As part of the series of events aimed to promote in Israel the national project of Timișoara - European Capital of Culture 2023, the Romanian Cultural Institute in Tel Aviv, in collaboration with AMIR (Organization of Israelis of Romanian Origin), organized, on May 19th, at the ANU - Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, the conference called "Jewish Timișoara".
The event included the presentation "A brief history of Jewish Timișoara", given by Getta Neumann who also presented the book "On the traces of Jewish Timișoara, more than a guide". Furthermore, Raluca-Elena Doroftei showcased the project "Stories of the synagogues from Banat and Arad", initiated by the Pantograf Association, which she co-founded.
The conference program also included a section called "The Jewish Community of Timișoara today", in which the president of the Jewish Community of Timișoara, Luciana Friedmann, talked about the current situation of the Timișoara Jewish community.
Furthermore, the event comprised a panel dedicated to Israelis born in Timișoara who have excelled in various fields (politics, culture, sports), such as Micha Harish, former member of the Knesset and minister in the Israeli government, László Roth, composer and conductor, and Avraham Klein, soccer referee.
Cristian Rudic, baritone and manager of the Romanian National Opera in Timișoara, together with the mezzo-soprano Gabriella Varvari, accompanied on the piano by László Roth, performed musical fragments from the show Fiddler on the Roof.
Schedule:
10:30 – Guests' arrival
10:45 – 11:00 – Introductory remarks:
H.E. Radu Ioanid, ambassador of Romania to the State of Israel
Dominic Fritz, mayor of Timișoara (video)
Martin Salamon, director of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Tel Aviv
Micha Harish, president of A.M.I.R. organization
11:00 – 11:20 – Getta Neumann: ”A brief history of Jewish Timișoara”
11:20 – 11:35 – Luciana Friedmann: ”The Jewish community of Timișoara today”
11:35 – 11:50 – Raluca-Elena Doroftei: ”Stories of the synagogues in Timișoara”
11:50 – 12:00 – Fiddler on the roof (fragments) with Cristian Rudic – baritone, Gabriella Varvari – mezzo-soprano, László Roth – piano (part I)
12:00 – 12:30 – ”Successful people from Timișoara in Israel” – round table with Micha Harish, László Roth, Avraham Klein. Moderated by George Schimmerling
12:30 – 12:40 – Fiddler on the roof (fragments) with Cristian Rudic – baritone, Gabriella Varvari – mezzo-soprano, László Roth – piano (part II).
The event was moderated by Dita Gara.
