Our
web site is dedicated to Lithuanian Jews, known as
litvaks. In the course of almost 700 years of their presence in
Lithuania, Jews created a flourishing, diverse culture.
The religious
culture of Lithuanian Jews enriched the world Jewry. A wealth of
famous scholars of Judaism lived and worked in Lithuania.
The Vilnius Gaon Eliyahu was one of the most prominent
Talmudists of all times. The spiritual academies -
yeshivas
- attended by young men from many countries were known throughout
the world. In different periods of time there were over 250
synagogues
in Vilnius.
Litvaks made a
weighty contribution to the development of Judaism, and Vilnius
became to be known as the Jerusalem of Lithuania. Jews in Lithuania
also cherished a highly developed secular culture, which enriched
not only the culture of world Jewry, but also that of Lithuania, as
well as the whole world. Litvaks spoke
Yiddish
and created outstanding literary works.
The Lithuanian Yiddish is considered to be the fundament of the
literary Yiddish language. Books on Judaica, published in Vilnius,
spread all over the world.
Libraries
in Vilnius were famous for the wealth and value of books kept there.
The world known Judaic scientific institutions, first of all, the
Jewish Scientific Institute
YIVO, were situated in Vilnius. Jasha Heifets, Zhak Lipshits,
Chajim Soutine and many others enriched the world of art and music.
Litvaks - emigrants from Lithuania became prominent scientists,
public figures, politicians in Israel, the USA, South Africa. The
Nazi regime annihilated Lithuanian Jews and their culture. Less
than 10% of Jews survived.The
Soviet genocide destroyed the remnants of the Litvak legacy.
When Lithuania
regained its independence attempts were made to
revive
Jewish life. It is not only our homage to history, it is also our
responsibility to world Jewry - the unique culture of Litvaks must
survive. In 1965 in New York Max Vainraich said: "The fate of world
Jewry depends on the scale to which the Jews of Jerusalem, Moscow,
Buenos Aires and most importantly New York, imbue the spirit of
Jerusalem of Lithuania."
We thank you for
your attention to our web site.
This page is just a small introduction, presented by the
Jewish Community of Lithuania.
In the illustrated excursion
Jews in Lithuania
you will have an opportunity to find out more about Lithuanian Jews: their
culture, history, religion, traditions, rights and privileges, and present life.
Presented
by Jews in Lithuania authors group.