A Brief History of the Jewish Community of Hârlău
A Brief History of the Jewish Community of Hârlău

Summary/Abstract: Though a Jewish presence was recorded as early as the 15th century, when a Jewish doctor of Hârlău is said to have treated ruler Stephen the Great of gout, Jewish immigrants started settling in Hârlău mainly during the second half of the 18th century and in early 19th century. In time their number increased and they became active not only in the local trade and crafts, but also in international organizations such as the Alliance Israelite Universelle. Their religious life flourished, enriched by the regular presence of the Hassidic Admor Avram Matatiahu Friedman of Ştefăneşti, and so did their cultural life. They got actively involved in Romanian Jewish politics and in the Zionist movement. Affected by the Holocaust, the Jewish community o Hârlău finally shrank under the communist regime due to massive emigration, leaving less than 30 Jews today. The town’s Jewish heritage still standing, composed of one synagogue and two cemeteries, deserves special attention for their old age (over 200 years) and special sacral and respectively funeral art features.

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