CELEBRATING JEWISH CULTURE
MISSION, VISION, VALUES
As of February 1, 2025, The Vilna Shul, Boston’s Center for Jewish Culture (The Vilna), and the Jewish Arts Collaborative (JArts™) officially joined together to elevate and expand access to Jewish culture and community across Greater Boston. To reflect our shared outcomes, we revised our mission and vision.
OUR MISSION
We are a cultural hub centered in a historic synagogue building in downtown Boston. Our mission is to spark excitement and curiosity about Jewish arts and culture and our American immigrant story through vibrant and meaningful experiences.
OUR VISION
Our vision is to be a place where arts, culture, tradition and ideas power personal connections, community and the pursuit of a more inclusive society.
OUR VALUES
Welcoming and Inviting Guided by the Jewish value of welcoming the stranger, the Vilna is inclusive and open to people of all backgrounds. We believe that we must do and act with kindness and respect for everyone.
History and Tradition Rooted in ancient traditions, Jewish culture continues to evolve. The Vilna brings people together to learn about this ever changing story as it is unfolding.
Meaning and Relevance It is in our nature as humans to seek meaning and purpose in our lives. The Vilna identifies and organizes experiences that are timely and compelling to help people better understand themselves and the world they live in
Belonging and Connection No matter our stage in life, we need to feel that we are part of something larger. We provide opportunities for shared experiences to help ground you, combat loneliness and lift you up in moments of both joy and sadness.
Creativity and Ideas The arts offer new avenues for discovery and learning. By introducing inspired and out-of-the-box experiences, we cultivate memorable moments that spark reflection and growth.
Annual Voices of Humanity, Boston’s Interfaith Concert, featuring Zamir Chorale, the Boston Community Gospel Choir, and Convivium Musicum, delighted audiences and culminated in a community-wide singalong.
18 Phillips Street | Boston, MA 02114 617-523-2324 | info@vilnashul.org vilnashul.org
2024 STAFF
Dalit Ballen Horn, Executive Director
Stephanie Davis, Program and Operations Manager
Christen Hazel, Director of Development
Geo Poor, Director of Operations & Finance
Elyse Winick, Director of Arts & Culture
CREDITS
Design/Layout: Nicole Pollack
Photography:
Irina Danilov
Nathan Klima
Justin Knight Photography
Kayana Szymczak Photography
Robert Torres
On the cover:
Dancers of the award-winning Israeli Vertigo Modern Dance Company, in collaboration with the Celebrity Series of Boston, lead the audience in a powerful exercise.
2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Robert Thurer, President
Natty Hoffman, Vice President
Amy McKeag, Vice President
Daniel Kurzberg, Treasurer
Noah Schlesinger, Clerk
Susan Benjamin
Jennifer Blecher
Dana Bogen
Daniel Dain
Pam Friedman
Jeff Karp
Rebecca Kotkin
Jim Kutchin
Brian Lester
Marilyn Okonow
Wendy Perlman
Michael Price
Adam Samansky
Mike Samuels
Jodi Seewald Smith
Judy Shapiro
Julie Somers
Zach Wainwright
Gilbert Winn
Karen Winn
Robyn Yee
PRESIDENT EMERITI
Deborah B. Cohen
Deborah Feinstein
David Glater
Debbie Kurinsky
Evvajean Mintz
Richaed Mintz z”I
Lee B. Silverman
Myles D. Striar
Jack Swartz
Richard S. Usen z”I
DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Maxine Goldberg
Joseph Grabowski z”I
Eileen Samuels
Stanley M. Smith
Sandy Swartz
Board member Natty Hoffman and a friend get their signed copies of Sabor Judío by authors Ilan Stavans and Margaret Boyle
Laura Mandel, Igor Golyak, Dalit Ballen Horn and Sophie Krentzman pose at a pre-reception celebrating Arlekin Players Theater’s The Dybbuk performance in our historic sanctuary.
