Jewish community of Chernihiv stands for its synagogue where Youth Theater is located

The issue of the building of the Youth Theater takes center stage in Chernihiv. Now, the Jewish community of the city is trying to return this building because it is a former synagogue.

The journalists of ЧЕline turned to both sides for comments.

Oleksiy Bish, an actor of the Youth Theater, emphasizes: there is no document saying this is a religious building. They were destroyed during the Second World War. The theater got this room, which was empty at that time, in 1988.

“We are not going to leave, we want to stay in our Youth Theater. We feel good at our premises. Here we have a homely atmosphere. This is such a family theater, and if you move us to another space, the theater will lose its uniqueness. It will be destroyed, which is unacceptable.

The Jewish community was not deprived. Different options have been offered to them, but they demand this building. There are no official decisions by the authorities. There are rumors that they want to decide on technical issues by August and bring this issue to the session of the regional council which will take place in October. But an extraordinary session can be convened -- that's why we are worried,” Oleksiy Bysh comments.

Semen Belman, a representative of the Chernihiv Oblast Association of Jewish Communities and Organizations, in turn, notes that, for the Jews, this issue is a matter of principle.

“The building of the Youth Theater was built by the Jewish community 140 years ago. It operated as a synagogue and was seized by the Soviet authorities. Things expropriated should be returned. Several buildings have been returned in Chernihiv. The issue of returning the synagogue is not resolved. The situation will be solved by the authorities,” says Semen Belman.