Jewish cemeteries in Vilnius

Daniel Gurevich, guide of the "Jerulita Travel" company, visits the three Jewish cemeteries in Vilnius (Vilna) and speaks about their history and fate. The first Jewish cemetery was founded in the 15th century on the right bank of the Vilia River. Great Jewish figures were buried here: HaGra (the Gaon of Vilna), the "Ger Tzedek" Avraham Ben Avraham (Count Valentin Potocki), Rabbi Moshe Rivkes, Rabbi Avraham Danzig, author of "Chayei Adam", the famous publisher Baruch Romm, and many others. This cemetery was destroyed by the Soviets in 1950. In 1831, the new Jewish cemetery was established in Zareche. It was very large, with over 70,000 graves. But it also was destroyed in the Soviet times and a general funeral bureau was built on its ground. Tombstones from the two Jewish cemeteries were used as a construction material, mostly for the stairs. A monument in memory of Vilna Jews is erected from the former granite tombstones. On the eve of World War II, the current Jewish cemetery was established on the outskirts of Vilnius. At present members of the Jewish community of Vilnius are buried here. Graves of the famous Jewish residents of Vilnius, including the crypt of the Gaon of Vilna, the tomb of R. Chaim Ozer Grodzensky, R. Itzele Ponivezher, Dr. Tzemach Shabad, and others, were transferred to this cemetery. Memorial stones were also erected here in honor of the "Bund" members and the fighters of the Vilna ghetto. ABOUT OUR CHANNEL: Jerulita Travel is a team of professional guides and travel admins. Our new initiative is to share knowledge about the Jewish and general heritage and history and to undust the past not only of the big cities but also the smaller towns and shtetls of Lithuania. 🌍 http://jerulita.lt 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/jerulita 🐦 Twitter:   / jerulitatravel   📕 Facebook:   / jerulita   🧑‍💼 LinkedIn:   / jeru