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