There is an international battle being waged these days to prevent a renewed threat of violation of the ancient cemetery in Vilna, Lithuania, where the remains of Jewish great tzaddikim of Vilna of past generations, headed by the Vilna Gaon himself and his eminent father, HaRav Shlomo Zalman Kramer, his grandfather, the Be'er Hagola and his family are interred. In this ancient cemetery are also buried the Chayei Adam and many additional distinguished figures.
This cemetery was vandalized in the past during the Holocaust by the Nazis who erected a huge stadium, but over the years, with the fall of Communism, it fell into disuse and neglect, a sad sign of the terrible desecration which is a source of deep pain to Jews throughout the Diaspora.
In recent years, the danger has been increased when a group of real estate businessmen sought to acquire the area from the hands of the present cemetery caretakers, representing the Jewish community of Vilna. Sadly, these people, far removed from Yiddishkeit, have taken over the communal properties and claim to represent the community. They now plan to seize the area and restore the huge stadium which stood upon the aforesaid ancient cemetery of kedoshei Vilna of past generations.
Rabbi Dov Fried has decided not to remain silent over this travesty. Rabbi Fried, an American and a descendant of Vilna rabbonim, is waging an all-out battle against this outrageous venture and has mobilized a large group of similar descendants of past members of the Vilna community, including thousands of offspring of the Vilna Gaon himself, who have signed a letter demanding that the cemetery area be handed back to them and deposing the usurpers of the community leadership and its rightful claim to the cemetery.
In the upcoming week, dozens of Jews of Vilna descent, primarily such Jews whose ancestors are interred in the ancient cemetery, including offspring of the Gaon himself, will gather at a protest rally against the scheme of violating the cemetery and selling its area to real estate dealers. They declare: "We regard this as top priority to have Jews visit this site, for only thus will it be understand that we have not abandoned the graves of our ancestors but are determined to preserve their dignity."
Part of the Vilna cemetery as it appears today
