300th birth anniversary of the Vilna Gaon

“If you will it, you too can be a genius” – a popular phrase common among Litvak families since the times of the Vilna Gaon. Today we commemorate the 300th birth anniversary of Vilna Gaon Elijah ben Solomon Zalman – the great rabbi of Lithuania, outstanding personality. Today we cherish his thinking and teachings that remain relevant in today’s fast evolving world.

The year of the Vilna Gaon and of the History of the Jews of Lithuania is dedicated to commemorate a 700 years old, rich Jewish history in Lithuania. It represents a step in a long road of cooperation, thereby aiming not only to bring back the attention to Lithuania’s Litvak history but also to establish a continuous dialogue between the Litvak communities around the world.

We invite you to watch a short video about the Year of the Vilna Gaon and Jewish History in Lithuania: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrLaBFlSHh0