During World War Two ghettos in Eastern Europe had their own unique identities. The Vilna Ghetto became known for being extremely well organized and for having a remarkable cultural life. Before World War Two, Vilnius was known worldwide as the “Jerusalem of Lithuania” and was considered one of Europe’s most important Jewish centers. During the Holocaust, the tens of thousands of Jews in the Vilna Ghetto continued the cultural tradition that had given their city its moniker. Associations of writers, artists, and musicians were established to produce performances for the ghetto inhabitants who faced death on a regular basis.

Concerts, song recitals, poetry readings, and theater productions did what art does best – awaken the soul to all that is good, even in the face of unimaginable horror. The continuously sold out theater performances underscored an important fact: no matter how tired, hungry, or despondent the Jews of the Vilna Ghetto would become, nothing could separate them from their humanity.

Our family has had the privilege of hearing about these performances first hand from the stories of our matriarch Ada Gens-Ustjanauskas. In the following video we would not only like to share her memories of the Vilna Ghetto’s cultural life, but also those of other Vilna Ghetto survivors.