BNS - 09.19.2002

Baltic News Service

Lithuanian Government Gives Blessing to Vilnius Jewish Quarter Restoration Plan

VILNIUS - The Lithuanian government approved on Wednesday the plan to restore fragments of the historical Jewish quarter in Vilnius, thus preserving and immortalizing a piece of Jewish cultural heritage in the old town of the Lithuanian capital.

Furthermore, the plan stipulates a possibility to restore the great Vilnius synagogue, which was torn down during the Soviet rule. The Jewish religious building was one of Europe's largest at the time.

In the framework of the governmental resolution, fragments of Vilnius Jews' living and commercial environment will be reconstructed through rebuilding shops, service offices and workshops, as well as hotels and living facilities.

The plan stipulates three stages of implementation in 2002 through 2008. The project estimate has not been finalized yet, but a decision has been made that the Vilnius municipality will cover the costs of the first stage, while works of the following two stages will be sponsored by Lithuanian and foreign legal and physical entities, the Lithuanian Jewish Cultural Heritage Foundation and charity funds.

Before the World War II, Vilnius was known as one of Europe's most significant Yiddish culture centers. The Jewish community formed several quarters in Vilnius old town with crafts and religious centers.

During the war, Nazis and their supporters killed about 90 percent of Lithuania's pre-war Jewish community of 220,000. Most of Jewish centuries old material and cultural values were plundered and a part of buildings were torn down. Jewish ghetto buildings were also destroyed during the Soviet era including one of Europe's largest synagogues in Vilnius ruined in late 1940's.