Wednesday Panevėžys mayor Rytis Račkauskas met with Panevėžys Jewish Community leaders and representatives of the Jewish welfare organization the Joint Distribution Committee, including Ra‘anan B. Dotan, JDC representative for Europe. Dotan said he was interested in how welfare projects his organization is supporting are being implemented in Panevėžys.

Panevėžys mayor Račkauskas said he was glad a solution had been worked out recently to return a local synagogue building to the Jewish community, and that this had led to better cooperation between the municipality and the Jewish community and was contributing to the righting of an historical injustice.

“We’re always ready to cooperate, to help the city’s communities, and we are encouraged by the active Jewish community and their contribution to the city’s cultural life. We hope you recognize the fruits of our cooperation and have a good time in our city,” the mayor told the visitor.

Panevėžys Jewish Community chairman Gennadiy Kofman said he was satisfied with the close cooperation with city leaders as well as the projects which have been and are being carried out.