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Photo by Grzegorz Kwolek (JHI)

“The Vilna Gaon was a unique figure in the history of Judaism, and the memory of his achievements allows us to return to the times of the fruitful coexistence of Poland and Lithuania as a Commonwealth, whose Jewish communities influenced the whole of Europe”. said Monika Krawczyk, director of the Jewish Historical Institute. “And although today the territory of the then Commonwealth belongs to several different countries, we still return to the heritage of this country and its inhabitants.”

“The great rabbi of the 18th century, the Vilna Gaon, was an innovator of Judaism, an expert and interpreter of the Talmud, a resident of the city that the Jews called the Jerusalem of the North. It was also thanks to him that Vilnius became a centre of Judaic sciences at an exceptionally high level. The exhibition at the Jewish Historical Institute refers to the 300th anniversary of the Gaon's birth, which was celebrated in Lithuania in 2020, the Year of the Vilna Gaon,” said Jarosław Sellin, secretary of state at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

Exhibition opening “Hidden image. Vilna Gaon” Photo by Grzegorz Kwolek (JHI)

“The Vilna Gaon is a symbolic figure for Jewish heritage in Lithuania. Our task is to cultivate the memory of those whose achievements connect Poland and Lithuania. The history of the Gaon shows how important a role was played by Jews living in Lithuania and Poland, when these countries were still parts of the Commonwealth,” said Rasa Rimickaitė, cultural attaché of the Lithuanian Embassy.

“I am pleased with the possibility of Polish-Lithuanian cooperation in the field of commemorating the figure of the Gaon. This exhibition is the result of many years of scientific work and cooperation undertaken by the National Library in Warsaw and the Lithuanian National Library, thanks to which we present our unique collections at the exhibition,” emphasised Dr. Larisa Lempertienė (History Department of Vilnius University, Lithuanian National Library), member of the exhibition research team.

“Eliyahu ben Shlomo Zalman was a great scholar, a legendary sage famous all over Europe, a great expert on Talmud and Kabbalah, who influenced Jewish teachings to this very day. We invite you to visit the exhibition that tells about the Gaon, or ‘genius,’ the city he lived in, and his times,” said curator Marta Kapełuś from the Art Department of the Jewish Historical Institute, for whom this is the first self-prepared exhibition.

Rabbi Eliyahu ben Shlomo Zalman (1720-1797), known as the Genius (Gaon in Hebrew) from Vilnius, was a unique individual in the history of Judaism. As one of the greatest Jewish scholars, he shaped the modern study of the Talmud and participated in the turbulent religious disputes of his time. His fame radiated all over Europe. The exhibition is an opportunity to learn about the spirituality of Judaism, the history of the Jewish minority, and its influence on the culture of the Republic of Poland.

The exhibition ‘Hidden Image. Vilna Gaon’ can be visited at the Jewish Historical Institute until 27^th February 2022.

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Co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage

Honorary patron of the exhibition:

Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the Republic of Poland

Exhibition partners:

Martynas Mažvydas Lithuanian National Library

Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum

Lithuanian Cultural Institute

Jewish Community of Lithuania

National Library in Warsaw