Day 2: Walking Tour in former Jewish Quarter of Vilnius

In the morning after breakfast, a few of us walked into town and visited churches, palaces, castles, and
towers. My Jewish colleagues wanted to experience the non-Jewish sites before we got into the heavy
and nitty-gritty. I walked up and down a total of 400 stairs!

Day 1: The Making of a Holocaust Educator Begins!

In the afternoon we began our walking tour of the Jewish Quarter of Vilnius. Here are some highlights:

-referred to as Vilna, Vilne, or Wilno depending on the ethnic group. 

- when Napoleon first saw the land he called Vilna the “northern Jerusalem” because of its rich cultural
landscape and intellectual achievements. 

-was a city where 1/2 the population was Jewish. 

-when the Nazis took over they created a ”Small and Big” ghetto totaling 40,000 people. 

-we walked where those ghettos once existed and saw the buildings where Jews were forced to live in.
I can not believe people live in those buildings today knowing that it was a former ghetto. 

-Archaeologist, Richard Freund, showed us the excavation site where the Great Synagogue was once
located and destroyed by the Nazis. The Soviets later built an elementary school above, but has been
relocated. 

Ended the day with a fabulous group dinner.

Some of the amazing women from the group.

Bell Tower. Walked 270 stairs!

Ringing a bell at the Bell Tower

One of two original clock faces

Bell Tower View

Gediminas Tower

View from Gediminas Tower

Lisa Kassow, spectacular woman and view

The name of the original street in Hebrew and the Lithuanian name.

Entrance to the small ghetto. Plaque describes its quarters. 

Eminent scholar, Professor Samuel Kassow. He is brilliant.

Plaque denoting that Jews lived here.

Richard Freund, Archaeologist leading excavation efforts in Lithuania. You must see the documentary, NOVA: Holocaust Escape Tunnels which chronicles his work.

This elementary school was built where the Great Synagogue once existed. 

Since the confirmation of its existence underneath, the school was closed and relocated.

This is the back entrance to the Great Synagogue. 

The stairs go down to the mikveh (bathhouse) a ritual performed by observant Jews during this time.

Entering another part of the Small Ghetto

A former shop in the small ghetto where Jews bought kerosene and salt.

Building in the Small Ghetto under restoration. 

Life size photos of people and their families are on the outside.

I can’t imagine residing where former Jews who perished in the Holocaust once lived. 

This should be holy ground, not real estate.

Choral Synagogue. The only one left. Tomorrow we get to see inside.

Description of the entrance to the “Big Ghetto.” 

Notice the rocks on the ledge. 

My hand was shaking as I placed one on it.

Home of the Judenrat, Jewish Council in the Big Ghetto. 

Appointed by the Nazis and formed to enforce Nazi orders in every community they occupied.

Delicious dinner with this amazing group of people. 

Some are 2nd Generation; children of Holocaust survivors.