Most Jews in Romania today are over the age of 70. Fewer than 1,000 are under the age of 25. Five thousand Jews live in Bucharest, and small Jewish communities exist in the principal towns of Moldavia-Iasi (Jassy), Dorahoi, Succeava, Radauti, and in Transylvania (Cluj, Arad, Timisoara, Satu Mare, TârguMures, Oradea, Baia Mare), as well as in Brasov, and also Constanta on the Black Sea coast. Almost none of these communities number more than a few hundred people and that number is dwindling fast. Nearly all the Jews are Ashkenazi and the small Sephardic community that once existed has lost its distinct identity. Yiddish is only spoken by the elderly. Many of the Jews in Transylvania, which was a part of Hungary until the end of World War I, speak Hungarian as well as Romanian.

Jews have lived in Romania since Roman times, when the country was a province called Dacia. Organized communal life, however, dates back to the fifteenth century, by which time there were communities in Iasi and several other towns in Moldavia. Although the Orthodox Church bitterly opposed contacts with Jews, various local rulers encouraged Jews from Poland and elsewhere to settle in the country. Jews suffered horribly in the Russo–Turkish War (1769–1774) and in later fighting on Romanian soil. In the nineteenth century, Jews were subjected to many restrictions and much violence. Moreover, the Romanian authorities failed to comply with the terms of the Treaty of Berlin (1878), which required them to grant Jews equal rights. Between 1898 and 1904, some 70,000 Jews left Romania for the United States and others settled in the Land of Israel.

Jews have lived in Romania since Roman times when the cuntry was a Roman province called Dacia. Organized communal, life on Romanian territories, only dates back to the 15th century, by which time there were communitis in Iasi and several other towns in Moldova. Although the Orthodox Churh bitterly opposed contacts wit Jews, various local rulkes encounraged Jews from Poland and elsewhere to settle there. Jews sffered horribly in the Russo-Turkish War (1769-1774) and in later fighting on Romanian soil. In the 19th century Jews were subjected to many restrictions and much violence. Moreover, the Romanian authorities failed to comply with trhe terms of the Treat of Berlin of 1878, which required them to grant Jews equal rights. Between 1898 and 1904 some 70,000 Jews left Roamnia for the United States, others settled in Palestine. Only after World War I was legislation enacted to emancipate Romanian Jewry. Jews served as traditional scapegoats in the struggle between the ruling classes and the peasantry. Despite their unfavorable situation, Jews played an important role in the transformation of Romania from a feudal system into a modern economy and were also active in the country’s cultural life. Romania was the birthplace of the Yiddish theater. It also produced many of the first chalutzim (pioneers) who settled in the Land of Israel. Rosh Pina and Zikhron Ya’akov, two of the oldest villages, were established by Romanian Jews.

In the second half of the 1930s, and with the rise of fascism, the situation of the Jews became increasingly desperate. In 1938 there were about 800,000 Jews in the country. On

Jews have lived in Romania since Roman times when the cuntry was a Roman province called Dacia. Organized communal, life on Romanian territories, only dates back to the 15th century, by which time there were communitis in Iasi and several other towns in Moldova. Although the Orthodox Churh bitterly opposed contacts wit Jews, various local rulkes encounraged Jews from Poland and elsewhere to settle there. Jews sffered horribly in the Russo-Turkish War (1769-1774) and in later fighting on Romanian soil. In the 19th century Jews were subjected to many restrictions and much violence. Moreover, the Romanian authorities failed to comply with trhe terms of the Treat of Berlin of 1878, which required them to grant Jews equal rights. Between 1898 and 1904 some 70,000 Jews left Roamnia for the United States, others settled in Palestine. Only after World War I was legislation enacted to emancipate Romanian Jewry. Jews served as traditional scapegoats in the struggle between the ruling classes and the peasantry. Despite their unfavorable situation, Jews played an important role in the transformation of Romania from a feudal system into a modern economy and were also active in the country’s cultural life. Romania was the birthplace of the Yiddish theater. It also produced many of the first chalutzim (pioneers) who settled in the Land of Israel. Rosh Pina and Zikhron Ya’akov, two of the oldest villages, were established by Romanian Jews.