DEAR FRIENDS OF
THE VILNA
Step into The Vilna’s Annual Report for 2024 — a year filled with historic milestones, bold strides, and programs that made a lasting impact.
Thousands walked through our doors this year — drawn by concerts that stirred the soul, author talks that sparked dialogue, film screenings, art exhibits, museum tours, holiday celebrations, and so much more. Among the many highlights was an award-winning production of The Dybbuk, brought hauntingly to life in our historic sanctuary, and an exciting collaboration with JArts that culminated in their full integration into The Vilna in January 2025. This powerful partnership promises to deepen the presence of Jewish art and culture in our community and strengthens our shared commitment to joyful, thought-provoking cultural experiences.
We embarked on an inspiring new chapter with the launch of our 4-Year Strategic Plan — an ambitious, values-driven roadmap shaped by our mission and the voices of our community. As part of this plan, we proudly partnered with a visionary team led by RODE Architects to restore and reimagine our sacred space. Their transformative work will shape The Vilna into an innovative, dynamic home for our programs — one that honors our past, meets the needs of today, and inspires generations to come.
None of this would be possible without our exceptional community of donors, volunteers, and staff — whose passion, partnership, and belief in The Vilna’s mission carry us forward.
Thank you all for another extraordinary year.
Dalit Horn Executive Director Bob Thurer Board President
FY 2024 FINANCIALS
2024 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
The house was full for the book launch event for Jewish Holiday Table, a new international Jewish cookbook by
, founder of the Jewish Food Society.
Sold-out audience sat riveted as they watched the Boston premiere of 999, a documentary film about the 999 Slovakian Jewish girls who were aboard the first official transport to Auschwitz followed by a talkback and performance with writer/ director Heather McDune Macadam and the Czech/ Slovak musician team which composed the film’s score.
In partnership with Celebrity Series of Boston, we hosted dancers of the award-winning Israeli Vertigo Modern Dance Company who captivated a packed room.”
Naama Shefi
Photo credit: Robert Torres, Celebrity Series
Artist Caron Tabb created a sukkah featuring the words of Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai as an homage to October 7. Caron joined fellow artists, musician Yuval Gur and author Joanna Rakoff, in a conversation about their work, creative process, and life postOctober 7.
Klezmer legend Hankus Netsky, Israeli hip hop star Neta Weiner, and Israeli clarinetist Itay Dayan joined forces thanks to Rabbi Jessica Kate Meyer, leader of Spirituality and Artist-in-Residence at Hebrew College, for a unique and inspiring evening of Klezmer music.
2024 PARTNERS
About Fresh
American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors
American Jewish University
Arlekin Players Theater
Bakey Bakery
Beacon Hill Books
Beacon Hill Garden Club
Boston by Foot
Boston City Council
Boston’s 3G
Brandeis University Alumni Association
Brandeis University Hillel
Brandeis University Press
Celebrity Series
Combined Jewish Philanthropies
Consulate General of Israel to New England
Covenant Foundation
EL AL Israel Airlines
Facing History and Ourselves
Fresh Truck
Gann Academy
Hebrew College
Hillel Council of New England
Jewish Arts Collaborative
Jewish Book Council
Jewish Community Day School
Jewish Community Center of Greater Boston
Jewish Community Relations Council
Jewish Studio Project
Maimonides School
The Moth StorySLAM, delighted a sold-out crowd, including MFA Director Matthew Teitelbaum in our historic sanctuary for an evening of storytelling during Passover.
Music at the Blissful Needham Community Education
OneTable Rashi School
Repair the World
Single Mingle
Temple Shir Tikva
The Moth
2024 PHILANTHROPIC GIVING
The Vilna is grateful for the generosity of all individuals, corporations, and foundations. Donors listed made gifts to The Vilna between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024. Every effort has been made to list names properly. If you have any questions, please contact Christen Hazel, Director of Development at christen@vilnashul.org or 617-523-2324.
