Vilnius Sholom Aleichem ORT Gymnasium
Founded in 1989 through the joint efforts of the Lithuanian Ministry of Education and the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Sholom Aleichem ORT Gymnasium in Vilnius is the only public Jewish school in Lithuania. It honors the legacy of the pre-war Jewish school in Kaunas bearing the same name. Since joining the ORT network at its inception, the Gymnasium has become a leading center for Jewish education and innovation.
Despite years without a permanent building, the Gymnasium moved into a renovated campus in 2015 with support from ORT and the Vilnius City Council. Today, it serves 505 students across primary, basic, and secondary levels, with an additional 56 students enrolled in its newly opened kindergarten program.
| Name of School | Vilnius Sholom Aleichem ORT Gymnasium |
| Location | Vilnius, Lithuania |
| Age range | Kindergarten, Primary, Junior High, High School |
| Students | 561 |
| Professionals | 45 |
Curriculum & Academic Life
The Gymnasium offers full-day general education in Lithuanian, with additional language instruction in Hebrew, English, French, and Spanish. It features well-equipped classrooms for sciences, languages, arts, and technology, including speech therapy support and a library.
Students benefit from STEAM-integrated learning and regular cross-disciplinary lessons. Since 2024, the School has participated in the "Vilnius is a School" initiative, holding over 3% of lessons in museums, theaters, and cultural venues around the city.
In 2024, the Gymnasium began implementing the Cambridge International Program and was officially accredited in July. Staff have since participated in international training seminars, including the Cambridge Principals' Forum and a Warsaw teaching seminar.
Enrichment & Student Life
Students choose from a broad array of extracurricular clubs in music, dance, ceramics, choir, robotics, math, and sports (8 sections). Annual events like STEAM Week and integrated science experiments complement classroom learning.
The student council leads volunteer initiatives and organizes fairs with local NGOs, with funds raised directed toward support for Israel and other causes.
Innovation & Resource Sharing
The Gymnasium is a leader in educational innovation and professional development. Teachers have engaged in ORT seminars and participated in advanced training on AI in education. Integration of Cambridge and Erasmus+ programs has enabled both students and staff to participate in international exchanges and internships.
Educating for Life
The Gymnasium emphasises civic responsibility and real-world readiness through leadership programs, community outreach, and experiential learning. In 2024, all 12th graders received graduation certificates, with several achieving perfect scores in national exams. The Gymnasium ranks among Lithuania’s top 50 gymnasiums for academic performance and university admission outcomes.
Jewish Experience
Though secular, the Gymnasium fosters deep engagement with Jewish culture and tradition. Hebrew is taught using Tal-Am and Bishvil Ha-Ivrit, alongside Jewish history and values. Students celebrate Jewish holidays and prepare for Shabbat with weekly plays, parables, and ritual observances, including candle lighting and Kiddush.
The Gymnasium collaborates with the Israeli Ministry of Education’s Heftsiba program and hosts regional contests in Hebrew and Jewish traditions among Baltic Jewish schools.
Global Citizenship
Students and staff participate in global learning opportunities, including trips to Israel and Erasmus+ exchanges. In 2025, students will travel to Dublin, and teachers will engage in professional visits to Tallinn and Portugal.
International projects also include the European HaTanakh Quiz and participation in charity events abroad, such as events in Berlin in 2025 honoring Ron Sherman.
Last updated: July 2025