Vilnius Jewish Library

13/06/2026

As many of you are now aware, I and my family are in extremely serious financial difficulty. I reached out to dozens and dozens of Jewish organizations, synagogues, rabbis and wealthy individuals. The vast majority never even answered my polite messages.

I am a gentile and spent more than 30 years working as a volunteer to promote Jewish life and culture and to stand up directly to anti-Semitism. I spent well over 100,000 dollars out of my own pocket. I received years of death threats for my work. I founded the first Jewish public library in Lithuania since 1943. The library will be 15 years old this year. In 2009, I saved the Vilna Ghetto Library from sale and destruction. I continued my work even after developing an incurable lung disease.

My wife, also a gentile, was working to promote Jewish culture before she knew I existed. Later, she created and directed a play about Jewish children who were in the camps. One of the stars of the play was our son. His name is Glenn Jolson Brent. Our son`s middle name comes from Litvak entertainer Al Jolson.

I know nobody owes my family anything. Just that it is kind of funny how things used to be. When I asked for nothing for myself, I was in contact with many of the Jewish associations, synagogues, rabbis and wealthy individuals. They would answer my emails when I asked for nothing for myself. Then when I finally needed help after 30 years, they decided to ignore me.

Why?

If you have platitudes about committees, processes, rules, regulations and requirements, please do not comment. If I had waited for such things, the Vilna Ghetto Library would be in ruins. If I had waited for the ideal moment, the Jewish library I founded never would have opened.

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27/05/2026

Hello Everyone,

I am trying to understand something. What part of Tikkun Olam and Tzedakah is it when someone in need is ignored? I spent 32 years as a gentile of doing unpaid work on behalf of Jewish causes.I I did so despite years of death threats. I was praised by so many, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel. I spoke at the Simon Wiesenthal Center. I was interviewed by Jewish media in many nations. I was told that I was a hero, a mensch and even a Righteous Gentile. I never asked for and never received a dime of support.

Now I need support for myself and my family. I have an incurable lung disease though I never smoked. I have a son with special needs. We are at risk of losing our farm. The financial situation is so bad that I am down to barely 120 pounds even though I am six feet two inches tall. Not enough money for food for myself. I have reached out to wealthy Jewish indviduals, rabbis, synagogues and Jewish assocations. The silence has been deafening. They praised me when I asked for nothing. Called me a Rigtheous Gentile. What I am I now, treyf and a shmuck? I know nobody is going to help me and my family. That has been made clear. I am just trying to understand why.

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03/05/2026

For over three decades, I devoted my life to supporting Jewish culture, memory, and continuity. As a non-Jew, I did this not out of obligation, but מתוך הכרה — מתוך הכרת הטוב (hakarat hatov), a recognition of what is good and worth preserving in the world.

This work included founding what became the first Jewish public library in Lithuania since 1943, and intervening in 2009 to prevent the Vilna Ghetto Library from being sold off and lost. That sacred place now has a future, and that matters deeply to me.

Over the years, I gave what I could—time, energy, and personal resources totaling well over $100,000. I also faced years of threats from antisemitic groups. I never stepped back. Not because it was easy, but because it was necessary.

All of this was done while quietly living with ADHD, PTSD, and autism. Later, in 2015, I was diagnosed with a serious and incurable lung disease. Even then, I continued my work for as long as I physically could.

Eventually, declining health and financial reality forced me to stop.

I am sharing this now not to revisit the past, but to speak honestly about the present.

At this stage, I am facing significant financial hardship, including difficulty covering basic daily needs. This is not something I ever expected to write, but circumstances have changed.

If anyone in the community—individuals or institutions—has guidance, connections, or the ability to help in any way, I would be grateful.

If my efforts over the years reflected even a small measure of tzedakah or tikkun olam, then I trust that those values still live in the world—not as ideas, but as actions.

