Mission and Activity

The Tolerance Center, a section of the Vilna Gaon State Jewish  Museum, seeks to spread the values of tolerance in society. The genocide against the Jews in WWII and the persecution and destruction of other ethnic minorities demonstrated the worst features of humanity: hate, apathy, violence and racial discrimination. Our goal is to contribute to making sure this tragedy doesn‘t repeat itself on different scales and in different ways in Lithuania and the world. Education is an effective way to foster tolerance in society, teaching historical truth, freedom of thought, human rights, the ideals of education and imparting understanding for other cultures and traditions.

A permanent exhibition on the heritage of Litvak art and culture, showing the talented potential of Lithuania brutally destroyed during the period of anti-Semitic genocide and Communist repression, is on display at the Tolerance Center. Temporary exhibits, thematic events and projects are aimed at program of recognition of cultures in an open society, spreading culture, the historical legacy and human rights.

The Tolerance Center follows the UNESCO declaration on the principles of tolerance of 1995, which states: “Tolerance is a value in consequence of which peace prevails and the culture of war is replaced by the culture of peace.” Our mission is to contribute to ideas to educate the public about the unique cultural, artistic and historical legacy and to inculcate respect for minority cultures, thus spreading tolerance.

The large central hall of the Tolerance Center is rented out for conferences, discussions, seminars, meetings, lectures and other educational and cultural events.

Vision

The Tolerance Center seeks to participate in global culture without borders by initiating recognition for the artistic and cultural legacy of Litvak culture and unique cultural values in Lithuania and the world.

In order to bring home the lessons of the genocide against the Jews and other ethnic minorities during WWII, we must introduce the values of tolerance: to create a cultural dialogue between visions of the past, present and future in cooperation with Lithuanian and foreign researchers (museum specialists, educators, etc.);  to insure the spread of tolerance in a society which intolerant of expressions and thoughts of anti-Semitism and racism, using education.

The Tolerance Center aims at being a home of human dignity celebrating a universal ideal, the UN Declaration of Human Rights. The Tolerance Center aspires to participate in the European cultural program: permanent exhibits, temporary installations, thematic presentations educate and enlighten society and combat the anti-Semitism, xenophobia and racism still evident in global society.