Archaeologists uncover treasures of Vilnius’ Great Synagogue as Lithuanian Jews dispute its future
Vilnius was a major center of Jewish thought, famed for both its religious tradition and modern secular Jewish culture. It was home to the 18th-century Vilna Gaon, a highly influential sage.
Archaeologists have recently uncovered the full floor of Lithuania's historic Great Synagogue in Vilnius, revealing treasures that had been nearly erased by Nazi and Soviet occupations. The synagogue, built in the 17th century, was once a significant religious, cultural, and intellectual hub for Diaspora Jews. The discovery of the synagogue's polished, colorful floor and prayer platform, which had not been seen since 1940, has sparked discussions among Lithuania's small remaining Jewish community about how to preserve and interpret the site.
While there is no debate about the need to preserve the site, there are differing opinions on how to protect the past and what to build over it. The main representative body of Lithuania's Jewish community plans to build a new Jewish community center over the excavation, where visitors could view the Great Synagogue floor through a glass layer or a basement-level exhibit.
Above, the center would celebrate current-day Jewish life through cultural, social, and educational events. However, some Orthodox Jews and their supporters oppose this project, arguing that the synagogue should be rebuilt as a house of worship or preserved as a purely archaeological exhibit. Other residents suggest that the mission of the new building should be broader, offering a center that promotes tolerance, human rights, and understanding of Jewish history among all Lithuanians.
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