We will commence our tour of Vilnius from its cradle – Gediminas Castle Hill and the remnants of the upper castle. Then we will whisk out through the narrow street to another square to observe the Presidential Palace and the Old Vilnius University, founded in 1579. Will walk along medieval Castle street in the heart of the Old City.
Visit Vilnius Synagogue. Jewish architect built it in 1903 in Moorish- Romanesque style. We will visit the Jewish State museum – called the Tolerance Centre.
Next, we will walk in the medieval Jewish Quarter of Vilnius, called Lithuanian Jerusalem. Music school where Jasha Heifetz did his first steps in the music career. The story and the building of the famous ORT school. The premise of the famous Tarbut Gimnazia and nowadays the Jewish community center. Yiddish theatre was in one of the buildings from 1925, for about ten years. The Rabbis’ Council is famous for the meeting place of Theodor Herzl with local jews.
Next is a Benedictine convent, to tell us the story of saving 12 Jewish souls by Lithuanian Righteous Among the Nations. Continue to Vilnius Ghetto streets and Vilna Gaon’s house. Learn about the complexity of the Great Synagogue.
The Big Ghetto and the story of suffering, resistance, and partisans. Judenrat’s office and the story of “choiceless choices.” Recreated hiding place in the cellar, where Jews were hiding after the liquidation of the Ghetto. Ghetto theatre as the center of Spiritual resistance.