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Great Synagogue

Memorial

in Vilnius

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Great Synagogue Memorial in Vilnius

The Vilnius City Municipality is working on the

implementation of the Great Synagogue

Memorial project, which was initiated by the

Ministry of Culture of Lithuania.

The creation of the Memorial will be

accomplished through a broad base of support

and joint efforts.

The City of Vilnius invites you to become a part

of restoring this important part of Jewish

heritage, historic Old Town and Lithuanian

history.

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Importance of the Great Synagogue (1)

The Jewish people have very deep religious traditions in

Lithuania - The Great Synagogue was built in 1573.

Until World War II, Vilnius was known as one of the most

important Jewish cultural and spiritual centers in the world.The

Strashun Library was opened in 1900.

Gaon Elijahu ben Shlom Zalman, great sage and scholar of the

18th Century, who lived and studied here - brought fame to

Vilnius as the Jerusalem of the North and the Great Synagogue

became its heart.

From the 16th to the 20th c. it was the best known Synagogue

in Central Europe. All of the buildings of the Cultural Center

were destroyed after World War II.

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Importance of the Great Synagogue (2)

The overall goal is to restore Jewish cultural

heritage and the historic truth

Eliminate brutal Soviet intervention. The primary

School that was built on top of the Synagogue’s

Foundation will be transferred to a

neighboring location in Old Town.

Immortalize the site and have the Memorial

included in the list of important Jewish cultural

objects in the world.

Provide a new urban space for public use in the Old Town

Promote tourism and pilgrimage including becoming a part of the

Green Pilgrimage Network.

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December 2012

History of the International Tender

1989 – An international tender for the establishment of the Jewish memorial center was

held. Organizers: Ministry of Culture together with local Jewish organizations and

national art institutions.

1990 – The tender was won by Israeli architect Tsila Zak in cooperation with sculptor

Willy Gordon from Sweden (both with original roots in Vilnius)

2011 – The city of Vilnius signed a contract with Tsila Zak for the project

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Preliminary documentation & reconstruction, competition material

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View of Žydų Street in 1944

Blocks 32-33 were severely damaged during World War II. Remaining

parts of the buildings were demolished in the 1950s.

Buildings demolished in the 1950s

Great Synagogue Fragments - Archeological Findings in 2011

Dig No.3 - Synagogue walls R edge

Dig No.2 - Synagogue bima PR columns,

Aron ha kodeš places and R wall place

Dig No.1- Entrance to the Great

Synagogue via ell

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Existing Situation and Historic Buildings

Buildings before World War II:

1. The Great Synagogue

2. Strashun Library

3. Old Kloiz, New Kloiz

4. Gaon Kloiz

5. Synagogue of Burial Brotherhood

6. Gaon School

7. Mikve (Bathhouse)

8. Kloiz of the Cemetery Brotherhood

9. Kloiz of the Craftsmen Brotherhood

10. Chasid Synagogue

11. Public Well

12. Schulhoif

13. Back Yard with Public Well

Today the site of the Great Synagogue is taken up by a

primary school and residential buildings

Great Synagogue of Vilnius – (existing site)

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1. The Great Synagogue 45 + 110x2 = 965 sqm

2. Strashun Library 300x2 = 600 sqm

3.Services (Clock House) 75x2 = 150 sqm

4.Exibition space 900 sqm

5. The Gaon Museum & exibition space 240 sqm

Total area: 2855 sqm

Restoration of Žydų Street (proposed)

Site plan: Proposed buildings

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1

4 5

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Project:

Façades of Žydų Street Historic Buildings: Gaon’s Kloiz, Gate to

Schulhoif, Strushun Library, Gaon’s School and Home

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Chronological Presentation of the Concept

Sections & Elevations

1. Exhibition space

2. Gate to Schulhoif

3. Strashun Library

4. The Gaon Museum & exhibition space

1. 3. 4.

2.

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The façade facing Žydų Street will be rebuilt to its original state, with traditional materials,

whereas the modern section of the building will be constructed of steel and glass. The

Strashun Library will house a research center, library, educational center and exhibition gallery.

