News

Government approved foundation to allocate compensations for Jewish religious community immovable property in Lithuania  

Today the Cabinet sitting has decided that public institution “Geros valios kompensacijos už žydų religinių bendruomenių nekilnojamąjį turtą disponavimo fondas” (Foundation for Disposal of Goodwill Compensations for Jewish Religious Community Immovable Property; hereinafter, the Foundation), which had been set up by the Jewish communities, shall allocate compensations for the immovable property of the Lithuanian Jewish religious communities.  

During the sitting Chancellor of the Prime Minister Deividas Matulionis underlined that this step by the Government was a historical decision and could serve an example to other countries suffering from problems related to historical consciousness. “This historical decision reflects Lithuania’s consistent policy since re-establishment of its independence, having restored historical justice and carried out restitution”, Chancellor of the Prime Minister said.          

Chairman of the Lithuanian Jewish Community Simonas Alperavičius has thanked the Government for the important decision for both the Jews and the entire Lithuania. “Miracles always follow the Jews, and one of the miracles has happened today. I am extremely grateful to the entire Cabinet and the Prime Minister”, said Alperavičius during the sitting.  

Last year the Seimas passed the Law on Goodwill Compensation for Jewish Religious Community Immovable Property, which sets down that compensation from the state budget for the property that had been expropriated by the totalitarian regimes shall be paid to the Jewish community foundation approved by the Government.    

According to the law, a LTL 128 million compensation shall be transferred to the Foundation during the period of ten years. State budget funds allocated to the Foundation shall be used to finance religious, cultural, health care, sports, education, and science projects of the Lithuanian Jews in Lithuania.     

The Foundation shall also support the Jews who lived in Lithuania during the Second World War and were victims of the totalitarian regimes (Holocaust and Soviet genocide and repressions). The State budget of 2012 has earmarked LTL 3 million for this purpose. The state audit shall control allocation of funds from the Foundation.