Romania is a country that is extremely rich in Jewish history, and today you’ll find many reminders of the Jewish community’s vibrant and significant existence.
There are more than 800 synagogues within Romania, and many cemeteries and other landmarks as well. Bucharest is home to one of the oldest and most important Jewish communities within the country; a community that began back in the 16th century with a settlement of Sephardic Jews.
By 1832, ten holy houses had been established within Bucharest, and almost every one of them had its own rabbi. At the beginning of the 20th century Bucharest’s Jewish population numbered 40,000 and the city was home to a total of 70 temples and synagogues.
From this great number, only a few of these survived the brutality and harshness of history, including periods of fascism and communism. Still today two of these synagogues serve the city’s present Jewish community.
The Choral Temple, which was built in 1867, is the largest active synagogue in Bucharest. It was designed by architects Enderle and Freiwald, who were, at that time, inspired by the Austrian architect Ludwig von Forster. The synagogue has undergone three periods of restoration in its life.
The first was in 1932, the second was in 1945 following WWII, and the most recent was in the 1970’s after an earthquake partially destroyed the building. Visitors today can enjoy the ornate architecture and colorful ceilings. The synagogue is particularly noted for its choir loft, organ, and magnificent Moorish turrets.
The second operating synagogue within Bucharest is the Yeshoah Tova synagogue. Built in the 1827, Yeshoah Tova is a Lubavitch synagogue. Its lush interior features Moorish details and an elaborate Aron ha-Kodesh, or Holy Ark.
While visiting Bucharest you will most certainly want to go to the Jewish Museum, which is called the Dr. Moses Rosen Museum of the History of the Jewish Community, or the Holocaust Museum. The museum receives its name from its large collection of Jewish ritual objects from Romania, which were collected by Rabbi Moses Rosen (1912–1994), the late Chief Rabbi of the Romanian Jewry.
The Jewish Museum gives broad coverage of the history of the Jews in Romania. Its displays include an enormous collection of books written, published, illustrated, or translated by Romanian Jews; an archive of the history of Romanian Jewry; a collection of paintings of and by Romanian Jews; memorabilia from Jewish theaters including the State Jewish Theater; a display devoted to Zionism; and a small display of anti-Semitic posters and tracts.
Two additional rooms within the museum each focus upon a specific period in history. One deals with the Holocaust era from a historical point of view, and the other is a Holocaust memorial.
The Jewish Museum provides an excellent opportunity to learn about both favorable and unfavorable treatment of the Jews by various rulers throughout Romania’s history. It examines the continuing contribution of Jews to Romanian culture, including what has been, what is, and what will be the role of Jews in Romania.
You can round out your tour of Jewish Bucharest by visiting one of its three cemeteries: the Sephardic Jewish Cemetery, the Jewish Cemetery Filantropia, or the Sephardic Jewish Cemetery at the Bellu Spanish Cemetery.
From its synagogues to its cemeteries, Bucharest is filled with beautiful and poignant reminders of its rich Jewish history.
Print This
Tweet This
Email Stuart
Twitter
Skype