Romania 

Day of Remembrance: 9 October

Historical Background:
On 9 October, 1941 the deportations of Jews from the Romanian regions of Bukovina and Bessarabia to Transnistria began.

Romania and the Holocaust:
Lexicon entry from Yad Vashem's online Holocaust Resource Center: Romania, Bukovina, Bessarabia, Transnistria

Educational Activities:
Holocaust Day was one of the recommendations made by the International Commission on the Holocaust of Romania. The Commission, which was named in 2003 by President Iliescu, was organized to research the Holocaust in Romania and to present conclusions and recommendations on increasing Holocaust awareness and education in Romania.
9 October, Holocaust Day, was marked with special events around the country, including a wreath-laying ceremony by Romanian President Ion Iliescu. The commemoration took place in front of Bucharest's main synagogue, the Choral Temple.
Following the ceremony, President Iliescu addressed the Romanian Parliament. "The horrible tragedy of the Holocaust was possible due to the complicity of leader of the state's institutions," he said, "(The Holocaust is) a shameful chapter in our recent past...must be neither forgotten or minimized."
President Iliescu also stated that such a tragedy must not be repeated and that younger generations in Romania need to know and understand the entire truth. Other events around the country include having Holocaust survivors tell their stories to students in public schools, a play of "Anne Frank" at the Yiddish theater in Bucharest, and the opening of a special Holocaust exhibition.

The Ministry of Research and Education in Romania has also introduced into the school curriculum an optional course about the Holocaust in Romania. This broader program includes adopting legislation in order to "forbid the fascist, racial, xenophobic and antisemitic symbols and organizations..."

On 4 January, 1999, Order No. 3001 of the Romanian Ministry of Education stipulated that 2 hours in the history curriculum (grades 9-12) should be allotted to the teaching of the Holocaust. Although this directive was issued 5 years ago, it has not been enforced. Overall, the Holocaust is a recommended elective topic.

Holocaust Education Seminars:
A teacher-training seminar of Romanian educators organized by the Ministry of Education took place at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem in November 2005. Yad Vashem experts gave a 3-day teacher-training seminar in Craiove, Romania in December 2005.

Historical Commission:
The Romanian government has also established a Historical Commission of Inquiry into Romania's role in the Holocaust. This Commission is chaired by Professor Elie Wiesel. The Commission submitted its report to President Iliescu on November 11, 2004. The Commission recommended promoting Holocaust education and awareness .
For the full report in of the International Commission on the Holocaust in Romania from 11 November, 2004, click here.

Websites and Teaching Aids:
Yad Vashem Educational Website in Romanian: www1.yadvashem.org/education/romanian/homepage.htm
First Holocaust Day in Romania: bnaibrith.org/ppolicy/europe

For Yad Vashem website in Romanian, click here.

▲ Top