Israel’s MKs express strong views on Antisemitism and on protecting the Shnipishok cemetery in Lithuanian from desecration.
JERUSALEM - On the eve of Israel’s elections, Members of the Knesset
expressed their commitment to oppose the planned development of a
conference center on a Jewish cemetery in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Many of the members of the Knesset are children of Holocaust survivors.
Antisemitism and the threat of desecration to the Shnipshok cemetery in which
between 50-70 thousand Jews were laid to rest, is therefore of particular
significance.
In what many believe is a step towards nixing the plan for the
conference center in its entirety, in December 2020 the Lithuanian government
removed the 2021 budget allocation towards expenditure for the proposed
conference center.
The plan was initially inked by Turto bankas and the Vilnius City
Council. The Turto bankas has developed a reputation for supporting and backing
Antisemitic causes. International Jewish
organizations have rallied to express their opposition to the development,
which violates Jewish law, culture and an international Human Rights code of
protecting graves.
The Shnipishok cemetery is of significant importance as it was the
initial burial ground of the Vilna Gaon. Other famous Jewish scholars have also been laid to rest on the property
including, the Rabbi Avraham Danzig, Rabbi Moshe Rivkes (Beor HaGaola), Rabbi
Zvi Hirsch Pesseles, (a relative of the Gaon, whose grandfather, R. Eliyah
Pesseles (d. 1771), helped finance the Gaon’s study activity), distinguished
Kabbalist Rabbi Noah Mindes Lipshutz and Rabbi Yissachar Baer (a younger
brother of the Vilna Gaon).
MK Yakov Margi stated that he will do what ever is necessary
to fight Antisemitism and protect the cemeteries in Europe.
Asked about whether he supported the fight against Antisemitism and
action to prevent the desecration of the Jewish cemetery, MK Shevach Stern said, “As the son of Holocaust survivors, who
lost their families in the gas chambers and crematoria just because they were
Jews, is it even possible to think otherwise?”
MK Yair Lapid said that his party Yesh Atid believes in a zero tolerance policy towards
Antisemitism. Mr. Lapid, leader of the opposition, has spoken out clearly and
consistently against antisemitism from anti-zionists on the far left and
Holocaust revisionists on the far right. A spokesperson from Mr. Lapid’s office
said, “Both Mr. Lapid and the party will continue to do so, because we believe
Israel has a moral responsibility to lead the fight against Antisemitism and
stand shoulder to shoulder with Jewish communities across the world, when they
find themselves under attack. That is the meaning of being one nation, of being
a Jewish family.”
Former IDF Colonel and MK Moti Yogev said that he was committed to supporting
action that would prevent the desecration of the Shnipishok cemetery.
MK Yoav Segalovitz
Deena Pinson Birnbaum, the Communications Advisor for the Blue and White Party said, “Let me state clearly that as a son of
Holocaust survivors, nothing could be more personal to our chairman, Benny Gantz, nor more pertinent to the basic orientation of
our party.”
The sentiments expressed by the Members of Knesset, reflect the strong views which the Israeli
Knesset have, on protecting the Shnipishok cemetery
from desecration and preventing the development of the conference center.
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