16 | JANUARY 20 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

W

ould you risk your 
life to save a book? 
That is the under-
lying question of “The Book 
Smugglers: Partisans, Poets, 
and the Race to Save Jewish 
Treasures from the Nazis” on 
view at the newly renamed 
Zekelman 
Holocaust Center 
(HC) now 
through May 31, 
2022. The exhibi-
tion was curated 
by Holocaust 
Museum Houston 
and based on the book of the 
same name by Dr. David E. 
Fishman.
“The Book Smugglers” is the 
nearly unbelievable true story 
of ghetto residents who rescued 
thousands of rare books and 
manuscripts by hiding them on 
their persons, burying them in 
bunkers and smuggling them 
across borders. Set in Vilna, 
Lithuania — also known as 
the “Jerusalem of Lithuania” 

for its robust Jewish culture 
rich with art, music, literature, 
poetry, theater and opera — a 
small group of partisans and 
poets risked everything to save 
Jewish cultural treasures. 
Prior to WWII, literature 
and art enabled Vilna residents 
to rise above their everyday 
persecution and enjoy a world 
of beauty in sound and color. 
Cultural activity compensated 
for the Jews’ difficult political 
and economic situation. Once 
Vilna’s Jews were forced to live 
in a ghetto, the “Paper Brigade” 
was formed by a group of 40 
intellectuals, writers, educators 
and activists to save Judaica for 
the next generation. 
Together, they rescued 
Jewish artifacts, books, scrolls, 
photographs, works of art, 
diaries and literature from the 
hands of the Nazis by either 
smuggling them into the ghetto 
or hiding them in plain sight. 
“This is truly an incredible 
tale of heroism, resistance and 

friendship and of unwavering 
devotion — including the read-
iness to risk one’s life to save 
literature and art,
” said Rabbi 
Eli Mayerfeld, CEO of the 
Zekelman Holocaust Center. 
“Dr. Fishman thoroughly 
researched this astonishing 
account by reviewing Jewish, 
German and Soviet documents, 
including diaries, letters, mem-
oirs, and by interviewing sever-
al of the story’s participants.
” 
The exhibition consists of 
approximately 100 artifacts 
and reproductions on display, 
including panels with paintings 
and drawings, photographs, 
poetry, diaries, testimonies and 
music representing the Jewish 
heritage of Vilna. Featuring 
themes of resistance and per-
sistence of cultural identity, 
the exhibition focuses on the 
complicated history of Vilna, 
life before WWII, contributions 
of five members of the Paper 
Brigade and the results of their 
heroic mission. 

The Zekelman Holocaust Center opens new exhibit: 
“The Book Smugglers: Partisans, Poets and the Race 
to Save Jewish Treasures from the Nazis.”

Would You
Risk Your Life
to Save a Book?

Dr. David E. 
Fishman 

JN STAFF

Details

In honor of International 
Holocaust Remembrance 
Day on Jan. 27, Dr. David 
E. Fishman will discuss 
the incredible story of his 
book and the exhibit. This 
program will be present-
ed virtually at 7 p.m. To 
register to attend the vir-
tual lecture via Zoom, visit 
tinyurl.com/mtynzzj8. 
To order a copy of 
Fishman’s book, visit 
https://tinyurl.com/yck-
wyz2c.
Additionally, on Jan. 27, 
the HC will feature a sec-
ond-generation Holocaust 
survivor speaking at noon. 
Space is limited and res-
ervations are required. 
At 1 p.m. there will be a 
docent-led public tour of 
the museum. Reservations 
are required. For more 
information, visit
www.holocaustcenter.org
or call (248) 553-2400.

Mikhal Kovner, a member of 
the Paper Brigade, sorts 
documents at YIVO. 

COURTESY OF 
MORESHET ARCHIVE, ANIELEVICH MEMORIAL HOLOCAUST STUDY AND RESEARCH CENTER.

