These properties are being transferred as part of the compensation for the real estate of the Jewish religious communities and will be used for religious, cultural, educational and scientific purposes of Lithuanian Jews.
The Šančiai Synagogue building complex in Kaunas, Sodų g. 34 and 36, consists of four buildings and their dependencies The Šančiai Synagogue was designed by architect Povilas Taračkovas in 1929 on the tenth anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Lithuania. In the same year, the construction of the building began, but due to lack of funds and materials it was not completed. President Antanas Smetona supported the construction of the building by allowing the purchase of timber on credit. The synagogue was completed in 1932. It is the only modernist style synagogue and one of only two synagogues in Lithuania built between the wars that have survived to this day. During the Soviet era, a bakery was set up in the building, the openings were bricked up and a production wing was added. In 2014, the building was listed in the Register of Cultural Property.
The former Torah Society Synagogue in Panevėžys, located at M. Valančiaus g. 4, was built in 1910 according to the design by architect Justinas Ušakovas. It is called the New Torah Society School and it was in operation until 1940. After World War II, its interior was destroyed, and for almost 80 years this historic building was used for purposes other than the intended one and thus gradually deteriorated. In 2007, the building was listed in the Register of Cultural Property. The almost 87 square metre building has no utility services network and is in a poor state, but the red brickwork is solid and the authentic architectural details, such as the arched surrounds and the decorated panels under the former windows, are still there. In 2013, the former synagogue building was included in the list of state assets for sale under the government resolution. However, the sale procedure was postponed after considering the fact that the original purpose of the building was religious.
The total value of the property to be transferred, according to the mass valuation data of the Centre of Registers, was €1.395 million as of 1 January 2022. The monetary compensation for the immovable property of the Jewish religious communities in Lithuania will be reduced by this amount. The total amount of monetary compensation approved by the Government for 2022 is €3.376 million, of which €1.5 million has already been paid. The compensation is paid in accordance with the Law on Good Will Compensation for the Immovable Property of Jewish Religious Communities.
