Bulgarian government finances Sofia shul repairs

Bulgaria's government has allocated BGN 430,000 (US$ 345,000) for completing the renovation of the country's main synagogue in Sofia. The Jewish community of Bulgaria has already endowed an additional BGN 120,000 (US$ 96,000) for repairing the roof and the domes of the building. The synagogue is situated in the heart of the Bulgarian capital and is the third largest in Europe, after the shuls in Budapest and Amsterdam. Designed by Austrian architect Grunanger in a Spanish-Moresque style, the synagogue resembles the one in Vienna which was destroyed by the Nazis. It was opened on 9 September 1909 and can accommodate up to 1,300 worshippers.