbi.]

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)

2026.06.02

On The Preservation of the Jewish Šnipiškiai Cemetery

Dear Members of the Culture Committee of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,

You have the honor and responsibility to decide the fate of the Jewish Šnipiškės Cemetery. This is a responsible and difficult decision for future generations. As you decide, you will be evaluated not only by future generations, but also by countries of the world and believers in the Jewish faith.

The Šnipiškės Cemetery is the heritage of Lithuania and Lithuanian Jews. We restored the Palace of the Rulers, we can restore or protect the Šnipiškės Cemetery. This is the heritage of our nation and the State. People of the Jewish faith were invited and patronized by the rulers of Lithuania.

We used the building of the Palace of Culture and Sports for important purposes, but the building is not historical heritage. Important events took place in the struggle for Lithuanian independence - the founding rally of the Sąjūdis and the arming of murdered Customs officers. The structure of the building is unique. Let us document these events and the characteristics of the building and use them in education. However, let us strive for a fair solution.

The building is not legal, because after the Soviet government took power, on September 16, 1940, it abolished the Vilnius Jewish community and its property - it gave the Šnipiškės cemetery to the Vilnius city municipality. After the war, the Soviet government built the Concert and Sports Palace in the brutalist style. No one could object, because the majority of the Jewish community was massacred.

Let us return and protect the Jews' precious heritage. We have resolved to remove the Green Bridge sculptures glorifying the Soviet era. Let us have the determination to remove the Concert and Sports Palace built during the Soviet era, illegally built on the Šnipiškės Jewish cemetery. Perhaps some of the dead were moved to other cemeteries, but thousands remained buried in this cemetery. It is not appropriate for Congress centers or other buildings to be located in cemeteries. There would certainly be no race cemetery. The municipality has already identified a suitable location for an international Congress center. Let us remember the instructive words of the Lithuanian anthem:

"Let Your children walk in the paths of virtue" and "Let light and truth guide our steps"

Dear members of the Seimas, let us not only sing, but also follow these principles.

Sincerely,

Edmundas Kulikauskas ed.kulikauskas@gmail.com The Society "Let Us Respect the Cemetery"

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.

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.

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