Synagogues 4/8

The Great Synagogue

how the great synagogue became how it was, and the history books found.

Choral Synagogue

The only active running Synagogue left. Find out how it survived.

Jewish Life

Here we tell you the story about the Jews in Vilna

Great Synagogue Tour

Check how the

Great Synagogue of Vilnius once looked like.

Epstein’s Kloyz

Updated: Aug 3, 2020

MORDECHAJ EPŠTEIN KLOYZ (1915), Gėlių str. 3

A former cloister on Gėlių street was founded by the famous brewer Mordechaj Epštein (1844 - 1916) and was a private house of prayer. Epštein was not only an entrepreneur but also a generous philanthropist. Originating from a famous family of rabbis, before his death in 1916 he set up houses of prayer on his estates. This is how the brick style house with double glazed windows on Gėlių street was built. In 1922, the Jewish Women's self-help society was established in this house, providing interest-free loans.

In 1932, the cloister was badly damaged by the fire, even the Tora stored in it burned down, but the building was repaired and later converted into an apartment building. You can see the former cloister from two sides - through the gate on Gėlių str. 3 and through he gate on Šv. Stepono str. 8.

Palaces In Vilnius

Sapieha Palace is in the heart of Antakalnis district of Vilnius, Lithuania.

It is the only surviving palace formerly belonging to the Sapieha family.

The palace was was built in Baroque style in 1691-1697.

Vilnia,_Antokal,_Sapieha._Вільня,_Антока

Strashun Library

Matityahu Strashun (1817-1885) was a major book collector, who owned thousands of Hebrew texts and manuscripts, including religious writings, fiction, poetry, scientific works, Jewish and Karaite historical works, travel accounts, and Hasidic texts.

The Great Synagogue

Once the heart of Judaism in Lithuania, the Great Synagogue of Vilna was founded at the end of the 16th century, but heavily damaged during World War Two and completely razed to the ground under the Soviet rule.

Jewish Hospital

The Jewish hospital was established in the mid-19th century, and was the largest of the three in Vilna. The Jewish hospital is situated right opposite the Choral Synagogue.

Mishmeret Cholim building was erected next to the hospital at the end of the 19th century.