Commemorative Events in Šiauliai to Mark the Day of the Rescuers of Lithuanian Jews

On March 15–16, 2026, the Day of the Rescuers of Lithuanian Jews will be commemorated in Šiauliai. Memorial events will be held in the city to mark this day. On March 15, the ceremonial commemoration will take place at the Square of the Righteous Among the Nations (intersection of Ežero and Vilniaus streets). During the event, the names of the Righteous Among the Nations will be read, flowers will be laid, and memorial candles will be lit at the monument engraved with their names. Speeches will be delivered by the chairperson of the Jewish Community of the Šiauliai District, community members, and descendants of the Righteous Among the Nations. On March 16, the commemoration will move to the Šiauliai Cultural Center gallery “Laiptai” (Žemaitės St. 83), where a literary–musical evening “A Song of Memory” will take place. During the event, an exhibition dedicated to the memory of children murdered during the Holocaust will also be presented.
Organizer – Šiauliai Cultural Center. Partners – Jewish Community of the Šiauliai District, Jewish Community of the Šiauliai Region. Friends – Šiauliai Gegužiai Progymnasium, Šiauliai “Saulėtekis” Gymnasium. Events are free of charge.

At the end of 2022, by decision of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, March 15 – the Day of the Rescuers of Lithuanian Jews – was included in the list of commemorative days. This date was chosen deliberately: on March 15, 1966, the Yad Vashem Institute in Israel awarded the title of Righteous Among the Nations to Ona Šimaitė, a librarian at Vilnius University.

During the Nazi occupation years, O. Šimaitė, having permission to visit the Vilnius Ghetto supposedly to return books, would bring essential items to the ghetto, maintain contact with imprisoned people, and when leaving would rescue manuscripts, valuable publications, and even people. For helping Jews, she was arrested and sent to the Dachau concentration camp. This year marks the 60th anniversary since she was awarded the title of Righteous Among the Nations.

The commemoration of the Day of the Rescuers of Lithuanian Jews in Šiauliai will begin on March 15 at 10:30 AM at the Square of the Righteous Among the Nations. During the event, speeches will be delivered by the chairperson of the Jewish Community of the Šiauliai District, Rašella Galinienė, members of the community, and descendants of Lithuanian Jewish rescuers who will share their memories and stories told by their parents and grandparents. The names of the Righteous Among the Nations of the Šiauliai region will be read aloud. Flowers will be laid and memorial candles lit at the monument engraved with their names, and the rescuers of Lithuanian Jews will be honored with a minute of silence.

On the second day of the commemoration, March 16 at 6:00 PM, residents of Šiauliai and guests of the city are invited to the Šiauliai Cultural Center gallery “Laiptai,” where a one-day exhibition dedicated to the memory of children murdered during the Holocaust will be presented, followed by the literary–musical evening “A Song of Memory,” dedicated to the Day of the Rescuers of Lithuanian Jews.

The evening will begin with the opening of the exhibition. The Jewish Community of the Šiauliai Region cooperates with Šiauliai Gegužiai Progymnasium and Šiauliai “Saulėtekis” Gymnasium, which are implementing the international project “The Path of Holocaust Memory: Lives That Speak,” approved by the Olga Lengyel (TOLI) Institute. The aim of the project is to deepen students’ historical knowledge, foster historical memory, develop empathy, historical awareness, and respect for human rights through authentic personal stories.

Šiauliai Gegužiai Progymnasium and Šiauliai “Saulėtekis” Gymnasium are pioneers of implementing the “Butterfly Project” in Lithuania. The essence of this project is to create a symbolic ceramic butterfly for every child murdered during the Holocaust and publicly display it. In this way, the memory of approximately 1.5 million children and young people killed during the Holocaust is commemorated.

At present, 36 biographies of children who perished during the Holocaust in Šiauliai have already been collected. As part of the project, students of Šiauliai “Saulėtekis” Gymnasium prepared historical material and presented it to the students of Šiauliai Gegužiai Progymnasium. Soon the students will begin sculpting and decorating ceramic butterflies together, thus commemorating each child’s story. The exhibition will be presented by religion teachers Elvyra Ramoškienė and Karolina Dambrauskaitė from Šiauliai Gegužiai Progymnasium and Šiauliai “Saulėtekis” Gymnasium.

After the presentation of the exhibition, the literary–musical evening “A Song of Memory” will take place at the gallery “Laiptai.” The program is inspired by the works of the prominent Lithuanian writer and humanist, laureate of the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts, Grigorijus Kanovičius. Based on the work “A Song for Vilnius,” an artistic narrative has been created about the fate of the city, lost and surviving voices, the coexistence of cultures, and the spiritual light that remains despite the trials of history.

Here, the spoken word of literature and live music merge into a sensitive dramaturgical flow, inviting the audience to pause, listen, and remember.

The program will be performed by violinist Dalia Dėdinskaitė, cellist Gleb Pyšniak, and actor Giedrius Arbačiauskas, while the evening will be moderated by writer and public figure Sergejus Kanovičius, who will share personal memories about his father, the birth of his works, and his spiritual connection with Vilnius.

“A Song of Memory” is not only an artistic event but also a meaningful sign of remembrance and respect. In the context of the Day of the Rescuers of Lithuanian Jews, this program becomes a testimony of historical awareness and human courage – a reminder that even in the most difficult times, light, responsibility, and the ability to preserve humanity remain.

Admission with invitations. The number of seats is limited. Invitations are distributed from March 10 at 9:00 AM at the ticket offices of the Šiauliai Cultural Center, the gallery “Laiptai,” and at www.ticketmarket.lt.

Ticket office hours of the Šiauliai Cultural Center on weekdays: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Saturday–Sunday: 1 hour before the event. Ticket office phone: +370 683 57 691.

Šiauliai Cultural Center gallery “Laiptai” opening hours: Tuesday–Friday – 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Saturday – 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, tel. +370 656 59 940.

Photo by Darius Ančerevičius.

Information provided by Kristina Alseikė, Event Organizer of the Exhibition Department of the Šiauliai Cultural Center, tel. +370 658 80 507, e-mail kristina.alseike@siauliukc.lt.