The oldest Synagogue in Romania was reopened in Iasi, at the beginning of December, after many years of restoration made under the coordination of the Romanian Ministry of Culture and National Patrimony. The building having a double role, as a tourist attraction and a place of worship, exists since the XVII century and was declared an historical monument in 2004. Today, Iasi has only two more synagogues from those 112 that existed in 1939. At the inauguration of the Great Synagogue of Iasi that took place on 3th of December, at the Celebration of Hannuka, along with local leaders and reprezentatives of the main Christian denominations in Iasi, participated also His Eminence Teofan, the Metropolitan Bishop of Moldavia and Bukovina.
„The history of the Great Synagogue interferes with the one of the city and of the jewish community in Iasi, serving as a sacred temple and a refugee place in difficult times. The reopening of the oldest jewish place of worship in Romania represents, mostly in this year when we are celebrating the centenary of the Great Union, a gesture of respect for the memory of those who sacrifieced themselves for faith and freedom. It is also a tribute given to the jewish personalities who have supported internationally the Union from 1918, contributing in a significant way to the modernization and progress of Romania, proving its fidelity to the country and its faith in its historical destiny.
I am glad that the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania constantly supports the restoration and capitalization of Romanian synagogues. They give a beautiful expression to the values that I also support and which, together with you, defend them: knowledge, dialogue and tolerance”, said on this occasion the president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis.
