2010 was busy, productive year for revived Latvian Jewish community

By Rabbi Menachem BarkahanRIGA, Latvia — Here are some of the highlights of 2010 for Shamir, the Jewish community of Latvia: 

The Riga  Ghetto  and  Latvian  Holocaust  museum  were  opened in September  2010 http://www.rgm.lv/?lang=en

 The Second International Festival of Jewish culture gathered more than 4, 000  visitors  for  10  events  in  Latvia  and  Lithuania, including international  celebrities of Jewish music .

A   “Steps for Life,” march  was conducted July 4, in memory of 90,000 murdered  Latvian Jews.  The march attracted about 700 participants from Latvia and abroad.  Conducted in  the  streets  of the  former  Riga  ghetto, the march  ended at  the Gogol synagogue memorial,  where candles ner neshama were lighted.

A  street  was named after Chief Rabbi of Riga and Latvia, Nathan Barkan,  the first one in Eastern Europe named after an Orthodox rabbi. 

An  “Each  child  has  a  name” rally was conducted Sept. 2, with the  names of 16 000 Jewish   children  killed  in  Latvia in the Holocaust recited in Vermanes  park. 

The  Jewish  Encyclopedia  of  Latvia announced the completion of the editing  of 6 000 entries. 

The program of Shamir  for 2011 is now being finalized. 

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Preceding provided by Shamir, a non-profit religious organization serving the Jews of Latvia