16 June 2025

The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania Announce the Award for Advancing Lithuanian-Jewish Relations and Understanding

(New York, NY) – The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research (YIVO), in partnership with the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania (MMNL), are proud to announce the creation of a new award recognizing outstanding contributions to the advancement of Lithuanian-Jewish relations and understanding.

The Award for Advancing Lithuanian-Jewish Relations and Understanding was established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both institutions. Presented annually, the award will include a $5,000 honorarium and a certificate of appreciation. Each year, a public ceremony honoring the recipient of the award will be held in Vilnius at the MMNL.

The inaugural award ceremony will take place in October 2025 as part of a series of events dedicated to YIVO’s Centennial anniversary. Established one hundred years ago in 1925, YIVO has worked closely with the MMNL since 2015 on the world acclaimed YIVO Edward Blank Vilna Online Collection Project and other initiatives aimed to preserve and perpetuate the history and culture of Eastern European and Lithuanian Jewry and its documentary heritage.

“We believe this annual award is a meaningful tribute to our exceptionally productive partnership with the library. It aims to inspire and recognize Lithuanian historians, journalists, writers, and artists who are dedicated to exploring Jewish history in Lithuania, as well as Lithuania’s place within the broader Jewish world,” said Jonathan Brent, YIVO’s Executive Director and CEO.

“We are confident that establishing this award will encourage both domestic and international researchers to shed new light on Lithuanian and global Jewish history. The award will also strengthen the collaboration between the National Library and the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, which has always aimed to showcase Lithuanian Jewish documentary heritage to the world,” said Aušrinė Žilinskienė, Director General of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania.

A committee has been established to help select the annual recipient of the award. The inaugural committee comprises Jonathan Brent, Aušrinė Žilinskienė, Director General of the MMNL, Lara Lempert, Head of the Judaica Research Center at MMNL; Arūnas Gelūnas, Director General of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art; and Alexander Rimas Domanskis, Attorney for the Lithuanian American Community & the Lithuanian World Center. Committee members will serve two-year terms, except for the Directors of YIVO and the MMNL, who are permanent members.

This award reflects the ongoing commitment of YIVO and the MMNL to foster dialogue, preserve shared heritage, and deepen understanding between Lithuanian and Jewish communities.

YIVO

The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research is dedicated to the preservation and study of the history and culture of East European Jewry worldwide. For nearly a century, YIVO has pioneered new forms of Jewish scholarship, research, education, and cultural expression. Our public programs and exhibitions, as well as online and on-site courses, extend our outreach to a global community. The YIVO Archives contains 24 million unique items and YIVO’s Library has over 400,000 volumes—the single largest resource for the study of East European Jewish life in the world.
yivo.org

Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania

MMNL has two departments dedicated to promoting Jewish heritage and uniting the Jewish community in Lithuania – Judaica Research Center and Vilnius Jewish Public Library. Judaica Research Center is preserving and researching the Judaica Collection of the MMNL and creating international awareness of it through series of publication and academic, cultural, and educational activities. Vilnius Jewish Public Library promotes Jewish literature and encourages intercultural cooperation among the communities in Vilnius, thus contributing to the preservation of the country's historical memory and the continuity of Jewish culture in Lithuania.