9 September 2026

Presentation of the book “Shalechet – Žagarė, Our Former Home” by Solomon and Joanne Fedler

On Thursday, September 24, the Vilnius Jewish Public Library invites you to a presentation of Solomon Fedler’s memoir “Shalechet – Žagarė, Once Was Home”.

First published in 1969, the book tells the story of Jewish life in Žagarė from the years before the First World War until 1926, when Solomon emigrated to South Africa, as well as the challenges he faced as a new immigrant.

 It is a vivid and deeply moving account of everyday life, faith, hardship, courage, and survival. At the same time, it is an invaluable testimony to the Jewish community of Žagarė, which was brutally destroyed during the Holocaust.

We are honoured to welcome a special guest, Solomon’s granddaughter Joanne Fedler from Australia. Joanne is an internationally acclaimed bestselling author, writing mentor, and women’s rights activist whose books have sold more than 750,000 copies worldwide. Her work explores the human experience, relationships, creativity, and the search for meaning in life. In her writing, she brings together literature and themes of personal growth, while also helping others find their voice through writing mentorship.

Born and raised in South Africa, Joanne now lives in Sydney, Australia, but her roots lie in Žagarė. She carries with her a rich and deeply personal story of identity, memory, migration, and a sense of belonging that she is gradually rediscovering in the land of her ancestors.

The revival of Shalechet is also a story of a special friendship and collaboration. The event will be joined by Valdas Balčiūnas, who played an important role in bringing the book back into print and has spent many years preserving the memory of Žagarė’s Jewish community. In recognition of this work, the Sugihara Foundation “Diplomats for Life” named him the Tolerance Person of the Year in 2015.

It was Valdas who, after reading "Shalechet", convinced Joanne that her grandfather’s memoir was more than a family legacy — it was also an important historical document. Forty years after Solomon’s death, the book was brought back to life and republished in two languages, Lithuanian and English.

The event will be held in English with interpretation into Lithuanian.

Books will be available for purchase in both Lithuanian and English during the event.

Briefly about the event

Date

24th September

Time

6pm

Place

Vilnius Jewish Public Library, Gedimino pr. 24 (entrance from the courtyard of The Small Theater, please see how to find us)

Duration

1 h

Attendance

free and open to the public

Important

the event will be held in English