“The Jewish Center Kaunas was founded in the year that I arrived to pursue my medical studies. So, I can express my opinion about how it was to study and to grow here together with the Center, and also to see how The Jewish Center came into being developed over the years.
It’s hard to describe what the “clubhouse” meant to me, because it was during such a long period, with so much happening. The experience and the feeling were unique for those who were there.
The Jewish Center for me was a place to study, a place of enrichment and inspiration in Judaism and in our tradition as a Jewish nation, in general, and for my own Judaism, in particular. I learned a lot during the lessons that were always given in an atmosphere of acceptance and pleasantness.
My experience wouldn’t be so wonderful if all those families didn’t come and didn’t share the Israeli experience with us.
They gave so much of themselves every day and every Shabbat, and they made us feel at home, as much as possible, especially on Jewish holidays. I know that each person has a different experience from The Jewish Center, and I think that each person can find his place there. Looking back, I value and appreciate even more each experience in the clubhouse, which included so many things, and I can truly say that I miss it.
And I turn to you – dear Rabbi Moshe and Racheli, his wife – you are doing amazing work there. I think how all those years when I was in Kaunas, so far away from Israel and from where my family lived, how I still felt closer than always to culture, to Judaism and Jewish custom, and now that I am back here in the state of the Jews… I miss it. The lessons, the studying and all the explanations of “why”. Whether I agreed or not, I always enjoyed myself and it is important to be knowledgeable. A big part of that is because of your lessons, your explanations and because of the positive approach you had.
I never felt anything about a rabbi or the definition of a rabbi, but after all this time, if I think seriously about the definition, a person from whom one learns and from whom one receives guidance – then you certainly were the rabbi of our community.”
Dr. Revital Nassimov – Wolfson Hospital, Holon.