Rabbis from Israel attacked in Vilnius, Jewish community offers support

The Lithuanian Jewish community has expressed shock after an attack on three visiting Israeli rabbis in Vilnius last week, with the community now offering legal assistance to the victims, LRT.lt reports.

A man approached the three men, who were wearing traditional Jewish clothing in a public space, and spat on them. He later posted a video of the incident online, encouraging others to do the same. The 54-year-old attacker was initially detained but later released while collecting funds for legal expenses. Authorities have launched a pre-trial investigation.

Faina Kukliansky, chair of the Lithuanian Jewish Community, confirmed the victims were Israeli rabbis visiting Vilnius after touring Jewish heritage sites in Belarus, including the grave of the Vilna Gaon. She stated that while such incidents are rare in Lithuania, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may influence anti-Semitic behavior. However, she noted that the situation for Jews in Lithuania is better than in some Western European countries, where Jews often avoid wearing traditional clothing to prevent standing out.

Kukliansky added that the attacker’s public call to harm Jews could encourage further incidents. Foreign embassies in Lithuania have also expressed concern, seeking details from the community. The rabbis, who had planned to attend a major event in Vilnius, now feel unsafe. Kukliansky also mentioned a recent anti-Semitic message found on the community’s windows, though victims often hesitate to report such cases to law enforcement.

Rabbi Shalom Ber Krinsky, a Chabad representative in Lithuania, said this was the first such incident he had heard of in Vilnius. He noted that attacks on local Orthodox Jews are extremely rare, and most visibly Orthodox individuals in the city are tourists visiting Jewish sites. Krinsky, who has lived in Vilnius for over 30 years, said public attitudes have improved significantly since the 1990s.

Kukliansky emphasized that the victims’ traditional clothing made them conspicuous, as Lithuania lacks Jewish quarters or large gatherings near synagogues. She also noted that the community cannot legally represent the victims in this case.