After WWI, Vilna retained its standing as one of the largest and most important centres of Jewish life in Eastern Europe. In 1921, some 46,500 Jews were living in the city, approximately 36% of the total population, and by 1931 the number had grown to 55,000 people. Some 85% of them declared their mother tongue to be Yiddish, and the rest were listed as Hebrew speakers.

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The Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem


Courtesy of Yair Barkai


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Bottom row, from left: Haim Rabinowitz, his wife Meche, their son Yossele, a student at Leib Shapira's school in Vilna, Chasia Shapira (immigrated to Israel), wife of Leib Shapira
Top row, from left – Ester Rodmin (immigrated to America) and Feigel Schneider
Feigel was murdered in the Holocaust. The fate of the Rabinowitz family is unknown.
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Watercolor on paper
Collection of the Yad Vashem Art Museum, Jerusalem
Gift of Maurice Spielman, USA, in honor of Abraham and Ida Chodos Spielman. Photograph © Yad Vashem Art Museum
