Vyborg Jewish Congregation
OUR BYLAWS
Congregational Bylaws
The highest executive body of the congregation is the Administrative Council, authorized by the General Meeting. The duties of the Administrative Council include overseeing the general administration of the congregation and managing its finances and property. The Administrative Council also approves new members.
Membership
An applicant for membership must be a person of the Mosaic faith living in Finland, of irreproachable conduct, and at least 21 years of age. In a written agreement, the applicant must clearly state their submission to the rules of the congregation and commit to following them. The applicant must have two voting members of the congregation as sponsors.
The admission of a new member can be voted upon if six members of the Administrative Council are present. If the council rejects an application for any reason, the individual has the right to lodge an appeal with the council within 30 days of the rejection; the council must then bring the matter before the next Annual General Meeting. A member may be expelled from the congregation if they lose their civil rights (kansalaisluottamus) in the country, or if their lifestyle or actions cause harm to the congregation.
Congregational Fees
Every member of the community is obligated to pay a congregational tax. Taxation is the responsibility of the Tax Committee, which consists of five individuals elected annually at the General Meeting. The Tax Committee works under the leadership and guidance of either the Chairperson of the congregation or a member of the Administrative Council; however, these leaders do not have voting rights within the committee.
The Tax Committee must submit its completed work to the Administrative Council by February 28th. If a taxpayer is dissatisfied with their assessment, they have the right to submit a written appeal to the council within 14 days of being notified of the tax amount. Unpaid fees are collected in accordance with the law (enacted February 27, 1897).
The General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting is always held in February. At the start of the meeting, a new chairperson, secretary, and two protocol scrutinizers are elected. Following this, the Administrative Council provides a report on its activities during the past year. A new board is elected if the Administrative Council’s three-year term has concluded.
The General Meeting has a quorum when 1/3 of the voting members are present. All members aged 21 or over who do not have outstanding congregational taxes from previous years are eligible to vote. The rules of the congregation may be amended if 4/5 of the voting members so decide.
Dissolution of the Congregation
In a situation where it is decided to dissolve the congregation, all assets—both real estate and personal property—must be transferred to another Jewish congregation or a Jewish institution in Finland.
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OUR SYNAGOGUE & Ahdus House
The first plans were drawn up by the Finnish architect Gerhard Sohlberg in 1905. In his drawings, the synagogue was a stone structure, but it was ultimately constructed of wood. Additionally, the original proposal included a school within the building. New blueprints based on Sohlberg’s designs were created by the Vyborg-based master builder Viktor Riihelä in 1909, and the synagogue was inaugurated in 1910. Alterations were made to the building in 1926.
The true nerve center of Vyborg’s Jewish community is located right in the heart of the city, on the edge of the Parade Field in the Fortress district, block no. 18, plot no. 111 at Linnankatu 23. The property has been owned by our community since January 28, 1919. The dedication of our congregational center, known as Ahdus House, was held on Sunday, February 9, 1919.
Other Jewish congregations in Finland do not have a comparable space that brings together such a wide variety of community events under one roof. The center houses our office, the community archives, and our library.
Virtually all communal events are held in the banquet hall, whether they are religious celebrations or, for instance, Zionist meetings. At Ahdus House, activists from our numerous different associations and societies can always find both available workspace and, almost invariably, others interested in various activities. Gathering a minyan—that is, ten religiously adult men—for a Sabbath service or Yahrzeit (memorial prayer) is also easy at the center, as there are usually people present. For certain holidays, such as the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, visitors come from as far away as Helsinki and Turku.