Wednesday, 19 July 2023

J’accuse Panel Discussion Regarding the Lithuanian Holocaust Fraud

Last night, B’nai B’rith NSW hosted a poignant and edifying event; a panel discussion regarding the documentary about the Lithuanian Holocaust fraud. Over 80 attendees gathered at the venue to hear Michael Kretzmer, Grant Gochin, and Silvia Foti offer compelling evidence and shed light on the darkest chapter in Lithuanian history.

The event, which took place in our Centre, was an opportunity for the community to come together and hear the painful truths of the past while also acknowledging the need to hold the Lithuanian Government accountable for its murderous history. Before World War II, Lithuania had a significant Jewish population, estimated at around 250,000 people, which accounted for about 7-8% of the country’s total population. Vilnius, the capital, was known as the “Jerusalem of the North” due to its vibrant Jewish community. By 1941, and prior to the German occupation, the Lithuanian Jewish community was decimated when over 220,000 Jews, more than 95% of the Jewish population, were murdered. A key player in the massacre was Lithuanian nationalist Jonas Noreika, who today is revered as a national hero, and protected by the contemporary government’s official policy and infamous Lithuanian Genocide and Resistance Research Centre.

Michael Kretzmer, director of the film J’accuse, provided valuable insights into the plight of Lithuanian Jews during World War II. Kretzmer’s documentary recounts the horrors faced by Lithuanian Jews, during those dark times.

Grant Gochin, has been an activist for over 30 years. Gochin has investigated and worked to prosecute more than a dozen Lithuanian leaders who participated in or were complicit in Lithuanian Holocaust activities, seeking to strip them of state honors, most notably Jonas Noreika, responsible for murdering nearly 100 of Gochin’s family members. Gochin’s extensive research and commitment to seeking justice for the victims of the Holocaust resonated deeply with the audience.

Silvia Foti, a descendant of Jonas Noreika, a Lithuanian military officer who was implicated in the mass murder of Jews during the Holocaust, shared her emotional journey of uncovering her family’s past. Her book, “The Nazi’s Granddaughter,” which delves into her family’s dark history, has become a testament to the importance of acknowledging and confronting painful truths.

The event aimed to raise awareness about the Holocaust in Lithuania, an aspect of World War II history that has been whitewashed. It also served as a call to action, urging attendees to not only understand the history, but also actively lobby Lithuanian embassies to compel them to acknowledge the truth, honour the victims of the Holocaust, and dishonour Jonas Noreika, currently revered as a national hero.

B’nai B’rith’s commitment to hosting such thought-provoking events and providing a platform for advocates to share their knowledge and experiences is unremitting. Through these initiatives, the organisation continues to foster a community that is dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and ensuring that history is never rewritten.