In the second half of the 1930s, and with the rise of fascism, the situation of the Jews became increasingly desperate. In 1938 there were about 800,000 Jews in the country. On

Jews have lived in Romania since Roman times when the cuntry was a Roman province called Dacia. Organized communal, life on Romanian territories, only dates back to the 15th century, by which time there were communitis in Iasi and several other towns in Moldova. Although the Orthodox Churh bitterly opposed contacts wit Jews, various local rulkes encounraged Jews from Poland and elsewhere to settle there. Jews sffered horribly in the Russo-Turkish War (1769-1774) and in later fighting on Romanian soil. In the 19th century Jews were subjected to many restrictions and much violence. Moreover, the Romanian authorities failed to comply with trhe terms of the Treat of Berlin of 1878, which required them to grant Jews equal rights. Between 1898 and 1904 some 70,000 Jews left Roamnia for the United States, others settled in Palestine. Only after World War I was legislation enacted to emancipate Romanian Jewry. Jews served as traditional scapegoats in the struggle between the ruling classes and the peasantry. Despite their unfavorable situation, Jews played an important role in the transformation of Romania from a feudal system into a modern economy and were also active in the country’s cultural life. Romania was the birthplace of the Yiddish theater. It also produced many of the first chalutzim (pioneers) who settled in the Land of Israel. Rosh Pina and Zikhron Ya’akov, two of the oldest villages, were established by Romanian Jews.

In the second half of the 1930s, and with the rise of fascism, the situation of the Jews became increasingly desperate. In 1938 there were about 800,000 Jews in the country. On

Only after World War I was legislation enacted to emancipate Romanian Jewry. Jews served as traditional scapegoats in the struggle between the ruling classes and the peasantry. Despite their unfavorable situation, Jews played an important role in the transformation of Romania from a feudal system into a modern economy and were also active in the country’s cultural life. Romania was the birthplace of the Yiddish theater. It also produced many of the first chalutzim (pioneers) who settled in the Land of Israel. Rosh Pina and Zikhron Ya’akov were established by Romanian Jews.

The Jews in the greater Romania that emerged from World War I (the Jewish community tripled in size) continued to be influenced by the culture prevailing in the particular part of the country in which they resided. Distinct communities lived in the Regat and in Moldavia (pre-World War I Romania) as well as in Transylvania, Bessarabia and Buchovina.

In the second half of the 1930s, and with the rise of fascism, the situation of the Jews became increasingly desperate. In 1938 there were about 800,000 Jews in the country. On the eve of the Shoah, Romania was deprived of northern Transylvania, northern Bukovina, Bessarabia, and southern Dobruja. Of the Jews who remained under Romanian jurisdiction, some 300,000 (43%) were murdered, many by the Romanian army and the fascist Iron Guard, which was only suppressed in January 1941. After Germany, Romania was directly responsible for more Jewish deaths in the Shoah than any other independent country. The Jews in northern Transylvania, which was under Hungarian rule, fared even worse. Some 150,000 of them were, with Hungarian collusion, deported to Auschwitz or killed by local Hungarian fascists. About 400,000 Romanian Jews survived the war.

Between 1948 and 1988, about 300,000 Jews left the country. The majority moved to Israel, where they today comprise one of its largest ethnic communities. With the advent of Communist rule in Romania, all Zionist activity was prohibited, and the sole representative Jewish organization was the Federation of Jewish Communities under the direction of the late Chief Rabbi, Dr. Moses Rosen. Under Rabbi Rosen’s leadership, Romania was an anomaly in Eastern Europe. Religious and cultural life was active, and the great majority of Jewish youth received a Jewish education. Moreover, the community was able to provide kosher food for its members. Although Zionist activity was officially prohibited, Rabbi Rosen nurtured ties between Israel and Romanian Jewry, and as a result of agreements reached with the regime (that benefitted Romania economically and diplomatically), Jews were able to emigrate to Israel, provided that the Romanian government received what it considered appropriate remuneration for this „brain drain.“

