Samuel Bak's birthday greetings for Vilnius

An ocean away from my beloved Vilnius, hardly a day passes in which my birth-town isn’t in my thoughts.

Deeply felt concerns are nourished by daily news.

 

Today, images of Ukrainian refugees, children, women and elderly, with infinite sadness in their eyes, bring back to me old memories of my own destiny at the end of WW2.

 

So much has changed in the decades that have followed. The independent Lithuania has recognized the importance of my art and its testimony for the preservation of the memory the Jewish population of Vilnius, a community that had been so tragically annihilated. The new Lithuanian authorities have created the Samuel Bak Museum, in which incredible people, dedicated friends, take care of my art and create a bridge between the public and what I am bringing to it.

 

Thus my art, finding a home in my ancient town has brought me back to my home, and it is with much emotion that I am sending to Vilnius the very best and the most heartfelt wishes for the celebration of its 700 years of existence. These greetings come from the heart of a very proud Litvak.

 

Samuel Bak, for you Samuel Bak.