The Strashun Library

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The Strashun Library will

combine the old with the new

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Legendary sage, the "Vilnius Gaon“ (1720- 1797)

The original site of the Gaon’s Beit Midrash is partly taken up by post war residential buildings,

therefore the original space will have empty openings to symbolize the absence and the void.

The building will accommodate an exhibition space, an information center, a book store, a cafe

with Jewish cuisine.

Gaon Academy

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The Vilnius Gaon’s house will be rebuilt as a museum, commemorating his legacy.

"Gaon" was an honorary title bestowed on the eminent sage, Rabbi Eliah Ben-Salomon (1720-

1797), whose enlightened philosophy had a profound influence on Jewish religion.

The House of the Vilnius Gaon

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The Renaissance style assembly room in a spacious building was able to hold up to 6,000

people – the entire Jewish community in its early days.

The splendid assembly room, originally built in the Renaissance style, will be represented by

an open room. The "open room" will be protected from view by the Strashun Library and by the

hall at the entrance to the Synagogue‘s yard.

Site of the Great Synagogue

Interior in 1786, by A.Smuglevicius

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The magnificent interior of the Synagogue was

far richer than its exterior and was not visible

from the street.

The "open room" will be similarly protected from

view by the Strashun Library and by the

vestibule at the entrance to the Synagogue‘s

courtyard.

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Site of the Great Synagogue - Eastern Wall

The wall will be rebuilt to its full height with Gordon's sculpture in low relief: "Jacob and the

Angel“.The cavity at the place for the Holy Ark will remain empty.

Adjacent to the vestibule, a small pavilion will be erected, containing public and storage areas.

On the arches facing the Schulhoif, replicas will be installed of clock faces that indicated the

official religious time for the start of Sabbath.

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Site of the Great Synagogue – The Four Pillars

Four mighty pillars, centrally placed, framed the magnificent 17th century rococo pulpit and also

supported the roof.

The sculpture "A People's Metamorphosis" will be placed here, symbolizing the spirit of Judaism,

and the act of lifting the Torah with its spiritual message.

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Objectives - Reviving Original Character and Path

Buildings of the memorial will be designed to provide a stimulus for creative imagination and

to be a source of pleasure to the Vilnius community and its visitors.

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Project Implementation Stages

Preliminary budget of the Memorial project 10 million USD

Preliminary budget of infrastructure

(public areas & parking zone) 2 - 4 million USD

School relocation costs 12 million USD

I STAGE: Technical design of the Memorial project 2013.01 – 2014.10

II STAGE: School transfer procedures 2013.01 – 2016.09

(Primary school closing and opening a new one in a neighboring area of Old Town)

III STAGE: Construction of the Memorial 2016.06 – 2017.06

Concept creation of a Memorial Activities program 2013.01 – 2017.06

Project Management

International Honorary Board

Steering Committee

President of Lithuania V. Adamkus Prime Minister of Lithuania A. Butkevičius

.II. Ichikowitz,Ichikowitz Family Foundation

.IISouth Africa

Architect Daniel Libeskind

USA

Minister of Foreign Affairs L. Linkevičius Mayor of Vilnius A. Zuokas

Member of Parliament of Lithuania E. Zingeris

Honorary Consul Haim Ariel Attorney R. Valiūnas

Project Implementation

Ministry of

Culture

Ministry of

Foreign Affairs

Vilniaus Planas Company

Detailed plan

ZAK Architecture

Project & Design

Jewish Culture & Information Center

Coordination

Vilnius Development Company

Implementation

Vilnius City Municipality Government of Lithuania

Endorsement of the Great Synagogue Memorial

“The Great Synagogue project represents yet another moving testimony of the deep historical,

cultural and intellectual roots of the Jewish community in Lithuania.

Jerusalem has two homes: one in Israel and the other in Vilnius”. President Shimon Peres

President of Israel Shimon Peres and Vilnius Mayor Artūras Zuokas