The First Vilnius Synagogue

Lithuania’s capital was once known throughout the world as the Jerusalem of the North.

At the end of Žydų Gatvė - Jewish Street - in the Lithuanian capital there now stands an unremarkable kindergarten and children's playground. But for four centuries before World War Two, this was the site of one of the most important Jewish places of worship in Eastern Europe.

The first Vilnius synagogue was a historical Jewish synagogue in Vilnius. Built of wood, it was the oldest known synagogue in Vilnius.

The site had first been used to house a Jewish house of prayer in 1440.

The synagogue built on the site dates back to 1572.

In 1573 The Warsaw Confederation equated the rights of non-believers with Catholics, so Jews in Lithuania could finally have their own house of prayer.

It is not known what the first Vilnius synagogue looked like. During the pogroms carried out by the citizens of Vilnius in 1592, 1606, and 1635 the synagogue was demolished, then rebuilt.

In 1633 the Jews received the permission to build the first masonry house of prayer, which, in all Europe, would be gradually referred to as the Great Synagogue of Vilnius.

Eventually, the Great City Synagogue of Vilnius was built of stone, after permission was given to build a stone structure to replace the Old Synagogue.