By it‘s decision (https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/lt/legalAct/65730310d58e11eaabd5b5599dd4eebe) Lithuanian Government transferred state-owned real estate managed by the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture – buildings in Vilnius Žydų str. 7 and Žydų str. 5, to the ownership of public entity “The Foundation for Disposal of Good Will Compensation for the Immovable Property of Jewish Religious Communities” as a compensation for Jewish religious communities’ immovable property for religious, cultural, health care, sports, educational and scientific goals pursued by Lithuanian Jews and reducing the amount of monetary compensation payable by the value of the buildings.
Building foundations of Great Vilna synagogue and Miqveh were found during the archaeological excavations in the site of Great Vilna synagogue remains. According to the historical sources building of Great Vilna synagogue was damaged during the World War II, in 1940 was taken over by Vilnius City Municipality from Vilnius Jewish community in liquidation, and in 1955–1957 the synagogue building was completely destroyed, and Vytė Nemunėlis Primary School and playground were built in its place.
During the archeological research carried out since 2011 and financed by the Good Will Foundation, the remains of the discovered buildings are included in the Register of Cultural Heritage (Register of Cultural Heritage, unique No. 41887), cadastral measurements were made.
According to the Minister of Culture Mindaugas Kvietkauskas, after the transfer of immovable property – buildings in Vilnius Žydų str. 7 and Žydų str. 5, to a public entity “The Foundation for Disposal of Good Will Compensation for the Immovable Property of Jewish Religious Communities” conditions will be created for better satisfaction of the needs of Lithuanian Jewish communities, and the amount of monetary compensation will be reduced by the value of the building.
Discussions on how to perpetuate the synagogue are ongoing in Lithuania. The mayor of the capital Remigijus Šimašius has promised that the synagogue will be perpetuated until 2023, when Vilnius will celebrate it’s 700th anniversary. It is known from historical sources that the brick synagogue was built in the 17th century, on the site of a wooden synagogue that had stood there before. It is stated that the Great Vilna Synagogue complex surpassed all synagogues of the Polish – Lithuanian Commonwealth in its size and splendor.
