Võrumaa Museum opens two exhibitions on the city’s notable people

Võrumaa Museum has opened two historical exhibitions about life in Võru, told through the stories of prominent local people, ERR reported.

The exhibition “A Century-Ago Võru Through the Judeikin Family’s Story” presents a historical overview of the lives and activities of Jewish families who lived in the city. It focuses on the Judeikin family’s involvement in businesses including clothing and timber.

Curator Ilja Judeikin said the exhibition brings together the findings of seven years of research and is divided into several thematic sections.

Gennadi Gramberg, director of the Estonian Jewish Museum, said Võru’s Jewish community was not particularly large, but the city was known for the Judeikin family. He said the family were major industrialists who contributed significantly to Võru’s development, describing their story as part of both Jewish and Estonian heritage.

The second exhibition, “Võru in Four Views,” focuses on four people who lived and worked in the city: photographer Ida Kepnik, magician Julius Skrastin, composer Eduard Tamm and painter Jaan Vahtra.

Curator Kadri Asmer said the exhibition aims to give visitors a sense of Võru in the 1920s and 1930s. She said the people who live in a city are more important to its character than its buildings and streets.

Asmer added that the selection was subjective because many colourful and interesting people lived in Võru at the time.

Both exhibitions about notable and influential people in Võru will remain open at the Võrumaa Museum gallery until September 27.