A study- tour on Jewish Heritage and Yiddish culture in Romania

Dates: 11 to 18 May 2008

Price: £780 (guaranteed until April 4th 2008)

Romania has been at the crossroads of Ashkenazi and Sephardic Judaism in Europe. The country has therefore been perceived as being on the edge of “the Yiddish Welt”. Yet, the Romanian lands have made some important contributions to Yiddish culture. Romania is also renowned for Itzik Manger, its great contributor to Yiddish literature. Perhaps even more important was the founding of the Yiddish theatre in Jassy or again for the greatest density of Chassidic courts in Europe, which used to be situated in the Bukowina district. Between the wars Romania had around half a million Yiddish speakers amongst the 800.000 Jews living in Romania.

Not withstanding its tragic end we would like to remember Yiddish culture in Romania for its cultural achievements. Yiddish was spoken from the Baltic Sea to Bucharest and developed from shtetls to be the universal language of Eastern Jewry. Unlike any other this language has been immersed in Jewish history in Eastern Europe and remains closely affiliated with the entire cultural- and spiritual heritage of Ashkenazi Judaism in “di alte Heym”. But we will also visit a new country, which is reawakening from a long period of stagnation and isolation in the search for a place in united Europe. This study tour offers the opportunity to integrate this important region into our awareness.

See itinerary below for further details.

Itinerary:

Sunday, 11 May 2008. Arrival in Romania

We arrive in Bucharest around 16.00 and check in at our hotel – Hotel Capitol. A walk through the city centre of Bucharest with the possibility to exchange money and we gain a first impression of the city that was the home of 75,000 Jews before World War II.

Monday, 12 May 2008. Bucharest – political and economic centre of the country

A reception at the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania (FJC) – Official Opening with an introduction to the programme and with a welcoming speech by a representative of the FJC and other personalities on what it means to be Jewish in Romania today. The programme will continue with a visit to the Coral Temple Synagogue followed by a guided tour through the Museum of Jewish History. After the coffee break in the city centre we will visit the Jewish State Theatre of Bucharest and will meet the director Harry Eliad and the actors in a discussion about the history and future of the Yiddish Theatre in Bucharest. The evening is yours. You can have a stroll on the beautiful boulevards and avenues.

Tuesday, 13 May 2008. From Bucharest to Sinaia, the summer residence of the Romanian kings

In the morning we have a guided tour through the Romanian Parliament Palace, the second biggest administrative building in the world, after the Pentagon. Built during the darkest days of the Ceausescu's regime, this impressive and opulent building hosts nowadays the Romanian Parliament. We will then go to Cismigiu Park, a fresh and beautiful oasis in the middle of a busy city. In the afternoon, we leave for Ploiesti – the centre of the country’s petroleum production– where we shall visit one of the oldest synagogues in Romania. Around 18.00 hours we shall reach Sinaia, the former Summer Residence of the Romanian kings.

Wednesday, 14 May 2008. Transylvania, the land behind the forests

We will visit the magnificent Peles Castle, one of the most modern and comfortable castles in Europe, the residence of the Romanian kings. We shall continue our journey across the Carpathian Mountains to Brasov City where we will visit the old centre lined with beautiful red-roofed merchant houses. We will meet a representative of the Jewish Community. In the afternoon we shall leave for Viscri / Weisskirch where we will visit the church and meet people, thus getting an impression of the rural life in Romania.

In the evening we will arrive at our accommodation in Sambata de Sus.

Thursday, 15 May 2008. Sibiu / Hermannstadt

In the morning we visit the Romanian Orthodox Monastery in Sambata and discuss both Romanian Orthodoxy and Anti-Semitism. Then we head for Sibiu City and visit the Jewish Community of Sibiu. Mr. Otto Deutsch, the president of the local Jewish Community will show us the community centre and the local synagogue. In the afternoon we travel to Fagarasi Town and meet Rev. Klein who will speak to us about the history of the Jewish Community of Fagarasi. In the evening we will travel back to Sinaia.

Friday, 16 May 2008. Sabbath Eve in Bucharest

After breakfast we depart for a visit to the old city of Tirgoviste. After Tirgoviste we leave for Bucharest. In the evening we take a walk to the Coral Temple for Sabbath evening prayers and service. The restaurant where we go for dinner is only a walking distance away.

Saturday, 17 May 0808. Learning Sabbath

After breakfast we walk to Coral Temple Synagogue for the morning service. We then have Sabbath lunch with the Jewish community. We have planned a discussion with Rabbi Sorin Rosen (the youngest Rabbi in Europe) on the topic of individual voices as witnesses to the history of Romanian Jewry.

In the evening we go to the Jewish Theatre to watch a play.

Sunday, 18 May 2008. Departure

After breakfast we will have a farewell coffee where we shall try to evaluate our tour.

£80 single supplement

Prices include 7 nights’ accommodation at 3* hotels on half board (alcoholic drinks are not included), return flights with TAROM Romanian Airlines, return private transfers by coach with English-speaking escort and all excursions, with authorised local guides.

All entrance fees are included unless otherwise stated.

Cost guaranteed until April 4. All bookings made after this date are subject to TAROM price change

Any pertinent supplements are not included (this includes the possible price increase of airport taxes which are normally no higher that £5 according to TAROM)