In the Transylvania region of the Carpathian Mountains, we also visited the beautiful town of Brasov, which is a tourist destination.

We would have been more interested in seeing the restored synagogue in Brasov. A large beautiful building in the alley between two houses on the main street. When you enter the city gate, the synagogue is located between the fourth and fifth house on the right. It can be identified from a distance by an Israeli flag, which usually hangs alongside the Romanian flag, on one of the balconies on the second floor.

The inner side of the city gate and the building next to it to the synagogue

The building is red on the outside. Inside it is painted bright white, along with The Holy Ark, the Bimah, the chairs of the rabbi, and the president of the synagogue. Above the ark are turrets and concrete towers in traditional ancient Romanian style.

On the Torah Reading Table, there is a map embroidered on it, which is a gift from the city of Rishon Letzion, which is its twin city, and also the name of former mayor Meir Nitzan. The most interesting things in the synagogue are the windows, on which the names and symbols of Israeli cities are painted.

I was privileged to pray there Mincha in private, and it excited me very much. I felt as though I were rebreathing the fading Judaism in there. In the middle of the prayer, a group of Israeli tourists arrived from the "Kishrey Teufa" company, and they were wearing knitted skullcaps (Serugim). I asked for a minyan, but they refused. I then asked for someone to at least recite the Kaddish and get "Amen" in the minyan, but they quickly hurried after their guide.

In the entrance lobby, there is a marble memorial plaque in memory of Jewish soldiers from Brasov who were killed in the First World War. In the courtyard of the synagogue, there is a kosher restaurant to the left, and to the right is a monument dedicated to the Holocaust. There are now about 270 Jews in Braşov, and most of them attend synagogue services on Jewish holidays.

Brasov is important in terms of Jewish tourism, thanks to the synagogue remaining building. But in terms of Jewish history, its importance is quite mediocre. Its mediocrity was especially evident in comparison to the spiritual wealth that existed in the Carpathians towns and villages.

I was privileged to pray there Mincha in private, and it excited me very much. I felt as though I were rebreathing the fading Judaism in there. In the middle of the prayer, a group of Israeli tourists arrived from the "Kishrey Teufa" company, and they were wearing knitted skullcaps (Serugim). I asked for a minyan, but they refused. I then asked for someone to at least recite the Kaddish and get "Amen" in the minyan, but they quickly hurried after their guide.

In the entrance lobby, there is a marble memorial plaque in memory of Jewish soldiers from Brasov who were killed in the First World War. In the courtyard of the synagogue, there is a kosher restaurant to the left, and to the right is a monument dedicated to the Holocaust. There are now about 270 Jews in Braşov, and most of them attend synagogue services on Jewish holidays.

Transylvania is considered the "cradle of Hassidism" because the Baal Shem Tov actually lived there. In the Carpathians, there was previously a lively Jewish life. In Bucovina, there were religious schools and yeshivas in the style of Bnei Akiva, and in Kishinev, there was also a new Yeshiva, and it was also one of the important Zionist centers. In 1903, there was a pogrom that shook the world and influenced the Zionist vision.

The movement of Hassidism in Romania has grown stronger since the "Ruzhyner" Rabbi Israel Friedman came to live in the town of Sadigura in Bukovina. The Hassidism of Ruzhyn-Sadigura and the Vizhnitz Hassidic sect greatly affected the Jews of Romania, and the world of yeshivas that existed there. In Pressburg, the Chatam Sofer established a yeshiva whose graduates were appointed rabbis throughout Transylvania. In the city of Iasi, there is the "Beit Aharon Yeshiva", and the head of the yeshiva was Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Ben Aroi, who was also a Medical Doctor. Perhaps this had an effect on the fact that many Israeli students now study medicine in Iasi. In Ştefăneşt, another Yeshiva was established by the Admor Rabbi Menachem Nachum Friedman, the son of Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhyn. The "Beit Israel" Yeshiva was established by Rabbi Yitzchak Friedman, the grandson of the Ruzhyner. In the town of Uybarviesha, there was an important yeshiva headed by Rabbi Mendel Hager, who educated his students on the principles of both Torah and Avodah. One of his descendants, Colonel Rabbi Moishe Hagar, continues his career even today, and heads the pre-military Torah academy in Yatir, in the south of Hebron mountain.

