Jewish Museum Milwaukee hosting exhibition about artifacts saved from Nazi destruction

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Jewish Museum Milwaukee is hosting an exhibition titled The Book Smugglers: Partisans, Poets and the Race to Save Jewish Treasures from the Nazis, curated by Holocaust Museum Houston and based on the book by David E. Fishman.

The exhibition showcases the efforts of ghetto residents in Vilna, Lithuania, who risked their lives to preserve Jewish cultural treasures during World War II. Through their efforts, thousands of rare books, manuscripts and other artifacts were saved from destruction by the Nazis.

The exhibition runs through May 19 and features around 100 artifacts and reproductions, including paintings, photographs, poetry, diaries and music, all representing the Jewish heritage of Vilna. This collection not only explores the history of Vilna before the war but also celebrates the contributions of the Paper Brigade and the lasting impact of their mission.

Dan Haumschild, Education Director at Jewish Museum Milwaukee, joined us on Thursday, Feb. 8 to preview the event.

Additional information can be found by visiting Jewish Museum Milwaukee online.