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Archaeologists Fully Uncover Central Bimah of Vilna Great Synagogue in Lithuania

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First reported by Ynet · Aug 4, 2026

What happened

Archaeologists in Lithuania have fully uncovered the central bimah and other parts of the historic Great Synagogue of Vilna, revealing colorful floors, seating plaques, and a Ten Commandments tablet. The synagogue, destroyed about 70 years ago, is being excavated since 2011 to preserve and showcase its remains for the Jewish community and public.

01Excavations fully revealed the central bimah and prayer hall of Vilna's Great Synagogue.
02The synagogue was destroyed by Nazis and Soviets about 70 years ago.
03The project is in its sixth season since 2011, funded by the Goodwill Foundation and local Jewish community.
04Colorful terrazzo floors and seating plaques with names of worshippers were uncovered.
05A plaque commemorates a seat donated by Gitl Kletsk, wife of the city’s shamash Yehezkel.
06A metal plaque engraved with the Ten Commandments was also found during the dig.

Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.

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