From December 4 to 11, the Jews of Lithuania, Israel and countries around the world celebrated one of their most important calendar holidays, Hanukkah.

From generation to generation the Jews tell the story of how the Greek Seleucid dynasty conquered Judaea in the 3rd century BCE, and how it was ruled from the year 170 BCE by Antiochus IV Epiphanus (the Great). Antiochus demanded total control over the conquered nations, and issued laws forbidding the Jews to practise their own religion and traditional customs: circumcision was proclaimed a crime, and the Sabbath, Jewish holidays, and Jewish names were banned. The Jewish people were forced to observe Greek cult rituals, and to eat pork. Greek rulers had the right to spend the first night with newlywed women. The final straw was the statue of Zeus erected in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem.

When the talk turns to Lithuania's synagogues, it is usually remembered that before the Second World War there were more than a hundred of them in Vilnius. The city was an example of Jewish faith and sanctity – Jerusalem of Lithuania. In 1943 Vilnius became “Judenfrei” – the Jews were almost totally annihilated, and the few that remained were taken away to concentration camps.

On December 17, 2006 in Klaipėda there was a celebration, commemorating miracle – the liberation of Jews from the yoke of the Syrian empire of Seleucids. Over 180 members of the “Gesher” club from Vilnius, Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Panevėžys came to the event.

This year, as al­ways on the oc­ca­sion of Cha­nu­kah, the Je­wish Com­mu­ni­ty and the Je­wish Re­li­gious Com­mu­ni­ty ex­ten­ded their gree­tings to all the Jews of Lit­hua­nia, and wis­hed that the light of this ce­leb­ra­tion il­lu­mi­na­te their li­ves... that the mi­rac­le of Cha­nu­kah bring joy to each mem­ber of the com­mu­ni­ty.

 Ce­leb­ra­tions we­re held at the child­ren's "Du­bi" (3-7 years), "Ilan" (7-15 years), and "Kna­faim" (15-18 years) clubs, at the Sun­day lec­tu­re se­ries, the "Abi men zet zich" se­niors' club, the "Fa­jer­lech" en­semb­le, Je­wish stu­dents' so­cie­ty, and at the Je­wish com­mu­ni­ties in Рiau­liai, Pa­nev­ežys, and Kau­nas. Mem­bers of the "Ges­her" club vi­si­ted the Klaipeda Je­wish com­mu­ni­ty.

 Cha­nu­kah was al­so ce­leb­ra­ted at the Vil­nius cho­ral Ta­ha­rot ha-Ko­desh sy­na­go­gue.

According to a long-held tradition, after the Pesach holiday the Kaunas Jewish Community organizes a meeting with people living in Kaunas and environs who took part in helping to rescue prisoners from the Kovno and other ghettoes during the war years. This year they met at the "Takioji Neris" restaurant. In the course of these evenings the rescuers recount how they helped Jewish people during those years. Afterwards we present the rescuers with symbolic gifts. This year we gave them matzos, honey, and a chance at a "lottery".

"J of L" had announced that March 19 saw the beginning of a Lech-Lecho movement, which became a kind of overture to our children's Bar and Bat Mitzvah. At that time it was said that the most important element for preparing for their Bar and Bat Mitzvah was good works by the children for those who most need attention and assistance - infirm elderly people, some of whom can no longer even leave their homes without help. All of the children who were preparing for their coming-of-age made efforts to carry out their responsibilities.

On March 13 - 15 the Jews of Lithuania celebrated one of the most cheerful holidays of the Jewish calendar – Purim.  The celebration of Purim in Vilnius was held at the Choral Synagogue Taharat Hakodesh with over 200 people who gather there.