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World Jewish News
Jewish community of Mogilev to receive the former yeshiva building back
13.05.2009
The Jewish religious community of the city of Mogilev will receive the right of ownership to the building of the former waterworks pumping station on Bolshay Grazhdanskaya street, 13. The necessary documents have already been prepared, and the consent of the Head of the State obtained. According to the chairman of the community Eli Genilis, "the building of the station before the revolution was a cult building, located in the area with a historical name "Shkolische."
It was there that the first settlement of Jews of Mogilev appeared, which over the time has become a cultural and educational center. In Shkolische there were yeshivas (educational institutions for training future rabbis), and synagogues. By the way, the building of the water supply station is a former Jewish school. More precisely, only a part of it has remained, because the building has been repeatedly reconstructed.
Near the station, the building of so-called "Cold synagogue" has preserved. Several years ago we addressed the city authorities with a request to return the synagogue to us. We were supported by the chairman of the City Executive Committee Victor Shorikov. Unfortunately, for objective reasons, the transfer of the building proved to be impossible. A compromise was found and, instead of the synagogue, we received a yeshiva.
Alignment took a long time. At first, our proposal did not find a sufficient support. In particular, there had been problems with the transfer of the building from its former owner Mogilev city communal unitary enterprise "Gorvodocanal" (Water treatment plant). Fortunately, the Department of Property of the City Executive Committee worked quickly.
After the approval by the regional executive committee, the package of necessary documents went to the Presidential Administration. There, we received the final permit. Now the documents are back in the city executive committee. Transmission of the building is only a matter of time.
In the future, the building of the yeshiva is going to be restored. At the site of the destroyed walls we will create a cultural center of Mogilev Jews. Money for the restoration we plan to get from private individuals. However, to tell the truth, we hope a lot for the support of the local authorities. Let me remind you that the restoration of the buildings which used to belong to the Jewish community before the Revolution is part of the plan on restoration of the historic aspect of the city."
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