Vilnius Jewish Public Library
Vilnius, Lithuania

In recognition of the celebration of Hanukkah, we feature a Jewish library in Vilna (now Vilnius).  The library dates back to the late 19th century when a Jewish book collector and philanthropist, Mattityahu Strashun (1817–1885), bequeathed his entire personal library for the establishment of the first public Jewish community library in the city. In 1901 a building was constructed opposite the Great Synagogue of Vilnius, and the library, now bearing the name of Mattityahu Strashun, became a significant cultural center, promoting a spirit of tolerance and attracting both Jewish community members and the general public. The library thrived until the outbreak of World War II when its building was severely damaged, and a significant portion of its books removed.

As recounted in The Lost Library (2018) by Dan Rabinowitz, after occupying Vilna in 1941, the Nazis selected a group of Jewish slave laborers to determine which of the library’s books would be sent to Germany for further use and which would be sent to paper mills to be converted into pulp. Some of these workers, dubbed the Paper Brigade, smuggled the books in order to save them, hiding them in the Vilna Ghetto at great risk. Ironically, most of the smuggled books were lost or destroyed during the course of the war, while those that were shipped to Germany (about half the library’s original collection) survived.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Lithuanian government asserted that the collection was part of its nation’s heritage. In 2012 the library was officially re-opened on its present site (pictured above). The primary goal of the library is to collect Jewish literature and books on Jewish culture, history, science, and art, continuing the tradition of the first Jewish public library in Vilnius. It also serves as a public space for initiatives aimed at promoting cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue among the communities in Vilnius, thus contributing to the preservation of the country's historical memory and the continuity of Jewish culture in Lithuania.

Poetry Café: "Stars"
Wednesday, December 13, 6:00 p.m

Take a time-out during the busy holiday season, and join us for our mid-month Poetry Café by the fire in the Great Hall. Bring a poem to read, either one you've read or written, and come ready to listen to and enjoy poetry. There will not be a formal discussion on the pieces, rather time to celebrate and share the poetry that we love. Each month will feature a different theme, and December's theme is "stars." This could be a holiday symbol, an astronomical object, or the shining star in your life. Please register here. A Zoom link is available for this meeting. To receive it, please email [email protected] after registering.

It seems every month of the year has a theme, or several. December is National Letter Writing Month, and we thought it would be fun to display letter collections. Come in and check them out. For the history buff, Women's Letters: America from the Revolutionary War to the Present includes: a 1775 letter from Rachel Revere to her husband, Paul; First Lady Dolley Madison's letter to her sister, telling her about rescuing George Washington’s portrait during the War of 1812; and Jacqueline Kennedy's heartfelt letter to Nikita Khrushchev one week after JFK’s assassination. If you wish, take a postcard of the Library to mail to a friend. The image on the card is a snowy library scene painted by Vinton Lawrence in 2011.

Family Winter Solstice Lantern Walk
Wednesday, December 20, 3:45 - 5:30 p.m

Bundle up and shine your light at the Solstice Lantern Walk. Let's come together as we honor the quiet beauty of the approaching winter season. We will create beautiful lanterns in the Library and use them to light our way through the City Meadow Boardwalk.

Parents are encouraged to participate in this program. If you would like to join us for the walk, feel free to bring your own lanterns. No pets, please. Children will need a note to get off the bus at the Library. Registration is requested here, but not required.

Mindfulness Series with Miranda Lee
Fridays in December, 9:15 - 10:00 a.m.

Mindfulness practitioner Miranda Lee continues her Mindfulness classes in December with the theme “The Gift of Presence.”  One of the keys to happiness lies in simply redirecting our attention from distraction to what’s happening right here in the present moment. Sponsored by the Library, this course is offered via Zoom from 9:15-10:00 a.m. on Fridays. Anyone can join at any time. Please visit here to register for the Zoom link.

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