Along with its usual participants, on March 19, students, their parents, teachers, and director of the Vilnius Sholom Aleichem Jewish Secondary School were invited to the LJC Sunday lecture series. That day, instead of the traditional lecture, the audience was presented with a programme called "Lech-lech", which translated from the Hebrew means “the way to oneself”.

In her introductory word, Maša Grodnikienė, assistant to the LJC chairman, congratulated those in attendance who were preparing for their bar- and bat-mitzvah – the most important event in the life of many Jewish boys and girls. “We're three months away from this great celebration, which will take place in Vilnius. We intend to invite not only the students from the Sholom Aleichem school, but all of Lithuania's Jewish students to Vilnius, to mark their coming of age this year according to Jewish traditions (for boys from the age of 13, for girls from the age of 12),” – said M.Grodnikienė. She invited the parents to help their children prepare for this celebration. “During the Soviet period a number of our traditional customs were lost, and it is the responsibility of our generation to revive them,” – stated M.Grodnikienė.

The director of the Sholom Aleichem school stated that bar- and bat-mitzvahs will definitely become a great community celebration, a celebration for each one of its members. He described how his coming of age was marked back in 1962, in the Soviet time. Prior to the proclamation of Lithuania's independence, none of the traditional Jewish holidays, including bar- and bat-mitzvahs were celebrated openly. Jewish children could not observe their national traditions; M.Jakobas' bar-mitzvah was celebrated however, and his parents gave him a wrist-watch, a very expensive present at the time, for the occasion. He has held onto that wrist-watch to this day.

M.Jakobas thanked the heads of the LJC for their intention to organize the celebration, and said that he hoped that the joint efforts of the regional communities, the school, parents and students will guarantee a successful period of preparation for the bar- and bat-mitzvahs.

Simonas Gurevičius gave a comprehensive explanation of the meaning of the words "Lech-lech". According to him they signify the way towards discovering oneself, to knowing oneself through good works done for those who most need our attention and help – e.g., elderly people who cannot get out on their own. Contact is useful not only for these people, who feel that they are not forgotten, that they are taken care of by the younger generation in our community, but also for the young people, who remember their responsibility for the future destiny of our community, and who revive relationships between people of different generations. To do good for those around us, to help those in need is a way to get to know oneself, a way to self-improvement.

The students from the Sholom Aleichem school who are preparing to celebrate their bar- and bat-mitzvahs this year were invited onto the stage. Each of them was given an envelope with two letters: one for the child, and another for the parents, with a list of the good jobs that the student can perform, and the ways in which the parents can help. And most importantly, in this envelope the children were given the address of a person whom the entire family can help, can take responsibility for. Ella Mazin, a Hebrew teacher from Israel who has come to work at the Sholom Aleichem school, gave the children their envelopes, and sweets – as a reminder that good works must be done with pleasure.

The "Lech-lech" presentation ceremony included a concert by the school “Simcha” ensemble, prepared by Marina Gurvich and Jovita Štikelienė.

Lietuvos žydų bendruomenės laikraštis “Lietuvos Jeruzalė'' 2006.