I met Irena in 2004, when I came to Vilnius to attend the Vilnius Yiddish Institute and conduct research for my book, “We Are Here: Memories of the Lithuanian Holocaust.” My interview with her was life-changing. She opened a window for me into Lithuania’s past, its present, and its future — a future full of possibilities. Over the years, I came to feel very close to her. I will carry her in my heart always, as a shining purveyor of understanding and love. And I will miss her sorely.
