September 08, 2005
Estonia's first new synagogue in almost a century is to be built in the capital city of Tallinn. A ground breaking ceremony is to be held on 19 September. The presidents of Estonia and Israel, Arnold Ruytel and Moshe Katsav, are expected to attend the ceremony for the synagogue, which also will serve as a Jewish community center. According to the president of the Jewish community of Estonia, Boris Oks, construction of the shul and community center is slated to be completed within eight months. Estonia is thought to be the only EU member state that does not have a synagogue building. Major funding for the project comes from Alexander Bronstein, a Moscow-based entrepreneur and Estonian native, who is dedicating the shul in memory of his mother, who is buried in Tallinn.
Estonia, with a population of 1.4 million, is home to some 3,000 Jews.
