The Old Jewish Cemetery of Vilna

Jewish historical sites in modern day Vilnius (Hebrew: Vilna), the capital of Lithuania, are an endangered species. This video examines the history - and the plight - of Vilna’s Old Jewish Cemetery, affectionately called “Piramont” and “Der Alter Beys Eylem” by Vilna’s pre-World War II Jewish community. The video features an appeal to the Lithuanian government by Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations.
Produced by KOLROM
CREDITS
In Memory of Rabbi Zvi Kestenbaum
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Rabbi Hertz Frankel
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We are indebted to the Kestenbaum and Frankel families for
their generous support.
We are also deeply grateful to the many donors who prefer to
remain anonymous. To all the above, named and unnamed, we bestow the following blessing:
וכל מי שעוסקים בצרכי צבור באמונה
הקדוש ברוך הוא ישלם שכרם
ויסיר מהם כל מחלה וירפא לכל גופם
וישלח ברכה והצלחה בכל מעשה ידיהם
Narration: Paul Rogan
Script: Raizy Pheterson
Aerial footage: RG Studio www.rg-studio.lt/index.html

[@sarahadler8041]

very powerful and emotional for those of us whose families perished in the Shoah in Lithuania. The government of Lithuania has refused to accept that the wartime government in any way was responsible for the murder of thousands of Jews so why should this present government be different, you think that being members of EU will change the ever present anti semitic mind set? I doubt it but hope that world pressure can stop this ghastly build.

[@Ladychat212]

This is so sad!!! Not just the cemetery, but the killing of Jews there....Thank you for the video.

[@leonstone4738]

The fact that the Sports Centre fell into disrepair and the Government made it a Heritage Centre should act as a message to the Lithuanian Government. To then turn around and plan to develop the old Cemetery area is disrespectful and despicable. Should the Government of the day ignore the request of the thousands of people regardless of Creed or Religion or belief, It shall bring them no favour what so ever. The Video does tend to flower up What really happened between 1939 1945 and the years of Russian control prior to becoming Independent. shalom

[@borehamwood1961]

Does not surprise me . Their lack of respect speaks for itself . Shame on them .

[@MM-yi9zn]

And who initiated these crimes & murders? So much for culture & religious belief. Humans suffer from jealousy & resentment throughout history. The slaughter of millions leaves a stain & shame on the perpetrators.

[@hard-truthsbetter-than-swe6543]

bad idea to disrespect the dead....

[@marynarkiewicz9794]

They should be ashamed for doing this to the graves!

[@peterhunt1939]

The material is incorrect. In 1939 Majority of population was Polish (59.7% claimed Polish as their native tongue). Among minorities there were: Belarusians (22.7%), Jews (8.5%), Lithuanians (5.5%) and Russians (3.4%).

[@anryxas1]

I wish you can restore your sacred place

[@ianevansbrown8285]

Relax for me at last..

[@robertburatt5981]

I fully agree; what was destroyed cannot be brought back, but what remains must be preserved in-perpetuaty!

[@douglasclem1062]

People who do NOT respect a cemetery cease to be part of the human race !

[@paweltrawicki2200]

Simply outrageous !!!!!!!!

[@MitzvosGolem1]

My great grandma from Kovono shtetl.

[@dainiusjunevicius0216]

For those who are really interested in more detailed unabridged history of the cemetery I highly recommend article "The Old Jewish Cemetery in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries" by Vytautas Jogėla, published in Lituanus 2015 - Vol 61 - No 4. Pdf available here

[@JerulitaTA]

Please come and see an episode about the original YIVO building in Vilna

[@peggyobrecht1243]

In memory of Anna Simaite, I would like to make a donation to this or at least learn to whom one should write.She saved the lives of Jews in the Vilna Ghetto and when she was caught and tortured ,never revealed who it was who had helped

[@tamararutland-mills9530]

Gaddadayna. Cape Tow? If anyone ever reads this, could you please tell me how to find out if there is/was a family named Urbonivicius buried in that cemetery (or elsewhere) or if there are any Jewish families by that name? I am having trouble proving my Jewish roots, thanks to The Holocaust. My grandmother’s came from Vilnius.

[@BeverleyPriceJewellery]

Davka - in Turnov in the Czech Rep similarly the Russians built a freeway over the cemetery. The ohleis exactly under the highway.

[@ianevansbrown8285]

After all that I just want peace.