There are now 646 less synagogues in Russia than there were before the Revolution, statistics made public here today reveal. While there were more than 1,400 synagogues in the Ukraine in 1914 at the end of 1929 there are only 894. The other 140, which have been converted into clubs, factories and storehouses are located in White and Central Russia.
In all of Russia the proportion, of closed synagogues is exactly the same proportion as the liquidated Christian churches. Last month thirteen synagogues in different Ukrainian cities were converted, while in Kiev 30 small Jewish congregations were ordered to move from the government-owned buildings that they occupied. These houses are to be remodelled into workers’ dwellings.
The Central Executive Committee of Ukraine, the final authority on synagogue conversions, now has before it for decision, resolutions regarding petitions for the conversion of several dozen synagogues in different Ukrainian townships.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
