The Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania (FEDROM) has decided not to put the dilapidated synagogue in Săveni, in northeastern Romania, up for sale. It has hired an expert to examine the building, advise what steps should be taken and estimate costs.
As we reported last week, according to the Gazeta de Botoşani, the building is in an advanced state of decay and the Jewish community cannot afford to maintain or repair it.
Lucia Apostol, who handles property issues for FEDROM, confirmed to Jewish Heritage Europe that the synagogue is “in a condition of pre-collapse.” She said that city authorities in Săveni had requested that FEDROM either repair the building or pull it down as its condition was “life-threatening.”
With the costs of renovating of the synagogue, which dates from the early 20th century, estimated to run into the hundreds of thousands of euro, she said, the decision was taken to sell the building to save it from demolition.
However, she said, purchase offers were “very low” and there was concern that those who manifested interest in buying the building were not interested in preserving it. FEDROM thus called off any sale.