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.
![The entrance to the Philips factory. Vilna, prewar](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/186AO3_.jpg?itok=jTCAyqAA)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives 186AO3
![The entrance to the Philips factory. Vilna, prewar](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/186AO3_.jpg?itok=mnwJYBbV)
The Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
![Jewish Life in Vilna, 1939](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bqZLKXT9imU/0.jpg)
![Niuta Salominski née Teper (b. in Vilna) with her two children, Abrasha and Lilinka. All three were murdered at Ponary](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/Niuta-Salominski-with-her-two-children.jpg?itok=6vr4rgFb)
Courtesy of Yair Barkai
![Niuta Salominski née Teper (b. in Vilna) with her two children, Abrasha and Lilinka. All three were murdered at Ponary](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/Niuta-Salominski-with-her-two-children.jpg?itok=8Rav1MD9)
![Klaczki Street in the Jewish Quarter of Vilna, prewar](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/183go8.jpg?itok=UzSpyn0l)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives 183GO8
![Klaczki Street in the Jewish Quarter of Vilna, prewar](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/183go8.jpg?itok=ESn7_6Wp)
![Jewish-owned shop in prewar Vilna: “Hat Shop – M. Fajwusiowicz”](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/2074_100-01.jpg?itok=IRSe67DI)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives 2074/100
![Jewish-owned shop in prewar Vilna: “Hat Shop – M. Fajwusiowicz”](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2074_100-01.jpg?itok=yQBWmMno)
![Jewish-owned shop in prewar Vilna: “Shoe Shop - E. Kolpenicki”](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/2074_100-02.jpg?itok=8EP4IxoC)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives 2074/100
![Jewish-owned shop in prewar Vilna: “Shoe Shop - E. Kolpenicki”](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2074_100-02.jpg?itok=EBh8MGyM)
![Feigele Salma, daughter of Rabbi Yehoshua Liberman, prewar. Salma was murdered in the ghetto together with her two children, Isia (aged 7) and Rubin (aged 3)](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/8925_1.jpg?itok=aa4o3NI2)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives 8925/1
![Feigele Salma, daughter of Rabbi Yehoshua Liberman, prewar. Salma was murdered in the ghetto together with her two children, Isia (aged 7) and Rubin (aged 3)](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/8925_1.jpg?itok=fvpRVO5f)
![Isia Salma, grandson of Rabbi Yehoshua Liberman and son of Feigele, prewar. Isia was murdered at the age of 7 together with his mother and his 3-year-old brother, Rubin.](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/8925_2.jpg?itok=eAemmLo-)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives 8925/2
![Isia Salma, grandson of Rabbi Yehoshua Liberman and son of Feigele, prewar. Isia was murdered at the age of 7 together with his mother and his 3-year-old brother, Rubin.](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/8925_2.jpg?itok=htIQKFXQ)
![The Rabinowitz family and friends. Vilna, prewar](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/121FO2_.jpg?itok=Uv7U0Qo-)
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.
Yad Vashem Photo Archives 121FO2
![The Rabinowitz family and friends. Vilna, prewar](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/121FO2_.jpg?itok=5xOSvrcd)
![Members of the "Aid Through Employment" welfare organization in Vilna, 1931-1932](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/185FO9__0.jpg?itok=m04BhiTx)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives 185FO9
![Members of the "Aid Through Employment" welfare organization in Vilna, 1931-1932](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/185FO9__0.jpg?itok=5MK5mNTG)
![The Jewish Quarter in Vilna, prewar](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/185GO7_.jpg?itok=qfSphf1Y)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives GO7185
![The Jewish Quarter in Vilna, prewar](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/185GO7_.jpg?itok=gJE5oZET)
![Painted postcard of prewar Vilna](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/186FO5_.jpg?itok=N7n-gqDR)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives 186FO5
![Painted postcard of prewar Vilna](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/186FO5_.jpg?itok=YeU-veVM)
![Jakob Szer (1895-1944). Ramailes Yeshiva Courtyard, Vilna, 1931](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/10970.jpg?itok=BEIvVvKg)
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
![Jakob Szer (1895-1944). Ramailes Yeshiva Courtyard, Vilna, 1931](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/10970.jpg?itok=b3UWxRWj)