Israel-Lithuania relations and the year of the Vilna Gaon - opinion

• Published date: 07 January 2021
• Author: GABI ASHKENAZI
• Date: 07 January 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The year was also dedicated to the 700-year-old rich history of Jews in Lithuania. Unique Lithuanian shtetls nurtured not only religious thinkers and scholars, but also world famous Jewish artists. It was under the Lithuanian sky that Marc Chagall discovered his gift of painting. Memories of Lithuania offered inspiration to the contemporary Israeli writer Grigori Kanovich, inspired Emmanuel Levinas's existentialist ideas and the sounds of Lea Goldberg's poems.

While we celebrate the uniqueness of Jewish history in Lithuania, we also remember the tragedy of the Holocaust and the pain it left behind. Together, we commit to accurately remember, and sincerely and honestly approach the past, as painful as that may be.

While working to commemorate our past, we also developed new ideas, identified new challenges and searched for new solutions. By commemorating the past, we create the road to our future.

When Lithuania regained its independence 30 years ago, Israel was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Lithuania. Today our countries enjoy strong and ever-developing relations, from trade and tourism to science cooperation; and from technology and innovation in banking, transportation and energy to cooperation in the military and security arenas. Alongside, there is an ever more developing and intensive political dialogue.

Together we can become co-creators, joining...