Beit Vilna
Words from Mickey Kantor, Chairperson of the Association:
Throughout the years of the Association's existence, its founders and hundreds of active members have persisted in implementing the goals for which it was established: assisting and supporting survivors, commemorating the memory of those who perished; collecting historical material about the glorious community and passing it on to the next generations.
Beit Vilna in Tel Aviv is proud of the impressive achievements of the Association's generations of volunteers, memorial and commemorative activities, the various cultural events, the organized reference library, the singing of the endearing choir, imparting the heritage to IDF soldiers and high school students, heritage trips to Vilna and the surrounding area, the Ponar March of the Living (Vilna), the Ninth Fort (Kovno), the Polygon (Švenčionys) and the close contact with the Lithuanian community, and with the embassies in Lithuania and Israel.
The Chain of Generations
We continue to walk through this deep and significant channel that our parents have defined for us and through which we lead our successors. We are also curious to learn and know what happened in our parents' homeland after their martyrdom; learn about the history of the community that rose on the ruins of Jerusalem De'Lita, and get to know the renewed culture which sprang up and grew out of the pages of the glorious history of the many years that went up in smoke.
In recent years, along with the emergence of the complex processes of generational change, and decades away from the events of the Holocaust, we witness the phenomenon of young people wanting to know more stories of the Holocaust, the personal and human side of the victims, and to touch their lives before the war. They also learn to recognize the bridge created by the second generation between their parents who survived the Holocaust and their children – their successors - and to walk on it with confidence and pride.
Deepening the Channel
We must tie all these goals and desires and leverage them to create a special, accessible and inviting opportunity, in contemporary ways, with contemporary tools, in a tangible and understandable language for young people; to intrigue them with an in-depth acquaintance with the spiritual and cultural customs and leaders of our heritage, their achievements in the fields of science, education and sports before the war, and to touch all those who came after; to draw lessons from their lifestyles and the historical processes of the community within Lithuanian society - then and now.
All this may be done by using digital means, social networks and online information sources. We must increase the desire to reach out and touch family origins in Lithuania, in those of us who have not yet experienced it, to swing between the rich, emotional, and warm world of memories lost to our parents, and the reality in which we live; to teach them the magnitude of the destructive power of racism which may also grow out of a sane and developed culture, against the backdrop of past and present; to remind them of the importance of the existence of our state, despite endless attempts to eliminate it; to teach them to believe in the power of man and his ability to create a completely new life.
"Public Appeal"
For this we need you, to integrate fresh forces imbued with motivation, into the ranks of our activists. This is a great opportunity to call on those of you who are interested and able to contribute their time, energy, abilities, skills, connections and any other vital resource. We need good and hardworking people who will join our ranks to create together brainstorming teams to outline ideas and practical methods, and together with us, mobilize new processes and possibilities for creating interest, curiosity, and relevance.
I believe that together, with willpower and common endeavor, we can create a new reality of continuity, and restore to Beit Vilna its many years of vitality and importance that will bring together Vilner and Lithuanian Jews for generations.
The Move to Beit Vilna and Vicinity at 30 Sderot Yehudit, Tel Aviv / Diary of Haim Lazar, Saturday Evening, - January 30, 1971
On Sunday evening, the 24th of this month, we were invited to the house of the President of the State of Israel on the occasion of the announcement of the founding of "Beit Vilna and Vicinity"- one of the “Vilna enterprises” that had been introduced, and which we wanted to establish to commemorate Vilna and its wonderful past.
It is unfortunate that Vilna, given its greatness, splendor, and its unique and special place in the Jewish history of recent generations, has not yet been commemorated - not even in the form of a large and detailed book similar to other communities destroyed and no longer existing. This might be due to the overabundance of "treasurers" involved or those wishing to head such a commemorative enterprise worthy of its name.
