There are interesting thoughts on this theme by A. Shtromas in his "The Jewish and Gentile Experience of the Holocaust: A Personal Perspective". I could not find this article in its entirety online – but I do have it in my book Aleksandras Stromas "Laisves Horizontai" ISBN 9955-429-45-3.

There also was a short article by him in LA Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1991-09-24/local/me-2…

CommentsLikeUnlike 0 people liked this

I assume that Mr. Melamed’s reference to Dr. Irena Veisaite agreeing “with the antisemitic establishment’s evaluation of the life’s work of Dr. Efraim Zuroff”
refers to her Nov. 10, 2011, post here, where she states “I fully agree with Mr. Jonata’s (sic) evaluation of Zuroff”.

I do not belong to any establishment or any organization, and I speak only on behalf of myself. I have over the years admired and applauded most of Israel’s
hard fought victories – in the wars it had to fight, in the Entebbe rescue, and others, including, not the least, the successful establishment of the State of Israel. Simply because I do not agree with all of Israel’s policies, or even with the views of all Jews, is no cause to impute to me bad motives or refer to me as belonging to some antisemitic establishment.

Nor was I commenting on Zuroff life’s work. I am not familiar with his entire life’s work. But I am familiar with his writings and statements over the last few years on Jewish/Lithuanian relations, and it is clear that in many of his statements understanding and reconciliation is not what he is seeking or promoting.

The Holocaust was the most terrible tragedy in Europe. I have sincerely and honestly tried hard to understand this painful history. I apologize if, as everyone else, I may sometimes say something in error, but to the extent we simply have differences of opinion, that is no reason to question my motives.

CommentsLikeUnlike 0 people liked this

First of all, I would like to note that I have never thought that Dr Irena Veisaite represents anybody else but herself – leave alone "high Lithuanian government officials" (IMHO insinuations regarding someones integrity without any proof do not speak well of the person who writes this). However, now it is abundantly clear that the Association of Lithuanian Jews in Israel does not approve of what she said.

I follow this discussion in the Lith media, but it is not a full time job for me – as it might be for some of the posters here. So I will provide my superficial impressions regarding the current state of affairs.

In general, there is a disconnect of what is presented in Lithuania and what is presented in international media regarding the current state of the affairs on this issue. For example, in Lithuanian media one can read S. Suziedelis, I. Veisaite, L. Donskis, E. Zingeris, A. Vinokuras, T. Venclova, S. Kanovicius; on the other hand, in English speaking media we see Mr. E. Zuroff, D. Katz and some others. The first group influences the Lithuanian public directly, the other – through the outside. The focal points also differ somewhat also. IMHO, the first approach is more effective since it comes from people who have very close ties to Lithuania and it educates the electorate; the second – while it is very loud outside – does not always reach the politicians who ultimately represent the public and can who could make the change.

It is clear that the Holocaust is a tragedy of enormous proportions- and I am personally very sorry for it. IMHO the problem is that many people in the government do not understand what is asked of them. There was an article in the media that described the return of the Torah to Israel. Apparently, the Lithuanian government thought it was a nice gesture, but when there was a hand-over in Israel the people who were there expressed their content that finally they pried the sacred text from the bloody Lithuanian hands – and apparently that was instead of a simple "Thank you". I can see how that could confuse some official.

Please, keep in mind that for 50 years nobody talked about this issue – it was not like Germany where they had a chance to clean their house right after WWII. The older generation (born in 1940-1950) is frequently ignorant of this issue. And – unfortunately – the homo sovieticus mentality is still alive in some quarters. This is not an excuse though, but hopefully it gives some understanding from where the other side is coming from.

The government does what it thinks should solve problems only find new ones. President Brazauskas apologized for what has happened in Israel in 1995; the Holocaust education now is included in schools; there commemorative plaques and markers put in places of Ghettoes and killings; there are numerous TV shows. I know that is not enough, but one should start somewhere.

Now regarding the comment 1. For a moment I thought what the poster who calls himself Jurgis means. The posting is very stereotypical, there is no nuance and it seems to me no knowledge of present day (post WWII, post-Holocaust, post-soviet) Lithuania. Simple answer would be – what else should they do on top of what they are doing (see paragraph above)? Interfere with the judiciary? (sadly only 22% of people trust it as indicated in an article in vilnews.lt)

The change is starting at the bottom. People are more and more aware of the Holocaust. I agree with Dr. Irena Veisaite – we have to build bridges. As the saying goes "you cannot antagonize and persuade at the same time". It will take time and patience – and I am hopeful.

CommentsLikeUnlike 0 people liked this

I find the reply by Jurigis (reply No.1) ignorant of all facts he mentioned. First of all Jurgis wrote “Dr.Veisaite is lucky to be one of the few Jews of Lithuania not killed. No one after WWII was lucky. All Lithuanians of all faiths and ethnic back grounds one way or another suffered. He then wrote “ As the Lithuanian population as a whole either directly participated or stood by and watched the annihilation of Lithuanian Jewry in 1941-1944.” I strongly disagree.For example, neither of my wife’s grandfathers participated or stood by and watched” because they were taken to Germany to work in labor camps for most of the war as were thousands of other Lithuanians. In June of 1941 for the second time during the war the Soviets deported thousands of Lithuanians to Siberia and other locals,so I guess he means that they “stood by and watched” while they were performing slave labor in Siberia. Rural Lithuanians who did not live anywhere near towns which had Jewish populations were not even in a place or able to help anyone especially when their own lives were constantly in danger. Yet he condemns “the Lithuanian population as a whole” not knowing of what he speaks.
I am a third generation Lithuanian Catholic with roots since 1890 in Chicago and not afraid to put my full name down. I am definitely not embarrassed by my fellow countrymen who were victims of the war against Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia.
Vilius Zalpys

CommentsLikeUnlike 0 people liked this

Dr. Veisaite is lucky to be one of the few Jews of Lithuania not killed in Lithuania; 95% of all Jews in Lithuania during the war, were murdered. As the Lithuanian population as a whole either directly participated or stood by and watched the annihilation of Lithuanian Jewry in 1941 – 1944, it is the Lithuania at large, including every Lithuanian institution (i.e., the gov't, media, church, etc.) which needs not only to make a verbal apology but take consistent concrete steps in rectifying the actions of their bloody hands.

I am a second generation Lithuanian Catholic from Chicago who is embarrassed by my fellow countrymen in their attempt to whitewash their actions during the war, including my relatives, who quickly moved into a furnished home of a Jewish family even before they were executed. It is time for the leadership of Lithuania to end and cease in their anti-Semitism, and state the role of Lithuanians in their annihiliation of all of their Jewish neighbors and that they will take the necessary steps to educate their country in this regards.

CommentsLikeUnlike 0 people liked this

[…]  Joseph A. Melamed: Re: Article by Dr. Irena Veisaite […]

CommentsLikeUnlike 0 people liked this