Archaeologists uncover treasures of Vilnius’ Great Synagogue as Lithuanian Jews dispute its future

Vilnius, once known as the "Jerusalem of the North," now features a hole in its city center, a visible link to its once-thriving Jewish past. Archaeologists have unearthed the full floor and prayer platform of the 17th-century Great Synagogue, a structure that served as a major religious, cultural, and intellectual center for Diaspora Jews before World War II.

The discovery, made by archaeologists led by Jon Seligman, has brought to light treasures that narrowly escaped destruction by Nazi and Soviet occupations. However, the site has also exposed divisions within Lithuania's remaining Jewish community of fewer than 3,000 people. While all agree on the need for preservation, disagreements persist over the future of the excavation site.

The community's main representative body proposes building a new Jewish community center above the unearthed remains. This center would allow visitors to view the synagogue floor through a glass layer or basement exhibit, while also hosting cultural, social, and educational events celebrating contemporary Jewish life. Some Orthodox Jews, however, advocate for rebuilding the synagogue as a house of worship or preserving it solely as an archaeological exhibit.

Adding another layer to the debate, some residents suggest broadening the new building's mission beyond Lithuanian Jews to become a center promoting tolerance, human rights, and understanding of Jewish history for all Lithuanians. The excavation, which has been ongoing since 2015, aims to restore a significant part of Vilnius's identity, which was largely erased when over 90% of Lithuanian Jews were killed during the Holocaust and the synagogue was razed by Soviets.

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This is the place that half the population would have identified their city with. So this city at the moment is missing half its identity, and because it’s such a long time since it happened, they don’t even know they’re missing half their identity.