On April 13, Ufa witnessed the opening of a new Jewish community centre, a T-shaped monumental building with a total area of 6029 square meters.
Till 1929 the Ufa synagogue was located in the building of the present Bashkir State Philharmonic Society. Further it was moved to the ground floor of a residential house.
The new centre comprises a synagogue, kindergarten, Sunday school, museum dedicated to victims of the Holocaust, swimming pool for ritual baths, gym and charitable eating-room where kosher food is served. The design of the building has been accomplished by Arkhproekt, the general contractor has been Stroitel OAO.
Furthermore, in order to provide the churchmen and workers of the center with accommodation, a new house is being constructed next to it. Its commissioning is planned for 2008. The construction of the centre and the residential house is financed by investors and sponsors.
The opening ceremony took place in the prayer room of the new synagogue and was attended by the Deputy Prime-Minister of the Government of Bashkortostan Republic, Minister of Culture and National Policy of Bashkortostan Republic, Ildus Ilishev; the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Chairman of the Federation of Jewish Congregations, Berl Lazar; the Chief Rabbi of Bashkortostan, Dan Krichevskiy; the Head of Ufa City Municipal District Administration of Bashkortostan Republic, Pavel Kachkaev; the Supreme Mufti, the President of the Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia, Talgat Tajuddin and the Head of Administration of the Oktyabrskiy District of Ufa City Municipal District, Makhmut Bikbulatov.
The Chief Rabbi of Russia, Berl Lazar, congratulated his coreligionists with an important event and emphasized that he had seen nothing of this kind in Russia. Some 20 years ago one could not imagine that such a big synagogue would be built in Ufa. This testifies to the fact that Jewish people feel themselves comfortable and respected here. There is no doubt that it would be impossible without wise national policy of the President of Bashkortostan Republic.
