Sad but rich history

Vilnius becomes to be known as Jerusalem of Lithuania (and many call it Jerusalem of Diaspora) all over the world.

The centuries-old Jewish Community of Vilnius was almost completely annihilated during the Nazi occupation from 1941 to 1944. After the World War II under Soviet rule, the Great Synagogue was demolished, the Jewish cemeteries were destroyed, and the streets, which had been named for renowned Jewish individuals, were renamed.

Today plaques and monuments commemorate many sites significant in Jewish history and culture. They give voice to the silent walls of houses and the changed streets. However, mute witnesses of the past remain abundant.  At present, there are less than 5000 Jews in Lithuania.

Gaon

The most famous religious authority, who determined the religious and cultural singularity of the Lithuanian Jews, was a sage of the 18th century – the Vilna Gaon. The name of Vilna Gaon Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, the greatest sage of the 18th century, the world-famous commentator of Torah and Talmud, made Vilnius famous as Lithuanian Jerusalem. His powerful intellect and erudition caused Vilnius to become a spiritual centre of Jews that was known all over the world. In the beginning of the 20th century Jacob S. Reizin wrote: “After completing the Talmud, almost no expert of Jewish literature was better than or at least equal to Elijah of Vilnius.”

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