Remains of the Old Jewish Cemetery, destroyed by Soviet authorities, in Vilna, Lithuania.
Photo Credits: Shutterstock/Renata Apanaviciene
Agudath Israel and the entire Jewish world is pleased that the Lithuanian government has reversed its decision to build a conference center on the Old Jewish Cemetery in the Shnipeshok section of Vilna. The cemetery is the resting place of all Jews who died in Vilna between 1593 and 1830, among whom are many great tzadikim including the Chayei Adam and the Be'er HaGolah.
The battle to preserve the Shnipeshok cemetery has been ongoing for many years. Rabbonim and askonim across the globe have been deeply involved in the effort. The matter even reached the table of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America, who sent an impassioned letter in 2020 to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda imploring him to do all in his power to block the proposed development and protect the cemetery.
"The cemetery in Shnipeshok occupies a prominent place in the hearts of Jews the world over. Great sages and scholars, whose piety and leadership are revered still today, and whose written scholarship is studied today, are buried there. All cemeteries deserve respect; the Old Jewish Cemetery in Shnipeshok deserves special respect," they wrote.
"We are pleased to report this week that the plans for construction were suspended by the government of Lithuania. We commend the government of Lithuania for making the right decision on this important matter," said Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, executive vice president of Agudath Israel of America.
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Agudath Israel Praises Arizona for Calling Out Ben & Jerry's for Boycotting Israel
Photo Credits: Aguda via Shutterstock/ByLucky-photographer
Agudath Israel of America commends Governor Doug Ducey and the state of Arizona for taking formal action against Unilever, the parent company of Ben & Jerry's, in response to Ben & Jerry's decision to stop all sales in Judea, Samaria, and East Jerusalem.
Governor Ducey has said that Arizona will not do business with companies that boycott Israel. Arizona's state treasurer has reportedly given Unilever 90 days to be in compliance with the state's law.
Arizona is the eighth state to investigate taking formal action against Unilever and Ben & Jerry's for Ben & Jerry's boycott. Other states that are investigating action under anti-BDS state laws or Executive Orders include New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Maryland, and Rhode Island.
Rabbi Ariel Shoshan of Ahavas Torah, the Scottsdale Torah Center, praised his state's response, saying, "The Arizona law the governor is enforcing was passed to combat the BDS movement, which calls for boycotts, divestment, and sanctions against Israel in an attempt to destroy Israel economically. The movement is rooted in antisemitism. We are pleased that Arizona has joined the growing list of states taking serious action against Ben & Jerry's and Unilever for their discriminatory boycott."
Rabbi David Zwiebel, executive vice president of Agudath Israel, added that "we call on all of the remaining states that have anti-BDS boycott statutes or Executive Orders to take action to enforce them against Ben & Jerry's and Unilever, and to do so promptly. The lesson for all companies to learn is that if you boycott Israel, your company will be boycotted by many American states that will no longer do business with you or invest in your company. There is no more effective way to stop companies from supporting the anti-Israel and antisemitic BDS movement."
Some twenty states have laws or Executive Orders that bar them from doing business with and/or investing in companies that boycott Israel, explicitly including the territories. At least a dozen more have laws or Executive Orders that prohibit the state from doing business with or investing in companies that are engaged in discriminatory boycotts Agudath Israel continues to call upon all of these states to take action against Unilever and Ben & Jerry's.
