Archaeologists Expose Torah Ark of Vilna Synagogue Destroyed by Nazis, Soviets

A joint Israeli and Lithuanian excavation carried out for six years has exposed the Torah ark and bimah (raised prayer platform) of the Great Synagogue of Vilna, which was destroyed by the Nazis during the Holocaust and later razed again by the Soviets, the Israel Antiquities Authority said in a statement on Thursday.

A school had been built on the premises of the 17th century Vilnius synagogue and its surrounding Jewish communal center, known as the Shulhoyf, which had been burned down by the Nazis after operating for some 300 years.

The Soviets in 1956-1957 destroyed what remained.

“When we arrived to excavate the aron kodesh and the bimah, from which generations of Jews read the Torah scroll for 300 consecutive years, it became clear, unfortunately, that the core of the synagogue had been greatly damaged by Soviet destruction,” the statement quoted Dr. Jon Seligman of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Justinas Rakas, of the Kultūros paveldo Išsaugojimo pajėgos, as saying.

“Still, two impressive staircases, clearly visible in the many images of the synagogue before its destruction, were discovered,” they said.

“In addition, the excavation of the bimah was completed including the entire façade of the bimah and the complete remains of one of the four huge pillars that supported the roof of the Great Synagogue.”

On Thursday morning, the archaeologists made a new discovery at the site.