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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

8. 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

10. 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
2
1
4 5
3
Project:

12. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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