A number of books have been written - commemorative books on Vilna by individuals, including books on "destruction and rebellion." There is a "Vilna Club", a Vilna choir, and short stories on Vilna by Abraham Karpinowitz. In the United States, there is a Vilna Bundist-style organization that meets occasionally, holds memorials and also wants to commemorate their city. In New York, the writer Leizer Ran has commemorated Vilna by publishing a magnificent album that has already cost tens of thousands of dollars, and this project will probably continue for many years since it is also a source of livelihood ... There are also organizations, in many countries around the world, founded by people originally from Vilna. There is also a world organization of Vilna Jews founded by Dr. Mark Dworzecki, of which he is president. Thus, various personalities, ‘treasurers’ and public activists are involved in similar projects, and recently our friend David Yutan as well, who serves as the Chairman of the Committee for the Establishment of Vilna House. However, all these public activists are unable to unite and agree on one enterprise worthy of its name, since a chairman or president can only be one person and there are so many candidates...
Hence, each one continues with project of its own, and all together draws a pretty sad picture when it comes to the commemoration of this city.
Thus, the Committee for the Establishment of Vilna House, to announce this enterprise and also raise funds, brought aboard the President of the State who showed his willingness to receive a large delegation of sixty-seventy men, at which meeting this enterprise would be officially announced.
The meeting was preceded by lengthy discussions and inquiries and the selection of the persons who would be granted this great honor. Of course, for a simple ordinary Jew, to be invited at the President's House is a life time opportunity, and while participants were many, places limited – resulting in expressions of joy... and of great anger, of course, from those not invited. I was unaware of this, until the day I received an invitation to the event. Later, they explained to me that the criterion for the invitation was based on inviting: important, prominent people and financiers. The committee was headed by Yutan, Dworzecki and Sutzkever, and of course they arranged the whole thing. They would sit in the presidium next to the President and also deliver speeches to commemorate this event.
The long-awaited day arrived. The happy participants dressed up. They wore festive, beautiful clothes, befitting this occasion. Of course, most people were acquainted with each other and I as well. As is customary at the President's House, at such events, light refreshments are prepared and served, after which the President and his entourage appear.
The evening was conducted by the poet Sutzkever, who, with consistent tenacity and zeal did not utter a single word of Hebrew and conducted the evening in Yiddish. At the opening of the ceremony, he invited to the presidium, next to the President, Brigadier General Yitzhak Arad, Chief Officer of the IDF, Abba Kovner and Haim Lazar - to my great surprise – given that I am not from Vilna. It was enough that I had been invited to the ceremony let alone had taken the place of a real Vilner. It was a big surprise to me as well as a great honor, although I had been to the President's House many times before and he knew me well (he once even suggested to me that I should write a book, at his invitation, on the late Joseph Katzenelson, his brother-in-law, but I did not accept the offer).
Sutzkever spoke and also read a memorial poem on Vilna, about its people, houses and their contents - a powerful and beautiful poem. Dr. Dvorzecki spoke, detailing all or most of the city's greats from its inception until its destruction, and also mentioned Jabotinsky, Yosef Glazman, and among the survivors, also Haim Lazar. David Yutan also spoke about the objective of the project and what was planned, and called for donations. At the closing, the President spoke as well, reminiscing about his stay in Vilna in 1906. He began by expressing doubts given that many houses that were built remained desolate, empty of content and persons, and there is danger this house would meet the same fate; but seeing such enthusiasm and desire - he gave his blessing. On the whole, it was a nice evening and a pleasant meeting.
To Jews from Vilna and the Vicinity - to all Friends and Supporters of Yerushalayim deLita ["Jerusalem of Lithuania"] (Written to the Jews from Vilna and vicinity 1969)
The Tel Aviv Jews of Vilna and the Vicinity Committee decided to establish BEIT VILNA here.
Beit Vilna will be the home of all Jews from Vilna in Israel and the Diaspora. It will be a meeting place for veteran Jews from Vilna, who came to Israel before the WWI, as well as, ghetto and extermination camp survivors, partisans and fighters in the forests.
This House will be a meeting place for guests from Vilna, who come from their own countries to become acquainted with our country and spend some time here with their families and friends. Here will be recorded all that which is dear to them, and their memory of the Yerushalayim deLita Community.