$50,000+
Combined Jewish Philanthropies
Judi and Larry Bohn
The Krupp Foundation
The Philip and Bernice Krupp Foundation for Jewish Life
$25,000-$49,999
The Covenant Foundation
Lizbeth and George Krupp
The Miriam Fund
$18,000-$24,999
Anonymous
Natty and Carl Hoffman
Diane and Neil Exter
Joseph & Rae Gann Charitable Foundation
Marilyn and Dale Okonow
Lay Lee Ong
The William and Lia G. Poorvu Family Foundation
Shari and Robert Thurer
Nicole Zatlyn and Jason Weiner
Karen and Gilbert Winn
$10,000-$17,999
Anne Bromer
Linda and Michael Frieze
Jill and Jeff Karp
Rebecca Kotkin and Don Steinberg
Jessica and Joshua Lutzker
The Sager Family
Katarzyna and David Schwarzman
Alan Dana
Myer Dana
$5,000-$9,999
Susan and Aron Ain
Barbara Alfond
Kathy and Michael Azeez
The Beker Foundation
Jennifer and Jeffrey Blecher
Deborah and Ron Feinstein
Jackson and Irene Golden 1989
Charitable Trust
Gary Greenfield
Herman Goldman Foundation
Judy and Steve Kaye
Rachel Coben and Roger Klein
Debbie and Geoff Kurinsky
Peri and James Kutchin
Marcia and Alan Leifer
Shirah Rosin and Brian Lester
Amy and Mark McKeag
Maxine Murnick
Wendy and Michael Price
Karen Teller
Ilana Braun and Jed Weiss
Robyn Yee
$1,800-$4,999
Jane Adolph and Bill Poznik
AllianceBernstein L.P.
The Martin Salomon Morton and Gustel Schreiber Morton Foundation
Susan and Cary Benjamin
Larry Brodney
Elisa Entine
Diane Epstein
Mr. Barry Fidelman
Maxine Goldberg
Beth and Larry Greenberg
Abigail Fierman and Michael Grossman
Amy Gerson and Louis Grossman
Christen and Thomas Hazel
Varda and Marvin Konstam
Elyse and Dan Kurzberg
Levine Chapels
Patricia and Greg Mintz
Evvajean Mintz
Julie Nadal
Adam and Elika Portnoy
Valerie and Larry Post
Suzanne Priebatsch
Emily and Adam Samansky
Cara Wolahan and Noah Schlesinger
Barbara Scolnick
Judy Shapiro and Brian Nadler
Julie Somers and Moe Blaustein
Lynne Spencer
Lisa and Neil Wallack
Elaine and Alan Weiler
Deanna Wolk
$1,000-$1,799
Jessica and David Aronoff
Dana Bogen and Blair Bateson
Beacon Hill Civic Association
Rhoda and Martin Bress
Dorothea and Sheldon Buckler
Doris Cole
Julie and Daniel Dain
Polly Gambrill Slavet
Deborah Goldberg
Abby Gordon
Larry Green
Joan Krizack and Andre Mayer
Lisa and Stephen Lebovitz
Gloria and Laurence Lieberman
Mosse Foundation
Marianne and Kenneth Novack
Wendy Perlman and Peter Antoszyk
Jonathan Plaut
Nancy Raphael
Caroline Reeves and Jim Lee
Elizabeth and Stephen Rosen
Jo and Stanley Rutstein
Eileen Samuels
Jennifer and Seth Stier
Sandy and Jack Swartz
$500-$999
