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World Jewish News
Jews of Mogilev Intend to Return Synagogue
23.05.2009
Mogilev Jews want to get back a former synagogue building. They argue that Alexander Lukashenko has already given his written approval. Now the Jews are waiting for an appropriate regulation by the city executive committee and the city council. Meanwhile, however, repairs for the building, which is under the threat of collapse right now, will take huge financial investment, the Bela Ban reports.
The "Chabad Lyubavich" Jewish community of Mogilev has been trying to get the synagogue back for many years now.
"Six years ago, there were no special problems with the funding, and now the Jews have also become poor. Now everybody talks about the crisis. Of course, we first of all place hope in ourselves, but if the State expresses a desire to help, we will not refuse, but will be very pleased," noted the representative of the community Eli Genilis.
The synagogue is situated at once lively area of Mogilev, which was popularly called Shkolische. Now it has less than a dozen of buildings. The building which have remained belong to Mogilev city water treatment plant. This institution does not need the building of the synagogue while it is under the threat of collapse, says the representative of Mogilev water treatment plant: "We have enough premises. And in that building, the foundation has cracked, everything needs consolidating. They want to take it away to restore historic justice, I think. On our side, there will be no obstacles."
Historical justice was also mentioned by Eli Genilis: "The early synagogues stood there, and their remains are still there."
The city executive committee officials did not comment on their position regarding the possible transfer of the former cult building to the Jewish community. The city council representatives told that so far they have no
documents to review them at the next session. Eli Genilis is sure that the city officials and deputies will make a positive decision. "They will not dare to protest against the President's decree," he noted.
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