Lithuanian jews

Exploring Vilnius: the Jerusalem of Lithuania and its Jewish past

A walk through Vilnius reveals a city of cobbled streets and cafés layered over Jewish heritage, from the Vilna Gaon’s legacy to the ruins of the Great Synagogue.

|ByJACOB MAOR
THE FORMER Romm Widow printing house, where the famed Vilna Shas edition of the Talmud was printed.
A Zikaron Basalon event held at the Anti-Defamation League office in Jerusalem on April 14, 2026.

From Lithuania to Jerusalem, a Holocaust survivor shares his story with diplomats

At the event organized by Zikaron Basalon and the Anti-Defamation League at the latter’s Jerusalem office, Clevs brought the diplomats back in time to when he was eight years old.

|ByMICHAEL STARR
The Ninth Fort Memorial for Kovno Ghetto Jews executed by the Nazis, in Kaunus (Kovno), Lithuania.

From Vilna to Eretz Yisrael: One Holocaust survivor's journey to Israel

Dov Levin escaped the Kovno Ghetto, fought in the forests, and crossed war-torn Europe alone to reach Israel - documenting every step of a journey defined by loss, resilience, and purpose.

|ByDAVID GEFFEN
Dawn of Nemunas Party leader Remigijus Zemaitaitis attends a press conference after general election in Vilnius, Lithuania October 28, 2024.

Lithuania ruling party to stay in coalition with political ally convicted of hatred against Jews

The founder of the populist Nemunas Dawn party, Remigijus Zemaitaitis, was fined 5,000 euros ($5,800) last week for a series of social media posts against Jews and downplaying the Holocaust.

|ByREUTERS

Vilnius, a hub of Torah study destroyed by Nazis, to get new yeshiva

After being destroyed in World War II, Lithuania first Yeshiva is to open soon.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2019ByCNAAN LIPHSHIZ/JTA
Synagogue in Vilnius, Lithuania

Famous French Jewish writer's memoir is made into a second movie

SEPTEMBER 7, 2019ByCURT SCHLEIER/JTA
PROMISE AT DAWN

Lithuanian Jews reopen Vilnius synagogue 2 days after contested closure

Along with the synagogue, the community’s headquarters also were announced as being shut down due to threatening phone calls and emails, Kukliansky said Tuesday.

AUGUST 9, 2019ByCAANAN LIPHSHIZ/JTA
Synagogue in Vilnius, Lithuania

Book review: The destruction of the shtetl

Grigory Kanovich’s latest novel tells of the dramatic and heartbreaking fate of a Lithuanian town called Mishkine.

MAY 17, 2019ByNEVILLE TELLER
A Jewish shtetl in eastern Europe in 1936

Petition: remove honors for Lithuanian Nazi collaborator

The change.org petition, started by Nazi collaborator Jonas Noreika's granddaughter, calls on the Lithuanian government to remove posthumous honors granted to him.

APRIL 25, 2019ByZACK EVANS
Memorial plaque at the Library of Academy of science in Vilnius: Jonas Noreika generolas Vetra

Litvaks, Jews in Lithuania and antisemitism

Lithuania’s Jews persevere

JANUARY 19, 2019ByGREER FAY CASHMAN
Fania Brancovskaja, Vilna’s last Holocaust survivor, in the library of the Yiddish Institute of the University of Vilnius

In honor of Lituanian memorial day for the victims of the Holocaust

During the Nazi occupation of 1941-44, the order in Lithuania was so efficient, that there were almost no Germans in the local administration or police.

OCTOBER 3, 2018ByRUTA VANAGAITE
The Jewish cemetery of Šeduva, a Lithuanian town once home to a majority of Jews

Letters to the editor: August 28, 2018

AUGUST 28, 2018ByLETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters

Haredi parties split up in Jerusalem elections, first time in 30 years

The two haredi parties run on the joint ticket of United Torah Judaism in many municipalities around the country and have run together nationally in the UTJ alliance since 1992.

AUGUST 23, 2018ByJEREMY SHARON
MK Moshe Gafni (UTJ) speaks at a finance committee meeting on January 15th, 2018

Lost Shtetl Museum breaks ground in moving ceremony

Lithuanian president: The museum will bring back the names and faces of many families, friends and neighbors

MAY 10, 2018ByILANIT CHERNICK
Lithuanian students to lay the memorial capsule into the foundation of The Lost Shtetl Museum