About

"All over the world, Jews continue to look at Vilna as a place that gave them a sense of themselves."  - S. Norich, Publisher of the "Forward"

The Organization

The Vilna Project, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization based in New York City. Founded by Mira Jedwabnik Van Doren, the Project is dedicated to documenting, preserving and disseminating information about the pre-war Jewish culture of Vilna, Poland (now Vilnius, Lithuania). In addition to having filmed numerous interviews with survivors and scholars, The Vilna Project maintains an archive of books, documents, photographs, music and films from the United States, Israel and Europe.

"Hidden Treasures" Short Film

During the 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the liquidation of the Vilna ghetto, Van Doren filmed newly discovered archives located in a church where they had been smuggled by the Jewish community during the Holocaust and hidden for over 50 years. This footage can be seen in an 16-minute short film produced by Van Doren, entitled "The Hidden Treasures."

The World Was Ours is a definitive documentary dedicated to the memory of prewar Jewish Vilna. It draws on dozens of survivor and scholar interview and includes archival footage, music and photographs, as well as excerpts from diaries, letters and countless other original materials. Narrated by the award-winning actor, Mandy Patinkin, The World Was Ours is a must-see film that honors the legacy of a vibrant community who celebrated life even as it faced certain death.

"The World Was Ours" Feature-Length Film

The World Was Ours is a definitive documentary dedicated to the memory of prewar Jewish Vilna. It draws on dozens of survivor and scholar interviews and includes archival footage, music and photographs, as well as excerpts from diaries, letters and countless other original materials. Narrated by the award-winning actor, Mandy Patinkin, The World Was Ours is a must-see film that honors the legacy of a vibrant community who celebrated life even as it faced certain death.

The film received its World Premiere on April 30th, 2006 at the 9th Annual Film Festival held at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. This was followed on November 7th, 2006 by a New York Premiere at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. The Film was shown on WNET Channel 13 and on Connecticut Public Television (CPTV). It was also shown on American Public Television nationally for 3 years, as well as at various festivals and other venues across the United States and abroad. To learn more about The World Was Ours and view the trailer, click here.

Current Projects

The Vilna Project, Inc. has produced an educational study guide entitled, Reference Guide for the Documentary The World Was Ours: The Jewish Legacy of Vilna, to accompany the DVD of the documentary film The World Was Ours. The reference guide will be available to order here in September 2015. In addition, plans are underway for a DVD collection to be called "The Last Voices of Vilna" that will consist of the many valuable and inspiring interviews of Vilna survivors and scholars that could not be included in the documentary. We are currently seeking funds to complete this project. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, please view our donations page.

The Vilna Project, Inc.