Other cities in Transylvania also have large and influential Hassidic courts to this day. In Nadvorna, Rabbi Ya'akov Yissachar Ber of Faluszlatina, immigrated to Israel after the Holocaust and rebuilt the Nadvorna Hasidism. Rabbi Eliezer Ze'ev Rosenboim was a rabbi of Sighet, and then moved to Kretshnif, where he established storks. After the Holocaust, all of his sons and son-in-law were Admorim from Kretshnif at- Kiryat Gat, Rehovot, New Jersey, and Staten Island.

Sighet was the capital of the Maramures district, and 40% of the inhabitants were Jews, and it was one of the few cities in Europe where there was an Eruv. This is due to the participation of Jews in the city council and their incredible influence. Sighet had a magnificent Torah world, most of which was ultra-Orthodox. One of the city's rabbis was Rabbi Eliezer Nissan Teitelbaum, son of Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, author of "Yismach Moshe", and founder of Satmar Hasidim. He was followed by his descendants Yekutiel Yehuda, author of "Yitav Lev", Hanania Yom Tov Lipa, author of the "Kedushat Yom Tov", and Rabbi Chaim Tzvi, author of "Atsey Chaim". The last members of the dynasty were anti-Zionists. These great Admorim overshadowed non-Haredi Jewish sectors who also lived and worked in Sighet, but who lived in the shadow of the ultra-Orthodox.

Not everyone knows that there were Jews in all the groups and parties in Sighet. The first convention of the Mizrachi movement, headed by Rabbi Meir Berlin, took place in Sighet Maramures. This was the largest demonstration until then by the national religious Zionism. The 'Bayit Yehudi' party today and the NRP and Bnei Akiva are actually the descendants of that conference in Sighet.

The Elie Wiesel Museum

Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel was born and raised in Sighet, and is considered to be the pride of the city. The municipality even set up a museum in his honor, located in his youth home that documents the life of the Wiesel family as an example of Jewish life. The address is Dragos Vodda, on the street corner of Thdor Vladimuresch

The Sephardic synagogue in Sighet, outside and inside

Almost no trace remains of the rich and vibrant Jewish world in Transylvania. The Sephardic synagogue in Sighet today is the only one still standing, but it is not used for prayer. It now serves as the Jewish community's offices, and operates as a museum. The Satmar Hassidim purchased the community mikveh in Sighet and cultivated the cemetery.

The monument to those who perished in the Holocaust was erected at the site of the city's Great Synagogue. In this place, they gathered the Jews of the town, and from there, they set off on their last journey through the train station onto Auschwitz. The synagogue served as a warehouse for the German army, and was blown up on the eve of the Germans escape from the city. The Satmar Hasidim redeemed the complex in order to build a synagogue and a Mikveh, for the benefit of those who visit the graves of the righteous in the city. The address is Gheorghe doja.

Despite the glorious history of Sighet, it is now a neglected and boring compared to the city that existed before the Holocaust. Today, it has nothing but breathtaking scenery. There are piles of firewood in the doorways of the homes, as well as homes that are falling apart. But there is something spiritual about the area. The immigrants from Sighet give a longing to the city, even to future generations in a kind of patriotic patriotism, as did my wife's parents. Sighet is one of the most important destinations for roots trips, more than many other towns in Transylvania. Avimor's chief tour guide, Dubi Sela, who specializes in tours in and around Romania, allows his group members one day to travel privately to take roots trips and, if possible, help plan the routes.

Authentic Romania company offers family trips to Transylvania in minibuses with an English-speaking driver. Immigrants from Transylvania and their descendants may also   add a visit to their hometown. The price is 350 euros per family, per day. You can contact them by email at info@authentic-romania.com. If you would speak with Alina Baidoc and say that you found her company from a post on this site, you will probably receive a special discount.

The information and images for this article were obtained by the Bucharest Expirience organization and especially by its managers Tudor & Anda Maxim

קרדיט ל4 צילומים אחרונים: אתר סיגט