It has become a tradition that on the first Sunday of autumn, September 1st, the Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) Community invites Vilnius residents and guests to join all of Europe in celebrating European Jewish Culture Day. The festival, taking place in many European countries, will delight with a wide variety of events from early morning, showcasing the diversity and richness of Jewish culture, its regional distinctiveness, and its importance to local communities.

As every year, a common theme is chosen. This year, the focus is on FAMILY. This symbolic theme, like a bridge to the yet undiscovered heritage of Jewish culture, reveals the most diverse aspects of Jewish family life – the importance of genealogy, marriage traditions, parent-child relationships, family rituals, separation, and reunion.

#Family will be the main leitmotif of all events taking place on September 1st. On Sunday morning, the Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) community invites you to a Hebrew language lesson, a tour of Jewish Vilnius, family challah baking at the "Beigelių krautuvėlė" (Bagel Shop), an open-air workshop by one of Lithuania's most prominent artists, Raimondas Savickas, a meeting with the renowned Lithuanian animator and artist Ilya Bereznitsky, sports activities with the Lithuanian sports club "Makabi", a performance by children from the Vilnius Sholom Aleichem Ort Gymnasium, Israeli dances with Julia Patašnik, a meeting with one of the world's most influential women, Leslie Udwin, founder of the "Think Equal" movement and of Litvak roots, the opening of an exhibition of works by one of the most famous Litvak artists, Theo Tobiasse, from the collection of Dr. Samuel Tatz, living in New York, the concert "Fiddles of Hope" featuring tenor Rafail Karpis, violinist Dalia Dėdinskaitė, cellist Glebas Pyšniakas, and other performers, a comedy performance by Žilvinas Kerbelis, a discussion at the #ŽydiškiPašnekesiai club moderated by publicist Arkadijus Vinokur, a blessing for the whole family by cantor Shmuel Yatomo, and other interesting events taking place at the Vilnius Choral Synagogue, the "Beigelių krautuvėlė" (Bagel Shop), the J. Heifetz Hall of the Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) Community, and the "Cvi Park" leisure and creativity space.

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