Commemorating the centennial of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.
This is a ceremonial House Resolution that commemorates the centennial of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. It marks YIVO’s founding in 1925 in Vilna (now Vilnius, Lithuania), notes its relocation to New York City in 1940 after surviving the Holocaust, and highlights its vast holdings—more than 24 million items, including the largest archive of Holocaust materials outside Israel, 400,000 volumes, and the world’s largest collection of Yiddish books, pamphlets, and newspapers. The resolution also emphasizes YIVO’s role as a leading US institution for Jewish history, Holocaust studies, and Yiddish language and literature, and notes its digitization efforts (such as the Edward Blank YIVO Vilna Online Collections Project) that make materials accessible to educators, scholars, and learners worldwide. Introduced May 29, 2025, the measure recognizes YIVO during Jewish American Heritage Month and affirms the United States’ commitment to supporting cultural diversity, historical scholarship, and intercultural dialogue. As a resolution, its purpose is to honor and publicly acknowledge YIVO’s contributions rather than to establish new law or authorize funding.
Key Points
- 1The resolution commemorates YIVO’s 100-year history, established in 1925 in Vilna as a premier center for East European Jewish history, culture, and language.
- 2It notes YIVO’s survival of the Holocaust and its 1940 relocation to New York City.
- 3It highlights YIVO’s holdings: over 24 million items, including the largest repository of Holocaust materials outside Israel, 400,000 volumes, and the world’s largest collection of Yiddish-language materials.
- 4It recognizes YIVO as a leading US institution for Jewish history, Holocaust studies, and Yiddish language and literature, contributing to scholarship and cultural preservation.
- 5It underscores digitization efforts, such as the Edward Blank YIVO Vilna Online Collections Project, which provide global access to millions of documents and artifacts.
- 6It states the purpose of commemorating during Jewish American Heritage Month and reaffirms the United States’ commitment to supporting cultural diversity, historical scholarship, and intercultural dialogue.