Bucharest, Romania — In a scene not seen in Romania since before WWII, thousands gathered to the festive grand opening of a newly restored 200 year-old Bucharest synagogue and the dedication of two new Torah scrolls, as Romanian national TV televised the event.
Emotional Celebration in Romania
Bucharest, Romania — In a scene not seen in Romania since before WWII, thousands gathered to the festive grand opening of a newly restored 200 year-old Bucharest synagogue and the dedication of two new Torah scrolls, as Romanian national TV televised the event.
Rabbi Naftali Deitsch, Chabad Lubavitch emissary to Romania, led the procession with singing and dancing through the streets of Bucharest which was closed by police to vehicular traffic.
One Torah was dedicated by the community in memory of the thousands of Romanian Jews murdered in the Holocaust. The second Torah was donated by international businessman Mr. Alan Greene in memory of his grandfather.
Israeli Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar inscribed one of the final letters in the new Torah and spoke at the reception. Other prominent guests included: Romania’s Chief Rabbi Menachem Hacohen, American Ambassador Nicolas Taubman, Israeli Ambassador Rodica Radian-Gordon, philanthropist Mr. Levi Leviev, President of Jewish communites in Romania Uriel Weiner and Vice Chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky.
The synagogue, which was filled beyond capacity, was dedicated in memory of the late Romanian-born Dov Indig, who lost his life fighting in the Yom Kippur war in Israel.
A gala reception followed the ceremony, attended by many Chabad rabbis, community leaders, and international ministers and ambasssadors.
Neal A. Illinois
Romania…Romania…how I love thee…to the memory of the thousands in the carpatian mountains who perished in the shoah…may their memories be for a blessing