Press-conference on a project on Kuldiga synagogue rebuilding

On the 11 of February a press-conference on rebuilding Kuldiga synagogue into the Main library of the region took place in Riga Jewish Community house. The project was introduced by minister of autonomy and regional development Edgars Zalans, the chairman of Kuldiga city Council Inga Berzina and the deputy of the chairman of the Latvian Council of Jewish Communities Benyamin Kaem.
This project is unique for Latvia. The rebuilding will turn the buildings of the synagogue not only to a public culture and information centre, but also to an interesting tourism sight: the appearance of the synagogue will be renovated, and the museum exposition on the history of Kuldiga Jewry will take place along with the library indoors. The exhibition hall will be opened in the nearby building of Small synagogue.

During the speech Benyamin Kaem emphasized that the project might be an example of a constructive and respectful dialogue between municipalities and the Jewish Community of Latvia, persevering and forth putting Jewish culture heritage, especially in those places, where there is no Jewish population.
Kuldiga synagogue was built in 1875. After the WWII it has been used as a granary, and in the middle 1950 has been rebuilt into cinema. During the last five years the building has been abandoned. Small synagogue was built in 1862, during Soviet time there was a garage.
The rebuilding of the synagogue will be finished by December 2010. The common cost of the project is 1 538 062,22 lats: 85% are donated by European fund of Regional Development, 7% - both by Kuldiga city Council and state budget, the Latvian Council of Jewish Communities will create the exposition on the history of Kuldiga Jewry.