According to one source, the Government of Tajikistan has reversed its very unpopular decision to bulldoze the country’s only synagogue. The synagogue’s rabbi has promised to refurbish the site so that it better fits in with the planned “Palace of the Nation.”

The decision (assuming the government’s new commitment to leave the synagogue alone holds true) comes a bit late, however, as some parts of the synagogue have already been destroyed.

Last month, the city authorities moved in and destroyed the classroom, the kosher slaughterhouse and ritual bathhouse which formed part of the synagogue complex. Mayoral spokesman Shavkat Saidov said the synagogue itself will be gone by the end of June.

(from IWPR story)

It is somewhat unclear, however, to what extent Jewish protests to the synagogue’s destruction are financially based, and to what extent it is a purely spiritual matter. For example this:

For some in the congregation, the dispute seems to come down to resources – they might consider moving but they just do not have the funds for a complete new building, making the current one irreplaceable…

Yury Sigal, originally from Ukraine but resident here for 38 years, says the community members are now mostly elderly and are not well off. “We just can’t build a new synagogue out of our own money,” he said.

…seems to contradict the commitment to refurbish the synagogue; if there is enough money to refurbish it significantly, there is probably enough money enough money to build a new one on a plot of land leased at a discount by the government. Another reason is convenience: the current location is allegedly very convenient for elderly members.

But convenience and cost are beside the point; Tajikistan has made a wise choice in reversing its decision. Marginalizing a dwindling minority group is especially unjustifiable when the purpose is to build a lavish palace; the government should have seen this publicity nightmare coming a mile away.