Jewish cemeteries of Vilnius
- Jewish cemeteries of Vilnius
The Jewish cemeteries of Vinius are the three Jewish cemeteries of the Lithuanian Jews living in Vilnius, known to them as Vilna, Lithuania. Two of the cemeteries were destroyed during the Soviet occupation and during Lithuanian SSR times and the third is still active.
The oldest and the largest Jewish cemetery was established in Šnipiškės (Yiddish: "Shnipishok") suburb, now in Žirmūnai elderate, on the opposite bank of the Neris River than Gediminas Tower in the 15th century. [cite book | first=Tomas |last=Venclova |authorlink=Tomas Venclova |others=translated by Aušra Simanavičiūtė| title=Vilnius: City Guide | publisher=R. Paknio leidykla |location=Vilnius |year=2006 |edition=6th |isbn=9986-830-48-6|pages=198] It was closed by Tsarist authorities in 1831. It was destroyed by the Soviet authorities in 1949-1950 during the construction of Žalgiris Stadium. The Palace of Concerts and Sports (Lithuanian: "Koncertų ir sporto rūmai") was built in 1971 right in the middle of the former cemetery. It still causes friction between Jewish community and the authorities as plans are being made to re-develop the entire area. [cite web |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSL2183316620070822?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0 |title=Jews protest to Lithuania over ancient cemetery |publisher=Reuters |first=Nerijus |last=Adomaitis | date=2007-08-22 |accessdate=2008-01-10 ]
The second cemetery was located in Užupis. It was active from 1828 to 1943 or 1948. It was also destroyed by the Soviet authorities in 1960s following the Great Synagogue of Vilna. Tombstones from the two old cemeteries were used for staircases in various construction works around the city. [lt icon cite journal |title=Žydų kultūros netektys okupacijų metais |journal=Voruta | first=Romualdas |last=Samavičius |volume=14 |issue=295 |date=1997-03-12 |accessdate=2008-01-10 |url=http://www.voruta.lt/article.php?article=248] Currently a memorial constructed of them marks the location of the former entrance to the cemetery. Moreover, there are plans to built a monument in place of the old cemetery in Užupis.
The new Jewish cemetery was opened in Šeškinė district near Sudervė Cemetery. Some graves of famous people, including that of the Vilna Gaon, were relocated to the new place from the old cemeteries before the destruction. Currently it has about 6,500 Jewish graves.
References
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Vilnius — Infobox Settlement name = Vilnius nickname = settlement type = City municipality image caption = Downtown Vilnius map caption = Location of Vilnius image shield = Grand Coat of arms of Vilnius.png latd=54|latm=41|lats=|latNS=N|longd=25|longm=17|lo… … Wikipedia
List of cemeteries — This list of cemeteries compiles notable cemeteries, mausoleums and other places people are buried, worldwide. Reasons for notability include their design, their history and their interments.Argentina*La Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires burial… … Wikipedia
History of Vilnius — This article is about the history of Vilnius, the capital and largest city of Lithuania.Middle AgesThe earliest settlements in the area of present day Vilnius appear to be of mesolithic origin. Numerous archaeological findings in different parts… … Wikipedia
RUSSIA — RUSSIA, former empire in Eastern Europe; from 1918 the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (R.S.F.S.R.), from 1923 the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.); from 1990 the Russian Federation. Until 1772 ORIGINS The penetration… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
Eišiškės — Infobox Settlement name = Eišiškės settlement type= City nickname = pushpin pushpin label position = pushpin map caption =Location of Eišiškės image shield = Eisiskes COA.gif latd=54|latm=10|lats=|latNS=N|longd=25|longm=00|longs=|longEW=E… … Wikipedia
Warsaw — For other uses, see Warsaw (disambiguation) and Warszawa (disambiguation). Warsaw Warszawa Capital City of Warsaw Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa Top … Wikipedia
LITHUANIA — (Lithuanian Lietuva; Pol. Litwa; Rus. Litva; Heb. Lita ליטא or ליטה; Yid. Lite ליטע), southernmost of Baltic states of N.E. Europe; from 1940 Lithuanian S.S.R. (for early period, see poland lithuania ). (See Map: Lithuanian Communities). For the… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
Liste jüdischer Friedhöfe in Litauen — Die Liste der jüdischen Friedhöfe in Litauen gibt einen Überblick zu jüdischen Friedhöfen (Žydų kapinės) in Litauen. Die Liste erhebt keinen Anspruch auf Vollständigkeit. Die Sortierung erfolgt alphabetisch nach den litauischen Ortsnamen. Liste… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Zew Wawa Morejno — (February 28, 1916 – March 19, 2011) was a Polish and American rabbi. Morejno was born into a hasidic family in Warsaw. He studied at rabbinical schools in Baranovichi, Mir, Belarus and in Kamieniec Litewski. In 1939 he became a rabbi in Zuprany … Wikipedia
MUSEUMS — In her entry on museums for the 1948 Universal Jewish Encyclopedia the eminent historian of Jewish art Rachel Bernstein Wischnitzer (1885–1989), founding curator of the Jewish Museum in Berlin, cited the origin of collecting and exhibiting of… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
