Media4Change talks with S. Kerbelis.

2020 was the year of Vilnius Gaon and Jewish history. Over the years, we have seen a fairly large number of historical and cultural publications, and the number remains high this year as well. What did this year mean for the Jewish community?

Our history is important to Jews and Litvaks, as is the case for any other nation. All the more so as it was an opportunity to remind people of the Jews who had lived in Lithuania for centuries and who had given a lot to Lithuania. And secondly, the Jews themselves learned a lot, because most Jews in the Soviet era did not have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with traditions or learn about their history because of the Holocaust and then the Soviet occupation. There were limited opportunities.

Have you noticed a greater media interest in the Jewish community and its history last year? Maybe you or other members of your community have been approached more often?

I think so, and we have contributed quite a bit to that. I can even brag a bit that the very first event dedicated to the year of Jewish history was organized by us, the Jewish community of Šiauliai County. On our initiative, Lina Mumgaudytė’s exhibition on Jewish women artists in the interwar period was organized in Šiauliai. Despite the pandemic and its limitations, we did a huge number of dedicated events. Not necessarily only dedicated to the Year of the Gaon, although we did that as well. We were probably the only ones who organized a lecture featuring a Rabbi from the Conference of European Rabbis last year at the Povilas Višinskis library. At least I haven’t heard of any other event in Lithuania in which a rabbi would be talking about Gaon.

Would you say that Jewish community initiatives contribute to building the image of the community the most?

In my opinion, yes. There is interest on the part of the public as well, but for the public to be interested, of course, our initiative must come first, because that is our history first and foremost. Of course, that is a shared history of Lithuania, because Jews were a part of Lithuanian history and culture, but I strongly believe that Jews themselves should take the initiative. This is our history, Litvak history, and we should remind people of it, and then there will be public interest.

I can say that at least in Šiauliai region we really do get support from the society and many people participate in our events, both cultural and sports. By the way, this year is also an exceptional year for Šiauliai – 100 years since the establishment of Šiauliai “Makabi” sports club. This is basically the beginning of Šiauliai organized sports. We proposed to the public and the municipality to declare Šiauliai the year of the sports century and the municipality did it. There already are and there will be a number of dedicated events, although the pandemic is forcing us to make adjustments.

Do you think that the public would be sufficiently informed about the history of Lithuanian Jews without the involvement of the Jewish community?

I think so. I am talking more about Šiauliai county, but here the media willingly write about us. I have to mention the “Šiauliai kraštas” newspaper, Šiauliai Television – really a lot of attention is paid to Jewish culture. There is really a lot written about our community and Jewish culture in general.

Of the groups monitored by Media4Change, Jews are portrayed most positively in the media. However, we also see reports of discrimination and hatred in the media. Is the situation of the Jewish community in Lithuania as good as the numbers show?

Indeed, the situation is now favorable for Jews to achieve what they want in both cultural and religious fields. There is a little domestic anti-Semitism, but as far as public support is concerned, there is certainly a huge interest and there is no negative attitude against us. But again, it also depends on the communities themselves – how communities are able to present themselves and how they cooperate with neighbors, other organizations, society itself. We succeed at that, at least in Šiauliai county.

What aspects of the current Jewish community do you think are not adequately covered? What would you like the public to know?

I don’t think we need more attention. In my opinion, everyone should get the same amount of spotlight. If a community is able to do something that can interest the public, then that is covered. For example, we organize a number of sporting events. Although we do not have a large community, and there are not so many athletes, we take the initiative to do tournaments, bike rides, do exhibitions, lecture series. We try to cover it ourselves, but the public covers us as well and there is that interest.

For example, a few days ago we opened an exhibition with the Kaunas religious community in the Joniškis Museum of History and Culture, in the former synagogue. Even the mayor of Joniškis came to the opening of the exhibition, that is, he supported it and found the time to participate. I think that’s an example of showing a lot of attention.

To say my honest opinion, some leaders of the Jewish community demand more of that attention sometimes, but I would say this is a delusion of grandeur. I think that the attention and support is really enough, you just need to show more initiative and create things. Then everything will be fine.