The Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival will take place in the period 27.11 – 02.12.2021, at Jerusalem Cinematheque. As part of the international program of events of the festival, the Embassy of Romania to the State of Israel, in collaboration with the Romanian Cultural Institute in Tel Aviv, is organizing, on 28.11.2021, at 17:30, a special cultural event, entitled “The Ransom of Romanian Jews to Israel”.
The event will take place in memory of dr. Leon Volovici, historian and literary critic, and film director Radu Gabrea, longtime friends of the Jerusalem Cinematheque-Israel Film Archive.
Tickets: https://jer-cin.org.il/en/event/50983
The program of the event will include:
Ambassador of Romania to Israel, H.E. Mr. Radu Ioanid, in conversation with Yossi Melman, Intelligence and Strategic Affairs Correspondent, Haaretz, on the subject of Ambassador Ioanid’s book – "The Ransom of the Jews: The Story of the Extraordinary Secret Bargain Between Romania and Israel".
After 1948, the 370,000 surviving Jews in Romania became one of the main sources of immigration for the new state of Israel. Behind Romania's decision to allow its Jews to emigrate were practical economic and political reasons: Israel paid for them, and Romania wanted influence in the Middle East. In a discussion with Haaretz correspondent Yossi Melman, H.E. Radu Ioanid presents his book, "The Ransom of the Jews", where he tells the intriguing story of this secret exchange. Based on restricted archive records and interviews with agents directly involved in the operation, the volume includes reports on how Israel exchanged money, agricultural products and sometimes political influence to ensure the emigration of Jews from Romania.
Screening of the documentary “Jews for Sale, director Radu Gabrea
Romania 2013 | 71 minutes | Romanian with
Hebrew subtitles
Prod.: Victoria Cociaș
Source: Total TV
Based on documents and astonishing testimonials, this film reveals the incredible story of sale of the Jews of Romania to the State of Israel, from WW2 until 1989, reaching its climax during the reign of Nicoale Ceauşescu. The morale of this unknown story is simple: as uncomfortable as it looks, it is much better to buy and liberate a slave rather than to sell it.
