Testimonies

We invite you to discover the sinuous fate of three generations of Jews through more than 80 fragments of testimonies collected over a span of more than 20 years.

Annie is a very nice girl, even though she's Jewish.

Annie is a very nice girl, even though she's Jewish.

At that time, in 1934, '35, '36, until '39, anti-Semitism was at its height, as they say

At that time, in 1934, '35, '36, until '39, anti-Semitism was at its height, as they say

Horia Sima, one of the Legionnaires' leaders, was a teacher here in Caransebeş, for 4-5 years.

Horia Sima, one of the Legionnaires' leaders, was a teacher here in Caransebeş, for 4-5 years.

I believed that the Jews had a future in socialism.

I believed that the Jews had a future in socialism.

I did not feel anti-Semitism from my fellow students, but the official policy was different.

I did not feel anti-Semitism from my fellow students, but the official policy was different.

I didn't know that there were Jews and non-Jews. I only knew that some of the children spoke Hungarian and others spoke Romanian.

I didn't know that there were Jews and non-Jews. I only knew that some of the children spoke Hungarian and others spoke Romanian.

If you were to define yourself as a Jew, what exactly gives you your identity?

If you were to define yourself as a Jew, what exactly gives you your identity?

Our relationship with the German youth was interesting.

Our relationship with the German youth was interesting.

The Jewish High School continues to function; here are the documents; go there.

The Jewish High School continues to function; here are the documents; go there.

They didn't want to interact with us in almost any way outside of school.

They didn't want to interact with us in almost any way outside of school.

They were anti-Semites, but each had his own Jew

They were anti-Semites, but each had his own Jew

This cemetery in Reșița was vandalised three times.

This cemetery in Reșița was vandalised three times.

What are the Yids doing in Romania? Why do they hold leading positions?

What are the Yids doing in Romania? Why do they hold leading positions?

Further reading

On this website we wanted to evoke through fragments of testimonies the main moments in the recent history of the Jews of Banat and Arad. If you are passionate about the subject, we recommend you to browse through the following books and sites. This is not an exhaustive list, but a starting point in your research.

Vultur, S., coord. (2002) Memoria salvată. Evreii din Banat, ieri și azi, Iași: Polirom Publishing House

Vultur, S., Onică, A. (ed.) (2002) Memoria salvată II, Timișoara: West University Publishing House

Neumann, G. (2014) Destine evreiești la Timișoara. Portretul comunității din perioada interbelică până azi, Bucharest: Hasefer Publishing House

Leopold, L. (2016) Áron Chorin, o schiţă biografică, Trad. Sălăjanu D., Roman D., Roman L., Arad: Vasile Goldiș University Publishing House

Grec, M. I. (coord.) (2015) Comunitatea Arădeană și atitudinea față de holocaust 1940-1944, Arad: Vasile Goldiș University Publishing House

Neumann, V. (2016) Evreii Banatului. O mărturie a multi- și interculturalității Europei Est-Centrale, Timișoara: Brumar Publishing House

Schatteles, T. (2013) Evreii din Timisoara, Bucharest: Hasefer Publishing House

Mózes, T. (2020) Evreii din Oradea, Bucharest: Hasefer Publishing House

Neumann, G. (2019) Pe urmele Timișoarei evreiești, Timișoara: Brumar Publishing House

Virtual Museum of Jewish Timisoara

Our endeavour

Stories of the Synagogues brings you closer to the history and the beauty of the synagogues from Reșita, Caransebeș, Lugoj, Timișoara, and Arad, as well as to the destiny of the members of the Jewish communities who built them and contributed to the prosperity of these cities.