Beit Vilna, according to its purpose, will serve as a center for cultural activities. Weekly get-togethers will be held as part of the Vilna Club, and evenings of study and discussion on the problems of the times and on issues related to Israeli society and world Jewry, will be held.
Within the walls of the House, the "Vilna Choir" will operate and continue to perform and commemorate the folksongs of the Jews of Vilna - songs and melodies composed against the background of Vilna Jewish life experienced during peacetime and during the Holocaust.
A special section will be dedicated to the permanent exhibition of paintings, pictures, photographs, works of art, books and certificates.
Here will be commemorated the names of leaders, writers, artists, rabbis, teachers, heroes of the underground, etc..
A special wall, the Wall of the Martyrs, will be erected in memory of the fallen murdered during the Holocaust in Vilna and its vicinity. Their names will be engraved on special plaques. Each person will be able to place a special epitaph in the name of his loved ones who perished during the Holocaust, in ghettos and extermination camps.
This way, we will establish a symbolic memorial for our loved ones and our relatives - mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons, and other members of the family who were but are no longer, and we do not know the place where they perished on their last journey.
To enable all Jews of Vilna and the Vicinity in Israel and the Diaspora to commemorate the names of their relatives and loved ones, the initiating Committee decided to establish Beit Vilna in Tel Aviv. It decided to collect a one-time payment and uniform plaques for engraving names.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Alexander Libo
Chairman
The Association of Jews from Vilna for Help and Rescue (a letter written to the members of the Association, 1975 ).
We are pleased to inform you that Beit Vilna and the Vicinity will start its regular activities on Wednesday, January 15, 1975. The house will be open every day (except Friday and Saturday) from 5:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m, and every Wednesday from 10:00 am to 12:00pm.
We will be operating a library and a reading room. Unfortunately, the number of books we have is not yet enough. Therefore, please send us books that you do not need, and that may be valuable for our library.
We would like to organize a knitting course, a chess class and a string orchestra. Anyone who owns a mandolin, guitar, etc. and wants to participate in an orchestra must register with the office.
Registration for Commemoration of the Martyrs in the "Ohel Yizkor" (Memorial Hall) continues.
The Vilna Choir continues its blessed activity and holds rehearsals every Monday from 7 p.m to 9 p.m. New singers (especially men) are welcome.
The Vilna Club will resume its activities and will be open on Tuesdays, once every two weeks. The Grand Opening of the Club will take place on Tuesday, January 21st of this year at 8:00 p.m. The program will include a performance by the "Tzeirei Chabad" (Chabad Youth Organization) - an evening of culture and Hassidic songs. The Club's second evening will take place on Tuesday, February 4, and the program will be announced in the press and on radio.
On Tuesday, February 25, the Purim Ball Club will host an entertainment program, art performances and a raffle.
The Vilna Club will also commence its public cultural work among the residents of the Montefiore neighborhood. On Shabbat eve, January 11 of this year, at 6:00 p.m, a lecture on the topic: "Jewish Spiritual Heroism" will be held, followed by a creative reading. On Shabbat eve, January 18, at 6:00 p.m this week's Torah portion will be read follow by pirkei hazzanut (liturgical songs). On Shabbat eve, January 24, at 8:00 p.m will be held the first meeting with the neighborhood's youth. The program includes a lecture on Vilna, together with slides and public singing.
To cover some of Beit Vilna and the Vicinity's maintenance and activity expenses, the management of Beit Vilna has decided that anyone from Vilna and the vicinity must pay a membership fee of not less than NIS 5 per month. Everyone who pays regularly will receive an annual membership card, and will be allowed to participate in all the activities at Beit Vilna and the Vicinity free of charge.
These membership cards can be obtained at the office or at the entrance to the Vilna Club.
Jews from Vilna and the Vicinity! Come and participate in the Vilna Club activities and Beit Vilna and the Vicinity courses and pay the membership fee. Help us bring into Beit Vilna and the Vicinity - your home – the content and tradition of Vilna.
Sincerely,
The Beit Vilna Management
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