On Transylvanian Jews. An Outline of a Common History
On Transylvanian Jews. An Outline of a Common History

Author(s): Attila Gidó
Subject(s): Cultural history, Local History / Microhistory, Social history, History of Judaism, History of Education, 17th Century, 19th Century, History of Antisemitism, Ethnic Minorities Studies, Identity of Collectives
Published by: ISPMN Institutul pentru Studierea Problemelor Minorităţilor Naţionale
Keywords: Transylvanian Jews; Judaizers; Equal rights; Civil and religious emancipation; Parish Community Organisation; Exodus; Identity; Education; Anti-Semitism; Public life;
Summary/Abstract: Many and from many angles have discussed the history of the Transylvanian Jewry. Yet the matter has not lost its topicality, and the possibilities of interpretation continue to be there. The paper deals with the history of the Transylvanian Jews as a history of integration, and creates a synthesis of the body of knowledge gathered until the present day in the light of that point of view, as a function of identity/ies and loyalty/ies. It covers a large time frame from the first Jews settled in the Transylvanian territory to the present-day situation. The author describes and analyses the most important events like the 1623 Edict of Prince Gabriel Bethlen (1613-1629), or the issue of the assimilation in the 19th century. The paper deals with the modern anti-Semitism, Holocaust, identity problems and with the Sionism as well. The paper makes an attempt to create a synthesis that can provide orientation in the matter for a larger audience, with only a sporadic knowledge about Transylvanian Jewry, as well as for the professionals of the field.

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