The Vice-Chairman of the Jewish community of Sevastopol, Boris Gelman, announced that construction on a new synagogue will soon commence. According to Chief Rabbi of Sevastopol Binyamin Wolf, a Chabad-Lubavitch emissary serving in the region, permission was obtained to build a synagogue next to the monument in the memory of Holocaust victims.
“The synagogue project has already been approved and fundraising for its construction is currently underway,” explained Mr. Gelman. “Rabbi Wolf has been visiting potential supporters in Israel and the United States. The synagogue will be designed to accommodate up to 500 people.”
While the 2001 census indicated that there are only a little over one thousand Jews living in Sevastopol, Mr. Gelman believes that this figure is several times less than the actual figure. He maintains that Sevastopol is home to approximately 2500 Jews. The Chabad Jewish Community of Sevastopol has been active in this city since 2004. The community currently has premises in Sevastopol that are used as a house of worship, where there is also a library and celebrations for Jewish holidays.
In addition to such events, the Jewish community also provides aid to its members, including medical care and financial support, as well as running projects aimed at cultural development. Senior citizens regularly receive food parcels. There are also student and women's organizations that are active in providing cultural and educational activities for Jews.