The Lithuanian Government supports national communities, there is a special governmental institution that deals with issues concerning national minorities (The Department of National Affairs). A lot of laws, acts, resolutions have been passed that strive to ensure equal rights for everyone. All the Governments that ruled Lithuania in the past ten years, were and are favorable to Jews, support our activities. An example could be the State Commission that organized the jorzait of the Gaon. The Commission was set up by the special Decree of the President. Nonetheless the anti-Semitism is here, time to time it gets stronger. Anti-Semitic articles are published in certain newspapers, some of TV programs have a shade of anti-Semitism. Sometimes Jewish monuments or houses are desecrated by anti-Jewish slogans and symbols. During the last municipal elections the Mayor of Kaunas was elected N. Shustauskas, infamous for his anti-Semitic statements. Recently the Lithuanian National-socialistic party held its statutory meeting in Shiauliai. Its constitution in essence advocates the national-socialist ideas, however, they disguise it under a slightly changed name thus hoping to be easier registered at the Ministry of Justice.
The Lithuanian press publishes articles that condemn anti-Semitism, however, we think that Lithuanian intellectuals are not very active in this field. We especially lacked the weighty word of the Church, realizing that Lithuania is a catholic country and that people have great confidence in the Church. The Vatican document "We remember: Shoa reflections" has not been published in the press. However, recently, on April 14, 2000, the Lithuanian bishops published a statement of repentance. In the statement they apologize for the failure of the Church to do all that was in its power to prevent the believers from participation in the slaughter of Jews during the Nazi occupation. The statement also condemns anti-Semitism. We hope that this document will influence the moods of the society.
The Board of the Jewish Community of Lithuania constantly considers the problems of the fight against anti-Semitism. At the beginning of the running year we have prepared a sophisticated concept regarding the protection of Jews against anti-Semitism.