The Nazis murdered approximately 75,000 Jews, more than 90 percent of Latvia's prewar Jewish community. Before World War II, this vibrant Jewish community had sustained 19 Jewish schools, 6 sports groups, a Jewish theatre and several clubs and libraries in the Latvian capital of Riga alone.

Today, approximately 15,000 Jews live in Latvia. In 1988, these Jews, further shattered by the oppression of Communism, began to pick up the pieces of their history with the reestablishment of the Latvian Community of Jewish Culture in Riga.

THe Lauder Leipaja Jewish Community Center
In support of these efforts The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation provides funding for the Lauder Jewish Community Center in Liepaja. There both young and old Jews alike reconnect with their Jewish roots and learn about their heritage.

In addition, the Foundation enables children and university students from Riga to spend two weeks at The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation/American Joint Jewish Distribution Committee International Summer Camp at Szarvas, Hungary.

The Foundation salutes the valiant Jews of the Baltic States.

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