Exhibition „YIVO: Stories of Vilnius“

For us Vilna is not simply a city; it is an idea.  (Jacob Zeev Latsky-Bertoldi)

In Jewish tradition and in the Yiddish language, Vilnius is known as Vilna, also called the Jerusalem of Lithuania. This name reflects not only the many synagogues that once stood here, but also the city`s distinctive intellectual spirit which was nurtured over centuries and greatly inspired by the renowned sage Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, known as the Vilna Gaon.

In 1925, the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research was founded in this unique environment, with the mission to document and study the Yiddish language, Jewish history and culture, and the many forms of Jewish life around the world.

This exhibition, marking the centenary of YIVO`s founding, invites you to step into interwar Vilnius: to explore YIVO`s work and the people behind it, to experience a city where different cultures co-existed and thrived, to hear the ideas, thoughts and dreams of its residents, and to catch a glimpse of their everyday lives. We invite you to discover the unique character of Vilnius through the stories it holds.