This flag is designed in blue, yellow, and red. In the centre are the two tablets of stone with Roman letters representing the Ten Commandments. Above the tablets some words are embroidered in Hebrew. They are not clear but might be עזרה בצרות, meaning, help when in need. Below the tablets are two clasped hands and some Romanian text. The flag was originally found in the Great Synagogue in Bucharest, Romania and is currently located in the Jewish Museum of Bucharest. It is unclear exactly where the flag would have hung, but it was clearly intended as a sign of the community’s close connection with their country since the colours are those of the Romanian flag.
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The Great Synagogue in Bucharest - The Great Synagogue in Bucharest was built in 1845 by the Polish-Jewish community of the city. It is one of the only synagogues active in Romania today. Jews have lived in the geographic region of Romania since the second century CE As with other Jewish European communities, the Jewish community of Romania grew over the years, creating its own culture and traditions. Jewish Klezmer music was greatly influenced by Romanian music. Likewise, many Hasidic dynasties, such as Satmar, Spink, and Klausenburg, originated in Romania, and many famous Jewish artists, scientist, scholars, and leaders are of Romanian origin, such as the Ba’al Shem Tov, the Aaronsohn family, Eli Wiesel, Marcel Yanko and many more. In Romania too, like elsewhere in Europe, the Jews faced anti-Semitism, persecution, blood libels, and massacres.
Jews of Romania - After World War I, the Jews of Romania were granted equal rights, together with other minorities in the country. Despite ongoing anti-Semitism, the community grew in number and influence and enjoyed a rich communal life. Prior to World War II, more than 850,000 Jews lived in Romania, totalling 4.5% of the population. During the Holocaust, many Romanian Jews were murdered, a large number at the hands of the fascist Romanian forces who collaborated with the Nazis. Nevertheless, many Romania Jews survived the war, with the community numbering close to 300,000, two-thirds of whom immigrated to Israel at the end of the war. During the years of communist rule, Jewish society and culture in Romania was strictly controlled, immigration was prohibited, and Zionists were persecuted, with some even dying in prison. From the 1960s, the Israeli government paid the Romanian authorities in return for exit visas for Romanian Jews. According to a local census, in 2011 there were only 3,271 Jews left in Romania.
