The Ghetto at Vilnius | holocaustresearchproject's Blog

The Vilnius Ghetto

Jewish Life in Vilnius/Vilna

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Jews have played a part in the history of Lithuania since the 14th century, lured to the region by tolerant Lithuanian Dukes seeking to make advancements in trade and culture. Jews first arrived as merchants, artisans, and traders, but soon evolved into an integral component of Lithuania's national identity. The very first documents mentioning Jews in Vilnius date back as early as 1567.

At that time Jews did not have the right to purchase houses in the city, they could only rent them. Jews gained the right to own buildings in Vilnius only in 1593. Before that, they were allowed to reside in the lands which did not belong to the magistrate, so called jurisdiks.

At the end of 16th - beginning of 17th centuries they were allowed to inhabit Zhydų (Jewish), Šv. Mykolo (Saint Michael's), and Mėsinių (Butchers') streets. They could also live on Vokietchių (German) street, but the windows of their apartments could not face the street.

The Jewish quarter was formed in the Old Town. According to 1784 census there were around 5000 Jews in Vilnius at that time; according to 1897 census Jews constituted 38.8% of town's population (64.000 Jews). By the early twentieth century, half of the city's 120,000 strong population were Jews, most of whom spoke Yiddish. 

Vilnius became the hub of Judaic religious culture in Europe, with over 110 synagogues, 10 yeshivas, and was home to the famed Yiddish Institute of Higher Learning (YIVO) and the Strashum Library, which housed the world's largest collection of Yiddish-language books; (both were destroyed by the Nazis). 

The city was known as the  "Jerusalem of the North" due to a high concentration of Talmudic Scholars, and  historical connection to the famed Elijah ben Solomon Zalman (1720-1797) otherwise known as "The Gaon" or "Genius of Vilna"   Elijah ben Solomon Zalman was the learned Rabbi who edited and commented on the Babylonian Talmud.

Anti-Semitism had been rampant in Lithuania since 1881 when a band of military conscripts attacked Jewish shops, burning and looting. Jews banded together to defend their families and property but sporadic pogroms continued throughout the region for the next 50 years.

On October 28, 1939 there was another outbreak of anti-Jewish riots in Vilnius. As rioters ransacked the city, Jewish tradesmen once again organized defense groups to oppose the attackers. However more often than not, Lithuanian policemen would beat Jewish victims rather than trying to reconvene peace. The riots lasted for three days, and followed with rumors of more anti-Semitic assaults on November 10-11, which were "traditional" dates for such events.

In June 1940 Lithuania was annexed to the Soviet Union and became a Soviet Republic. At first Jews living in Vilna welcomed the Soviet troops in hope that they might be protected from the rampant anti-Semitism displayed by the Lithuanians but they were soon to feel differently as all the Zionist parties and youth organizations were disbanded and some of the members forced to join the "Comsomol" (Communist Youth Organization).

The Hebrew school was closed and in its place a Yiddish school opened, Jewish businesses were nationalized and given over to Commissars' shops were closed and the supply of goods decreased resulting in crippling price inflation.

The middle class, mostly Jewish, bore most of the brunt, and the standard of living dropped gradually. in  June 1941 several Jewish families were exiled into Russia as "Unreliable Elements".

Read more here: http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/ghettos/vilnius.html

The Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team

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Copyright Carmelo Lisciotto H.E.A.R.T 2009