Vilnius Great Synagogue excavation reveals full prayer platform

Archaeologists have uncovered the complete polished floor and central bimah of the 17th‑century Great Synagogue in Vilnius, Lithuania, after a decade‑long excavation that began in 2011. The site, once a major religious and cultural hub for the city’s pre‑World‑War II Jewish community, was destroyed by Nazi forces and later razed by Soviet authorities. The dig, led by Jon Seligman and Justinas Racas, also revealed sections of the women's gallery, colorful tiles and name tablets of former congregants. The findings have ignited a debate within the small Lithuanian Jewish community about the future of the space: some propose building a new Jewish community centre with a glass‑floor exhibit, while others argue for reconstructing the synagogue as a house of worship or preserving it solely as an archaeological site. The project involves Israeli and Lithuanian heritage bodies and aims to present the restored remains to both Jews and the wider public, offering a tangible link to the city once dubbed the “Jerusalem of the North.”