Võru Museum unveils two exhibitions on city's past through local lives

The Võru Museum in southeastern Estonia has launched two simultaneous exhibitions that trace the city's past not through buildings or dates, but through the lives of the people who shaped it.

The Judeikin family story

One exhibition focuses on the Judeikin family, part of Võru's Jewish community, and draws on seven years of research into Jewish families who once lived and worked in the city. Curator Ilja Judeikin said the display is organized around several themes, allowing visitors to learn about the family's activities in Võru, including their involvement in the clothing and timber trades.

Gennadi Gramberg, director of the Estonian Jewish Museum, noted that the city's Jewish community was always relatively small, yet the Judeikins left a lasting mark as major manufacturers who contributed significantly to Võru's development. He described the story as part of both Jewish heritage and Estonia's broader heritage.

Four notable figures

The second exhibition, titled "Võru in Four Views," centers on four people connected to the city in the 1920s and 1930s: photographer Ida Kepnik, magician Julius Skrastin, composer Eduard Tamm and painter Jaan Vahtra.

Curator Kadri Asmer explained that the exhibition offers a window into life in Võru during that era while showing that a city's character comes not from its streets or architecture, but from the people who live there. She added that the four chosen figures are just a subjective sample among many colorful personalities who lived in Võru at the time, since the limited exhibition space required narrowing the selection down.

Both exhibitions are on display in the gallery at the Võru Museum through September 27.