A new (and evolving) online museum aims to provide a multi-layered picture of the Jewish history and heritage of Timisoara, Romania, as well as of today’s Jewish life in the city.
The virtual museum was created by the Municipality of Timisoara in partnership with the local Jewish Community, as part of the EU-funded REDISCOVER project, a 3-year project aimed at promoting the little-known Jewish heritage in nine cities in eight countries of the EU’s Danube region.
The virtual museum is named after Rabbi Ernest Neumann (1917-2004), who served for more than 60 years as rabbi in Timisoara.
His daughter, Getta Neumann, is the museum’s main editor and curator: she is also the author of a guidebook to Jewish Timisoara and an editor of a Timisoara Jewish cyber-community” web site.
The virtual museum is organized in separate sections that aim to:
- present the history, religious life and the traditions of the Jews of Timisoara
- display of the architectural and cultural heritage
- inform about famous personalities from the ranks of Timisoara Jewry
- show their contributions to the economic and cultural development of the city
- preserve and exhibit photographic, audio and video documentary material
- share oral testimonies and memoirs
- present the current vibrant life of the Jewish Community in Timisoara
- inform the public about specific activities of the community
- promote a spirit of openness to other cultures
- serve as an educational and touristic resource
The museum regards itself as “an ongoing process” that will evolve and grow with new material and resources.
In the future, it states
in the growth stage of this project, we aim to involve as many people as possible, attached to the present and the history of the community, in its realization. In this sense, we propose through the site the digitization of the entire large photographic collection of the [Jewish] community.
Likewise, though most of the museum web site is currently in Romanian, some of the contents have been translated into English, and more translations will be added over time.
Watch a virtual tour from the Museum’s web site:
Access the REDISCOVER project web site
Read our Have Your Say essay about the Fabric Synagogue in Timisoara, designed by Lipot Baumhorn
5 comments on “Romania: a new Jewish Timisoara virtual museum is launched”
I grew up in Timisoara, and went to the lyceum I D Loga. I used to walk by that shul every morning on my way to that high school. It gives me great pleasure (mechyeh ) to see how beautiful it looks now. It also gladdens me that the present Romanian government is investing and taking pride in our Romanian Jewish yerushe.
Ovid
This is truly a magnificent synagogue. I have a new collection on Romanian Jewish heritage, one piece specifically tells the story of the Jews of Timisoara. You can see the paintings via this link.https://www.beverleyjanestewart.com/romanian-paintings
What a magnificent synagogue!!
My Mother, Lilly Sebök, was born in Timisoara. Her
Mother,
, Rozalia Schwarz also was born there. They lived there with his father, Micsa Sebök. My mother came to Chile with my father Dr. TACHAUER Gábor in december 1939. My grandparents were able to come to
Chile in 1957.
Obviously this was once a very prosperous community,the synagogue has touches of both Berlin and Budapest. Interesting that government is joining in this project