Add a review about the Museum of the History of the Jewish People in Bucharest

The Museum of the History of the Jewish People is located in the historical quarter of the Jewish people's residence, in the building of the Great Synagogue, built in 1850 .He appeared in January 1978 .in a difficult time for the country - the era of the totalitarian regime Ceausescu .The founder of the museum, the last Great Rabbi Moses Rosen, decided to interrupt the long silence of the authorities against the Romanian Jewry .Having created in 1956 g .magazine, and then the museum, he thereby challenged the authorities and pulled out the Jewish question from oblivion .The exhibits of the museum consistently and carefully recreate the historical vicissitudes of the Jewish people on the Romanian land, reflect the characteristics of its cultural and social life, demonstrate achievements in the field of science and art .Because of the limited space, it was decided to store some of the exhibits in the museum fund, periodically organizing temporary exhibitions .

The exhibits of the museum consistently and carefully recreate the historical vicissitudes of the Jewish people on the Romanian land, reflect the characteristics of its cultural and social life, demonstrate achievements in the field of science and art.

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The exposition covers several historical stages .On the ground floor there are exhibits that trace the evolution of Romanian Jewry from the 14th to the 20th century .Here you can see archaeological finds dating back to the Roman conquest, especially the French version of Rabbi Binyamin's book from Tudela .Exhibits reflect the features of society's life, interethnic relations .Much attention is paid to the importance of Jews in the economic and commercial life of the country, princely decrees illustrate their participation in public life .

Numerous photographs are accompanied by comments on the place of Romanian Jews in the political life of the country in the second half of the 19th century. One of the windows is devoted to education and culture - Jewish-Romanian schools, newspapers, magazines. The exposition also includes collections of medals and military diplomas, old engravings, documents, books, brochures.

The exhibits dating from the late 19th - early 20th century highlight the issues of the Zionist movement, the participation of Romanian Jews in the First Zionist Congress in Basel in 1897, the creation of the "Union of Local Jews" (1909), whose goal was the protection of civil rights.

One of the stands, dedicated to the interwar period, demonstrates how, from sufficient liberalism, the Romanian domestic policy gradually shifted to nationalist slogans and moods. The Romanian state was drawing closer to Nazi Germany, and its peoples were waiting for the most tragic pages of the history of the 20th century. The memorial hall is a tragic song to the Jews who died during the Holocaust from 1940 to 1944. The documents impassively record the horrifying events of that time - pogroms, deportations to death camps, massacres.

Several stands demonstrate the enormous contribution of Romanian Jews in the field of science and art. The history of the country includes the names of writers, poets, actors and scholars of Jewish origin. Among the exhibits are their works (many in Yiddish), photographs, memorabilia and original documents.

The most valuable part of the first floor exhibition was the collection of Judaica - art items, ritual utensils, manuscripts, household items associated with images of Jewish religious symbols.

Along the eastern wall, candlesticks, menorahs, silver dishes, crowns and pommels for Torah scrolls, ritual curtains and cloaks, and other textile and lacy artifacts of synagogue art are gathered.

The exhibition continues on the second floor, where the products of Jewish artisans are exhibited: embroidery, glass and leather products, dishes, scrolls, masks, clothes for ritual holidays. Here you can see pictures of Jewish artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as portraits of Jews made by Romanian artists. The exhibits also include personal items of actors and memorabilia from Jewish theaters, including the State Jewish Theater.

Museum of the History of the Jewish People

Helpful information

Address: Bucharest, st. Mamulari, No. 3, Sector 3.

Tel: +40 (21) 311-08-70.

The museum can be reached by buses No. 117 and 313, as well as by trams No. 5, 14, 16 and 40 to Sf station. Vineri.

Opening hours: Monday - Wednesday: 9:00 - 13:00, Thursday: 9:00 - 12:30, 15:00 - 18:00, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: closed.