The axiom ''Hashem runs the world'' is commonly expressed,
but in most cases, we only begin to glean a glimmer of
understanding into His processes in retrospect.
Such is the case in the recently concluded agreement between
the
government of Lithuania and the London-based
Committee for the
Preservation of Jewish Cemeteries in Europe (CPJCE) that
will halt
new development and construction at the historic Jewish
cemetery
at Snipiskes in Vilna (Vilnius).
The agreement brings a happy ending
to years of conflict and extensive negotiations, as first
highlighted in
Mishpacha [Issue 166, Facts Under the Ground.]
''We have seen things which were mamash nissim, in that there
were a lot of interesting circumstances and events that
happened to
help get this deal concluded,'' said CPJCE Executive Director
Rabbi
Abraham Ginsberg in a telephone interview with Mishpacha.
The Turning Point
The conflict emerged about four
years ago when a well-connected private
developer received approval from the Vilnius
Municipality to develop a residential and
business center at the site of the cemetery,
which had served Vilna's Jewish kehillah for
more than 300 years. The cemetery ran out
of space and had been closed to new burials
in the 1830s. The Nazis razed it during
WWII, and under the subsequent Russian
occupation, the remaining tombstones were
removed and a sports complex was erected.
With great effort, the Jewish community was
able to reinter the Vilna Gaon, the famous
Ger Tzedek Avraham ben Avraham, and a
few other tzaddikim in Vilna's newer Jewish
cemetery.
The Jewish community had thirteen
different maps delineating the possible
boundaries of the cemetery. Lithuanian
authorities insisted that the boundaries were
much narrower. The CPJCE even hired
geologists to map the site with groundpenetrating
radar to try and prove the
existence of gravesites. Protests were held at
the site and ongoing negotiations, including
pressure from both the US Congress and the
British ambassador, forced Lithuania to take
the protests seriously.
There were already signs from Heaven
that perhaps the site was not ''suitable''
for development. The Soviet-built sports
hall had fallen into disuse. Other buildings
erected on the site collapsed. Even the
current construction plan was dealt a major
setback when a Norwegian bank backed out
of its lease due to the negative publicity.
However, the government remained
steadfast — until last year's election, that is,
when Andrius Kubilius was elected prime
minister, and he appointed a new cabinet.
''The turning point for us,'' says Rabbi Ginsberg, ''happened
when
the Lithuanian ambassador to London, [Vygaudas Usackas] who had
been advising us in our dealings with the government, was
named
foreign minister. As a senior member of the cabinet, he
really pushed
things forward.''
Why do you think the foreign minister was so interested in
helping in a Jewish matter?
Rabbi Ginsberg: ''He clearly stressed more than once that he
was impressed by our conviction and determination to save
the
cemetery and he was also convinced that we had no interest
other
than preserving the ancient Jewish cemetery according to
Jewish law
and tradition. In short, this was a special act of siyata
d'Shmaya and
Hasgachah pratis.''
While the agreement between Lithuania and the CPJCE does
not call for demolition of the remaining buildings at the
site, it does
recognize and incorporate the boundaries
contained in all thirteen maps, and with an
additional buffer area, the burial grounds
will now be officially recognized as a
protected heritage site under Lithuanian
law.
Rabbi Ginsberg says this is the CPJCE's
third major victory this year, including the
renovation and rededication of the old
Jewish cemetery in Gdansk Poland, which
contains more than 40,000 Jewish graves;
and the reburial of some 120 Jews at the
ancient Jewish cemetery in Toledo, Spain,
thwarting government plans to remove the
remains entirely from the site to make way
for expansion of a school.
In addition to Hashem's helping Hand,
Rabbi Ginsberg says that patience and
determination pays off. ''Some people think
you have to make a lot of noise and raise a
scandal. Our motif has always been that
with proper negotiations, understandings,
and slowly working with the authorities,
we can achieve the desired results.''
— Binyamin Rose