With respect,

Wyman Brent

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23/04/2026

More than ever, the worldwide Jewish community needs allies. I stood by the Jewish community for 33 years. I founded the first Jewish public library in Lithuania since 1943. I saved the Vilna Ghetto Library from sale and destruction. I spent at least 100,000 dollars out of my own pocket. I received years of death threats for my work as a gentile on behalf of Jewish causes.

I spoke at the Simon Wiesenthal Center. I spoke at an Association of Jewish Libraries conference. I was thanked for my work by Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel. I was the final speaker at a ceremony honoring Righteous Gentiles in Vilna. The Israeli ambassador thanked me. I was interviewed by The Forward. I was interviewed by Jewish newspapers, magazines, websites.

People and organizations would gladly answer my emails when I asked nothing for myself. How many dollars was I given for decades of work? Zero. I asked for nothing and nobody offered anything even when I had to live every night in a hostel for more than 18 months because I didn`t have money for anything else. All of my money was going into the library I founded.

Then when I and my family finally needed help, the overwhelming majority of individuals and organizations did not even answer my emails and messages. I had been called a hero, mensch and even Righteous Gentile when I needed nothing. Now I treated like a lowly goy and treyf. What part of Tikkun Olam and Tzedakah is that? Maybe somebody can explain.

Here is where I am now. I am living in a tiny studio that costs 360 euros a month. I am fine with staying here. Just that I have so little money that I barely eat anything. I am 6 feet 2 inches tall and barely weigh 120 pounds. It is not that I hate food, but can`t afford much of it.

I am asking some individuals or organization to help me to the tune of 360 euros a month for the next six months. I have started working as a songwriter. I am now signed with three music agencies. Just that it takes time until the first money starts coming in. Will anybody help?

https://www.gofundme.com/f/california-to-vilna-a-gentile-and-a-jewish-library?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv0&fbclid=IwY2xjawRXQI5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEet9MkJosSPkmieb7gxhQlgj996yxKVSd9dATJ4p2c4NRiCx0uT9fFwiRNjNI_aem_GkM1NFsbB1fwJlMqTzLBPg

Hi, my name is Wyman Brent. I am the American gentile founder of the V… Wyman Brent needs your support for California to Vilna: A gentile and a Jewish library

15/04/2026

I was thinking about something involving time earlier. The year 2026 is important in more than one way to me. It was the year I was signed by three music agencies. It is also 36 years since I first visited Europe. It is 18 years since I last lived in the USA. The Vilnius Jewish Library I founded will be 15 this year. Glenn will become a teenager this year. On top of all that, I will turn 64. Just like in the song by The Beatles.

09/04/2026

The American Civil War ended on April 9, 1865. My great grandmother was alive during the war. She held me on her lap when I was a baby. I wonder how many others are alive who connected with someone who was living in 1865.

23/03/2026

I am reaching out and asking for help for my family. There is finally some light at the end of the tunnel thanks to my songwriting. However, we are still very much at risk of losing our home until my career takes off.

Hi, my name is Wyman Brent. I am the American gentile founder of the V… Wyman Brent needs your support for California to Vilna: A gentile and a Jewish library

21/03/2026

https://www.gofundme.com/f/california-to-vilna-a-gentile-and-a-jewish-library

Will you donate to help me and my family in our time of need? I spent 32 years of unpaid work promoting Jewish life and culture. I did not let the death threats stop me. I did not let my failing health stop me.

Hi, my name is Wyman Brent. I am the American gentile founder of the V… Wyman Brent needs your support for California to Vilna: A gentile and a Jewish library

21/03/2026

This American gentile had the idea to found the first Jewish public library in Lithuania since 1943. That library will be 15 years old this year. And it has been 17 years since I saved the Vilna Ghetto Library from sale and destruction.

Hi, my name is Wyman Brent. I am the American gentile founder of the V… Wyman Brent needs your support for California to Vilna: A gentile and a Jewish library

15/03/2026

Here is my latest song. My songwriting career is moving forward.

track by Brentango