The Federation of Jewish Communities represents Romanian Jewry. The communal framework that existed under Communist rule has been preserved, but the offices of the president of the community and of the chief rabbi have been separated. Increasingly, the community is geared toward meeting the needs of its aging population, most of whom have children or grandchildren living abroad. The JDC is especially active in Romania and ensures that all Jews receive at least basic foodstuffs and heat in the winter. There are a number of Jewish old-age homes, which provide dignified accommodation to Jewish seniors. Following negotiations with the WJRO, in 1997 the Romanian government agreed to begin the process of restitution of confiscated Jewish communal property. A foundation has been established to represent the Jewish community and Romanian Jews abroad.

Federaţia Comunităţilor Evreieşti Din România
Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania
Str. Sf. Vineri nr. 9-11
sector 3
Bucuresti
Tel: 021-315.50.90
Fax: 021-313.10.28
http://www.fcer.jewishfed.ro

Bucharest and Oradea both maintain choirs. There is also a small Yiddish Theater that receives funding from the Bucharest municipality, and a monthly newspaper, Revista culturlui mozaic (published in Romanian, Hebrew and English).

Romania and Israel have had uninterrupted diplomatic relations since 1948. Aliya: Since 1948, 273,825 Romanian Jews have emigrated to Israel, 117,950 of them between 1948 and 1951.

The Lauder Reut Educational Complex in Bucharest was established by the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation in 1997. At present, some 300 students are enrolled in its kindergarten, lower, and middle schools, which are regarded as among the best in Romania. In 2006, a high school was also opened.

Most of Romania’s few Jewish children receive at least the rudiments of a Jewish education in the community’s Talmud Torah schools.

The Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj is the seat of the Dr. Moses Carmilly Institute for Hebrew and Jewish History, which was established in 1990. The institute offers a range of courses and fosters research on Jewish topics. The Goldstein-Goren Center for Jewish Studies at the State University of Bucharest was established in 1998. Significantly, most of the students and researchers at both institutions are non-Jews.

The Elie Wiesel National Institute for Studying the Holocaust in Romania was opened in 2005 under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs and is charged with researching Romania’s role in the Holocaust, as well as gathering, archiving and publishing documents relating to this event.

For up to date information on Kosher restaurants and locations please see the Shamash Kosher Database

Despite the dwindling number of Jews, synagogues and a religious infrastructure are maintained in many localities, including those in which only a handful of Jews are present. The number of operating synagogues in the provinces is in constant decline.

The Jewish Museum in Bucharest is housed in the former United Holy Temple, once one of the most impressive synagogues in the city, and includes material devoted to the history of Romanian Jewry, including its fate during the Holocaust as well as the Jewish contribution to Romanian culture.

In 2005, a Holocaust museum was established in the synagogue in Șimleu Silvaniei, which dates back to the 1870s, dedicated to the Jews of northern Transylvania who perished in the Holocaust. The museum is operated and maintained by the Jewish Architectural Heritage Foundation of New York and Asociata Memoralia Hebraica Nuşfalău, a Romanian NGO, with the support of the Claims Conference and the Elie Wiesel National Institute for Studying the Holocaust in Romania, among other philanthropic and pedagogical partners. Elie Wiesel’s childhood home in Sighet is also maintained as a Jewish museum and a monument to the writer.

Romania is one of the few countries in Eastern Europe in which remnants of shtetl life can still be observed (primarily in towns such as Radauti and Dorohoi in Moldavia). In Iasi there is an imposing monument in the Jewish cemetery to the 10,000 Jews massacred there in 1941.

Some cities have monumental synagogues, notably the Choral Temple in Bucharest and others in Timisoara, Oradea, TârguMures, Dej, Satu Mare, and Iasi.

Newspaper:

http://adevarul.ro/

Anti-Semitism remains a problem, most often manifested in the form of Holocaust obfuscation and relativization, sometimes even expressed on the highest levels. The Center for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism in Romania is active in drawing attention to and researching this phenomenon.