Anonymous
Dalit Ballen Horn and Daniel Horn
Elaine Barlas
Carol and Kenneth Bello
Peggy Lowenstein and Steve Berez
John Bowman
Cheryl and William Casper
Pam and Clarence Friedman
Jacquelyn and Howard Furman
Mr. John Houston and Ms. Katherine Read
Elizabeth and Dan Jick
Maurice Joffe
Ellen Beth Lande
Dr. Renee Levi
Susana Lopez and Douglas Levin
Ellen and Barry Levine
Dr. David Louis and Ms. Pamela Oswald Louis
Willing Phillips
Marsha and Loyd Pimperl
Sue and Bernie Pucker
Barbara and Peter Sidel
Siri Striar and
Francisco Hernandez
Ms. Ellen Beth Suderow
$180-$499
Anonymous
Amy Baron and Tom Abrams
Roberta and Richard Bauer
Diane and Fredrick Berk
Amy and Benjamin Bloomstone
Deborah Bogin Cohen
Sharon E. Cohen
Patricia A. Cook
Scott Corin
Susan Corson
Judith Wolf and Howard Eisen
Ms. Melissa Ellis
Reva and Eric Fischman
Larry Fishman
Steve Freedman
Gianfranco Pocobene Studio
Amy and Howard Goldman
Steven Goldstein
Teri and Bruce Gorsky
Jacob Grossman
Prof. Barbara Wallace Grossman, PhD
Leo Guyshan and Brenda Tobin
Lauren and Ken Handler
Ross G. Honig
Margaret Jacobson-Sive
Robert Kleinberg
Donna and Gerald Kramer
Sandra Y. Levine
Dr. Chip Mc Neal, PhD
Jordan Michaels
Shelby Nahmias
Elaine Ober and Peter Skagestad
Benjamin Presskreischer
Richard Primack
Sue Rosenstrauch
Cynthia Rubin and David Rodgers
Ms. Allison Ryder
Ruth Langer and Jonathan D. Sarna
Harvey Silverglate
Rabbi Jodi Smith and Mr. Adam Smith
Raymond Stephens
Myles Striar
Hal Tepfer
Maria and George Tsokos
Dana and Josef Volman
Marissa and Zachary Wainwright
Andrea Waldstein
Gail Walker
Barbara Freedman Wand and Mitchell Wand
Robin Weinberger
Ronald Weintraub
Laura and Kenneth Wernick
Candice and Howard Wolk
Ms. Joyce Yaffee
Under $180
Susan Altschuler
Karen Arsenault
Thomas Barth
Sabrina Carter
Kristen and Evan Benjamin
Julie and Bruce Berger
Eric Berke
Christopher Biow
Reverend Katharine Black
Nan Borod
Dr. Susan Boruchoff
Lynn Brennan
Ken Bresler
Jennifer Breslouf
Barbara Brown
Fay Bussgang
Alan Cetel
Judith Chasin
Alison Cohen
Ms. Margo Cooper
Kimberly and Gary Creem
Dr. Marina Cunningham
Deborah Cushman
Hon. Raya Dreben
Linda and Allan Dunn
Miriam DuVall
Linda Ellenbogen
Matthew Fishbein
Linda and John Freeman
Mr. Ilya Freytsis
Sophia and Avrum Freytsis
Nancy Krasner Gilman
Franklin Gold
Les and Sandy Goldstein
Andrew Gorelik
Daniel Gorelik
Ms. Carolyn Greenberg
Zelda and Harold Kaplan
Marion Kaplan
Michal and Dallas Kennedy
Mr. Mark Kiefer
Judith Klau
Karen Klein
Ms. B. Minde Kornfeld, Esq.
