History 1932 to 1990

Adv. Joseph A. Melamed

The Association was initially established in 1932 as a cooperative society in Israel. Its task back then was limited to helping new immigrants.

A turning point came immediately following World War Two with the mass immigration to Israel of Holocaust survivors and refugees, among them thousands of Lithuanian Jews. The late Reuven Rubinstein, former editor of the “Yiddishe Shtime” was appointed President of the Association and under his leadership the standing of the Association was greatly improved both in Israel and among Lithuanian expatriate Jewry in other countries.

During Rubinstein's term of office the first three volumes of the history of Lithuanian Jewry -“Yahadut Lita” were published. This was accomplished together with the ongoing and critical assistance to new Lithuanian Jewish immigrants,.especially those who found themselves destitute. Among other projects initiated at that time was, was the construction of the "Shikun Lita" housing scheme in Ramat Sharon, with the help of the Lithuanian Jewry of Philadelphia.

A significant contribution was also made to the activities of the Association, by the late Jacob Oleisky, the then Director General of the “Ort” network of vocational training schools in Israel. During his term the activities of the Association reached record levels. Although assistance to the needy remained a priority for the Association, Oleisky expanded the scope of Association projects to include commemoration of the Lithuanian Jewish Holocaust victims and organization and promotion of cultural activities.

Since Lithuania was once again ruled by the Communist Soviet Union, there was no opportunity during the four decades and more following the war, for any form of political or diplomatic engagement on bilateral issues between the Soviet Lithuanian Republic and Lithuanian Jewish diaspora.

------About the Ass

With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, Lithuania regained its independence. It was hoped that the new independent Lithuanian regime would start to seriously address the issue of the Holocaust of Lithuanian Jewry in contrast to the lack of interest demonstrated by the Soviet regime.

The subsequent disappointment was great, given the fact that Lithuania had publicly condemned the Soviet occupation of1940 and its policies in general regarding their country. As regards the Holocaust, they continued to falsify the real history of the Holocaust, endorsing the Soviet view that the Germans alone bore the overwhelming responsibility for the genocide of Lithuanian Jews with Lithuanian participation limited to a few individuals with criminal backgrounds.

The policy towards Jews of succesive governments in present day Lithuania became extremely negative. They passed racist legislation, refused to arrest and prosecute murderers of Jews and instead granted them complete rehabilitation. Furthermore they refused to restitute the civil rights to the Jews of Lithuania and discuss the return of looted Jewish property and assets. Worst of all, the country has been rocked by waves of anti-Semitism that reminded Lithuanian Jews of dark days in their past.

These developments led a group of former partisans and members of the Zionist underground in the Ghetto of Kaunas (Kovno) to convene a special conference in Caesarea in 1990.The group published a memorandum describing the situation in Lithuania. The memorandum was submitted to the Israeli Government of the day and circulated to numerous bodies and private individuals throughout the world.

The group then followed this with the publication a journal called: ‘Lithuania, Crime and Punishment” (See issue # 7 on this site) which explained the danger inherent in Lithuanian efforts to falsify the history of the Holocaust perpetrated on Lithuanian soil.

In 1992 the then Association Chairman, Dr Abba Geffen, in consultation with the Association's executive management adopted this policy of political activism.

In 1996 a new Association Management team headed by advocate Joseph A. Melamed was elected. It initiated the following program of action to address those issues relating to present day Lithuania and its government's policies, a move that reflected the expansion of the Association's activities.

1. Resolutely oppose and act against the falsification of the history of the Holocaust.

2. Demand that the murderers of Lithuanian Jews be brought to justice and annul outright the rehabilitation granted to such individuals.

3. Demand the restitution of civil rights and looted Jewish property and assets both private and communal.

4. Document and preserve the cultural and spiritual heritage of Lithuanian Jewry, Jewish struggle and resistance in the Lithuanian Ghettos and partisans and as soldiers serving in the Allied Armies.

5. Attract and involve the next generation in the activities of the Association.

6. Extend welfare and assistance to the needy among Lithuanian Jews.

7. Work for the well being of our people and establish a fitting meeting place for the benefit of our members.

Adv.Joseph A. Melamed

UPDATE 2009 - newly elected board is reviewing the purpose and mission statement of the Association and will announce its recommendations in due course