Today marks the 300th birth anniversary of Vilna Gaon Elijah ben Solomon Zalman. On this occasion, the city of Vilnius offers a new possibility to explore one of the treasures of Jewish heritage in Vilnius – the Great Synagogue of Vilna. These days, when travel possibilities are limited, the new project, placed entirely in virtual space, offers a possibility to explore the famous synagogue from any corner of the world.
Once known as the heart of Judaism in Lithuania, the Great Synagogue of Vilna, founded in Lithuanian capital at the end of the 16th century yet damaged during World War II and destroyed under Soviet rule, is now fully rediscovered in three-dimensional space. The 3D project reveals realistic footage of the important historical site, which marks yet another crucial milestone in preserving Lithuania’s Jewish heritage.
Historical Vilnius is now able to portray in detail the three key areas of the city’s Great Synagogue: the site’s complex, the courtyard, and the initial interior; all originating from the 19th-20th century. Short 3D based video clips were created using the archived photos and architectural drawings, which remained after the synagogue’s final destruction in the late 20th century. The synagogue was originally built across 5 floors, two of which were below the ground level. It could host up to 5,000 worshipers, which was well ahead of the other similar structures of the time.
According to the director of Go Vilnius, Inga Romanovskienė, the three-dimensional reconstruction of Litvaks’ (Lithuanian Jews) heritage is an important contribution to this year’s mission: 2020 has been designated the Year of the Vilna Gaon and the History of the Jews of Lithuania.
“In a city that’s deeply rooted intellectually, spiritually, and politically into the European Judaism history, we dare to apply the newest technology methods to preserve the layers of our Jewish heritage,” says Inga Romanovskienė.
Until this day, the city had preserved three original pieces of the Great Synagogue of Vilna: a door of the Holy Ark, a reader’s desk, and a bas-relief of the Ten Commandments. The three remains can be seen at the Vilna Gaon Jewish Museum.
In the nearest future, The Great Synagogue of Vilna will have risen not only in 3D space. The scientific archeological studies of the site, conducted by a team from the USA, Israel, and Lithuania have been taking place since 2011. To honour the Jews who died during the Holocaust, as well as the Great Synagogue, Vilnius plans to create a Jewish memorial centre at the site by 2023, when Vilnius celebrates its 700th birthday.
Before World War II, there were 135 synagogues in Vilnius, but the Great Synagogue was the centre of spiritual and cultural life for Litvaks. Today, the remains of the Great Synagogue of Vilna are an important part of the city’s cultural heritage. The Great Synagogue of Vilna was founded at the end of the 16th century when the Litvak community was granted the right to attend their houses of prayer. The first house of prayer was wooden. In 1633, King Wladyslaw IV Vasa allowed a brick synagogue to be built in the Jewish Quarter. The synagogue couldn’t be taller than the nearby churches, so the building’s architects found a creative solution and built a couple of floors below ground level. Outside, the synagogue looked to be about three stories tall, but inside it was over five stories. The main prayer hall was square and could hold 3000 people, but this synagogue was well ahead of all other similar structures of the time, and could host up to 5,000 worshipers. The architectural monument survived World War II despite being severely damaged, but was later destroyed under Soviet rule. Three original pieces from the Great Synagogue of Vilna survived the destruction and are now on display at the Vilna Gaon Jewish Museum: a door of the Holy Ark, a reader’s desk, and a bas-relief of the Ten Commandments.
In 2011, a team of archaeologists from the USA, Israel and Lithuania discovered fragments and details of a rather well-preserved building. In 2016–2017, fragments and the site of public Jewish bathhouse’s Mikveh (ritual pool) were found. Scientific archaeological studies of the synagogue complex were also conducted in July 2018. The most important finding; however, was a large inscription on a part of a stone Torah reading table that stood on the synagogue’s magnificent Bimah. To honour the Jews who died during the Holocaust, as well as the Great Synagogue, Vilnius plans to create a Jewish memorial centre at the site by 2023, when Vilnius celebrates its 700th birthday.
Project partners: Go Vilnius