Susan Kornfeld
Martha Koster
Miriam Ladrigan
Rhonda and Stewart Lassner
Sandra and Ronald Levy
Ms. Debra Levy
Linda Lewi
Mr. Daniel Lieber
Ms. Ellen Lipsey
Alla Lopatin
Larry Marks
Dr. Jay and Mrs. Carol Marlin
Adam Micco
Nancy and Craig Miller
Elaine and Nicholas Negroponte
Adrienne and David Paskind
Mr. Steven Pell
Ms. Amy Perlmutter
Andi Pollinger
Ellen and Walter Poor
Daniella and Skyler
Priebatsch Place
Helaine Razovsky
Jane Reader
Ms. Janet Rosenblatt
Joseph Rubinstein
Harold Rudnick
Shelley Sackett
Mr. Jack Schier
Ms. Susan Schiffer
Daniel Schorr
Ms. Penny Schwartz
Betty Solbjor
Mrs. Susan and Mr. Alan Solomont
Roseanne and Edward
Harris Sussman PhD
Karen and Robert Sweet
Karen Thompson
Ms. Leslie Warshaw
Arlene and Henry Winkleman
LEGACY SOCIETY
The Vilna is forever grateful for the support of individuals who have made arrangements to include The Vilna in their estate plans. Leaving a legacy helps to ensure that The Vilna thrives for generations to come.
Dorothea and Shelly Buckler
Patricia Cook
Deborah and Ron Feinstein
Leslie Friedman
Judith Klau
Heidi Meyer
Evvajean Mintz
Marilyn and Dale Okonow
Lay Lee Ong
Eileen and Stephen Samuels
Sandy and Jack Swartz
Karen Teller
Shari and Robert Thurer
AT VILNA SHUL SYNAGOGUE, THE SOULS OF THE DEAD ARE STIRRING
Excerpts from article published in The Boston Globe May 29, 2024
Three tiers of scaffolding dominate the center of the sanctuary in the Vilna Shul, the only historic synagogue still standing in Boston, where peeling paint from the ceiling and walls reveals stunning examples of 100-year-old hand-painted murals. While the Beacon Hill synagogue is raising funds for much-needed renovations, the scaffolding is actually part of the theatrical set for Arlekin Players Theatre’s production of “The Dybbuk.”
“The setting is perfect for ‘The Dybbuk,’ ” says Igor Golyak, Arlekin’s award- winning artistic director, who is helming a new version of S. Ansky’s original play. “The action takes place in a synagogue, and the story explores restless human souls that have not lived out their lives fully and lurk around the shul,” he says.
“‘The Dybbuk’ speaks to the experience of refugees, as well as the history of the immigrant Jews who established this shul, and then moved on again.” The plot centers on a young woman who becomes possessed by a dybbuk — a malicious spirit — on her wedding day. The dybbuk is the spirit of the young Hasidic scholar she loved but her father forbade her to marry because he was poor. The scholar died when he learned she was marrying another man. The play blends Jewish folklore and mysticism into a story of star-crossed love. The two leading roles are played by actor Andrey Burkovskiy and actor
and film director Yana Gladkikh, both celebrated in Russia before emigrating to the United States. “History is layered into this synagogue,” says Golyak. “When I saw those paintings on the walls I doubled down on the idea of renovation, and uncovering things hidden just below the surface. The scaffolding, which goes almost into the skylight, allows us to see the otherworldliness of the space that’s uncovered by the story.” Ansky’s play, written in Russian, was first performed in Vilnius, Lithuania (also known as Vilna), which was, at the beginning of the 20th century, the global center of Jewish culture. The show eventually became a staple of the popular Yiddish theater. The Vilna Troupe toured Europe with the production, but during
“History is layered into this synagogue,” says Golyak. “When I saw those paintings on the walls I doubled down on the idea of renovation, and uncovering things hidden just below the surface. The scaffolding, which goes almost into the skylight, allows us to see the otherworldliness of the space that’s uncovered by the story.”
Nazi occupation of Lithuania, 95 percent of its estimated Jewish population of 265,000 was murdered.
“Naming this synagogue the Vilna Shul in 1919 honored the place where these immigrants came from,” says Horn, “and while the paintings depicting biblical stories represent the culture, religious traditions, and motifs they wanted to carry with them, there are distinctly American architectural design touches.”
As the Vilna Shul enters its own new phase as “Boston’s Center for Jewish Culture,” Horn says the organization is committed to serving as “a host and convenor, supporting artists and helping them tell their stories. We hope this site-specific show will spark interest in Arlekin and the Vilna Shul and provide new opportunities to connect with the Boston community.”
