In recent years, more and more Lithuanian residents get interested in the history of various peoples and ethnic groups inhabiting the country. In particular, the events of Catastrophe of European Jewry which took place on the Lithuanian territory attract growing attention. Soviet-era school and university textbooks virtually avoided mentioning that tragedy. Nowadays, representatives of all generations seek to fill the gaps in their historic background.

The seminar "Tracing historic memory", held on February 2, 2017 in Kupiškis (a town in north-eastern Lithuania), was intended to contribute to solving that problem.

Before World War II, the Jews constituted the majority of Kupiškis population.

About 55 educators from different Lithuanian regions and educational systems attended the event, which took place in the local gymnasium. The main organizer of the seminar was the International Commission for Evaluation of Crimes of Nazi and Soviet Occupation Regimes in Lithuania. This is a public organization, closely working with the Ministry of Education of Lithuania and educating teachers and students of Lithuanian schools in the fields of Jewish history in Lithuania. They possess an international board consisting of many Jewish organizations and personalities, such as rabbi Andrew Becker (the American Jewish Committee), YIVO, prof. Arkadiy Zeltzer from Yad Vashem, Dr Dina Porat from Tel-Aviv University, and others. Twice a year they take groups of Lithuanian teachers to Jerusalem to special seminars run by Yad Vashem.

The seminar was opened with a welcome speech of the Kupiškis gymnasium director Rimvydas Latvis. Representatives of the Commission, its director Ronaldas Račinskas and deputy director, the coordinator of educational programs Ingrida Vilkienė, provided lectures. The topics were: "Education programs about totalitarian regimes and recommendations to the teachers" and "Activity of centres for fostering of tolerance in respect to familiarizing with Jewish history".

An integral part of the seminar was the concert-lecture about Yiddish music appeared on the scene. This part of the event was opened by the director of WJC Yiddish Centre, Lev Milner. At first he introduced the Centre, its goals and fields of activity. Then the band "Klezmer Klangen", which consists of members of one Lithuanian family, told about origin of Yiddish music, it's contents and themes of various pieces. The appearance was a great success, the musicians got a lot of warm appraisals.

The seminar was concluded by the presentation of a new book about Kupiškis Jewish community before WW II. It was presented by the coordinators of the Centre for Tolerance Fostering of the school Nilolė Puzelienė and Jolanta Latvienė.

We have got a gratitude letter of the senior Commission member.

Dear friends,

We would like to thank you for cooperation with you in our seminar, in Kupiškis. The presentation of klezmer music was very warm, informative and on time – after serious lectures about Holocaust. The teachers very highly evaluated not only the music, but also the information about Yiddish songs, musicians who created this music. That was their unique opportunity to listen Yiddish language, for many of them it was the first time in their life.

Lots of hanks to the Director of Yiddish Center and to its personnel.

Sincerely,

Ingrida Vilkiene

Deputy Director, the coordinator of educational programs