Exhibition "Latvia's Jewish Community: History, Tragedy, Rebirth" opens in the town of Sabile [13 May 2004]

On 14 May 2004 an exhibition, "Latvia's Jewish Community: history, tragedy, rebirth" that was organised by Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the museum "Jews in Latvia" and the Institute of Latvian History, opens in the town of Sabile. From 14 May 2004 to 20 September 2004 the exhibition can be seen at the "Synagogue", a centre for contemporary art and cultural heritage in the town of Sabile.

Andris Teikmanis, Under-Secretary of State of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia is to speak at the opening. There will also be an address by the historian, Dr. Rudite Viksne, who will talk about the latest research in Latvia about the Holocaust.

The exhibition shows the history of Latvia's Jewish community from the 16th until the beginning of the 20th century, World War II, Holocaust, rescuers of the Jews in Latvia, and the political attitude of the State today which promotes research of the Holocaust and commemoration of its victims. The exhibition underlines the importance of education as a particularly significant element of shaping a democratic and integrated society. The exhibition was shown for the first time on 29 November 2001 to the participants in an international seminar organised by the Commission of Historians at the University of Latvia. Afterwards the exhibition travelled to the Daugavpils University, Vidzeme University College, the Pedagogical Academy of Liepaja, the National Library in Riga, Rezekne Regional State Historical Archive, Valmiera High School, and the Municipal Library of Jekabpils.

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