Events in Canada presenting the history and cultural heritage of Lithuanian Jews
On March 3-5, 2024, the Embassy of Lithuania in Canada organized the concerts in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, presenting the history and cultural heritage of Lithuanian Jewish community.
The specially arranged program with musical pieces by Lithuanian and international composers was performed by Lithuanian and Canadian artists - opera soloist Rafailas Karpis, pianist Darius Mažintas, violinist Atis Bankas and cellist Jonathan Tortolano.
The concert in Toronto was held at the Bernard Bethel Jewish Centre, with participation by Minister of Mental Health and Addictions of Canada, Ya'ara Saks, whose family also has roots in Lithuania. The Ottawa event, held at the residence of Japanese Ambassador, was organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan in Canada and paid tribute to the memory of Chiune Sugihara, the Righteous Among the Nations. In Montreal, the concert took place at the Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, one of the largest and longest-running synagogues in North America.
Embassy's events attracted the attention of representatives of the main Jewish organizations in Ottawa and Canada (Jewish Federation Ottawa, CIJA, B'nai B'rith, Holocaust Monument), members of the diplomatic corps, and the Lithuanian Canadian, Jewish and other communities.