In 1925, Max Weinreich founded the YIVO (Institute for Jewish Research) headquarters in one of the premises of this building. YIVO soon became the largest Jewish scientific institution in the world. The world’s leading scientists and public figures became members of the institute’s honorary presidium: A. Einstein, S. Freud, E. Bernstein etc. YIVO played an important role in fostering Yiddish philology and taking care of Jewish heritage in Eastern Europe.