A new protection status has been granted to cultural heritage complexes in Vilnius that are extremely important for Lithuanians and the Jewish community - the remains of the Great Synagogue and the buildings on J. Basanavičiaus street.
The complex of remains of the Vilnius Great Synagogue and mikveh building, located on Žydų st. 5 and 7 mark the location of the main and largest Jewish sanctuary in Vilnius, around which active religious and cultural life boiled until the Second World War.
During the Soviet era, the remaining buildings of the synagogue were razed to the ground and a kindergarten was built in their place. Fortunately, parts of the underground sanctuary and the mikvehs - rooms for ritual ablutions - have survived. This complex in Vilnius in the old town the archaeological, architectural, historical, memorial and sacral significance is unquestionable.
Currently, the Vilnius Jewish community together with state institutions is developing concepts for the revival of the Great Synagogue. The Heritage Commission hopes that the status of a cultural heritage object protected by the state will give this process the necessary impetus.
At the meeting of the State Cultural Heritage Commission, a complex of two houses located in Vilnius, J. Basanavičiaus str., was also declared a cultural heritage object protected by the state. 16 and 16A. These buildings belong to the historical part of the city of Vilnius - Naujamiestis.
In addition to the authentic elements preserved in the buildings, the historical significance of the complex is also very important. In the building numbered 16 in 1915. October 9 the first Vilnius Lithuanian high school was founded, which also became the official focus of Lithuanianness. It was officially called "Lessons of the Vilnius Lithuanian Gymnasium course of Jonas Basanavičiaus, Mykolas Biržiškas and Povilas Gaidelionis". Mykolas Biržiška, a Lithuanian language teacher, was the director here.
October 18 in the gymnasium, lessons in the Lithuanian language began in the house of Pimenov, a rich man from Vilnius, on the street of what was then called the Great Pohulianka. The founder was Jonas Basanavičius, which is why the street is now named after him.
The future presidents of independent Lithuania Antanas Smetona and Aleksandras Stulginskis, as well as the famous brothers Mykolas, Vaclovas and Viktoras Biržiškos, composers Juozas Naujalis and Teodoras Brazys, painters Antanas Žmuidzinavičius, Vytautas Kairiūkštis and Adomas Varnas, art historian and museum curator Paulius Galaunė, bishop Mečislovas became teachers of the gymnasium. Rainys and others.
Basanavičius st. the complex of buildings is important not only for the revitalization of Lithuania in Vilnius, but also for the Jewish community around the world, because it was here that the first headquarters of YIVO - the Jewish Scientific Research Institute - was located, which started its activities in the apartment of the founder Maks Weinraich. YIVO is now the world's largest Yiddish research center with headquarters in New York.
The Heritage Commission is an expert and advisor to the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, the President of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on matters of state cultural heritage protection policy, its implementation, evaluation and improvement.