“OUR VISION IS TO BECOME A LIVING MUSEUM BY DAY AND A CENTER FOR ARTS AND CULTURE BY NIGHT,” said Dalit Ballen Horn, Executive Director of The Vilna Shul
Excerpts from article published in eJewish Philanthropy
Nira Dayanim Feb 11, 2025
Through a merger, the Vilna Shul and Jewish Arts Collaborative aim to create one-stop shop for Jewish culture in Boston.
For over 100 years, the Vilna Shul has stood nestled in Boston’s Beacon Hill — an outpost of Jewish immigrant history in one of the city’s most popular, most historic neighborhoods. While rooted in its Jewish cultural history, it’s also a building that has known change. Starting in the 1950s, when the Jewish
community began to filter out of the neighborhood, the synagogue fell into a period of disuse, then disrepair. Restored by a Jewish community initiative in the 1990s, it now operates as a cultural center, honoring Boston’s Jewish immigrant history as a new generation walks through its doors for educational programs, entertainment, public art exhibits and historic tours.
In the latest chapter in an old building’s history, a merger between the Jewish Arts Collaborative and the Vilna Shul — alongside a planned multimillion-dollar capital renovation to transform
the synagogue’s historic sanctuary space into a center for Jewish performing arts — aims to cement the redbrick synagogue as a one-stop shop for Jewish culture in Greater Boston.
“It’s not just that the Boston Jewish community rescued the Vilna shul from being destroyed. They have rescued this story of the Jewish immigrant history of this community,” Laura Mandel, former JArts’ executive director now Vilna’s managing director of program strategy and impact, told eJewishPhilanthropy. “Now through our partnership, through the artists and the program vision that we are creating together, we’re really going to be able to illuminate those stories.”
“Our vision is to become a living museum by day and a center for arts and culture by night,” said Dalit Ballen Horn, Executive Director of The Vilna Shul.
According to Ballen Horn and Mandel, the decision to unite seemed obvious to the two organizations, which both operated on similar budgets for a similar target audience. By joining together, it was clear to both organizations that they could streamline their operations while also deepening their impact in the community.
Preceding JArts’ founding, there was a longstanding vision of creating a Jewish cultural center around Boston’s Greenway park, said Mandel. Though the building never came to fruition, the hope for a physical home for
“NOW THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP, THROUGH THE ARTISTS AND THE PROGRAM VISION THAT WE ARE CREATING TOGETHER, WE’RE REALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO ILLUMINATE THOSE STORIES, ” said Laura Mandel, former JArts’ Executive Director
arts programming remained. And for the Vilna, a new strategic plan, a desire for expanded arts programing, and a desire to meet the needs of young Jews longing for Jewish cultural connection amid rising antisemitism, led to the opportune moment for the two organizations to join forces.
“The Vilna and JArts are vibrant treasures of our community, and their coming together marks an exciting step forward in nurturing Jewish culture holistically,” said Marc Baker, president and CEO of Combined Jewish Philanthropies, the city’s Jewish federation, said in a statement.
HANUKKAH AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON
Thursday, December 18, 2025
Come together for this Boston-wide gathering of musical performances, art exhibits that highlights the diversity of Jewish culture and identities, and much more during the Jewish festival of lights.
ANNUAL HANUKKAH A CAPPELLA CONCERT
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Enjoy the best of Jewish collegiate a cappella with guest appearances from area day schools. This concert is uplifting, high energy and fun for people of all ages.
HISTORIC TOURS
Join us for a unique two-hour walking tour of Jewish Boston. Uncover how Boston’s Jewish immigrants created an active community that blended customs from Eastern Europe and changes to the new world around them. Discover sites where Boston’s Jewish West End residents worked, lived and worshiped, including the sites of three synagogues within a few blocks of each other.
This program is presented in partnership with Boston By Foot.
