A former synagogue building in western Ukraine was sold recently to a businessman who plans to turn it into a shopping center. The small town of Mlinov in the Rovno region sold the former synagogue for the equivalent of $16,000, RISU Ukrainian news agency reported.

No Jews live anymore in Mlinov, which had a community of some 600 before World War II.

Gennady Fraerman, leader of the Rovno Jewish community, told JTA the sale was a logical conclusion of the situation when “Jewish organizations don’t pay attention.”

Fraerman said the community in Rovno would seek to reverse the decision.

(JTA)