In the framework of the project REDISCOVER, a WALKSHOP was organized for project partners by the Municipality of Timisoara in cooperation with the Jewish Community of the city. The walkshop, guided by Rabbi Zvika Kfir and Mr Gabriel Székely was an on-site case study visit of Timisoara’s Jewish cultural heritage, combining its tangible and intangible elements, including the synagogues, the Jewish cemetery, representative buildings designed by Jewish architects or owned by Jewish families, the headquarters of the Jewish Community of Timisoara.

The Walkshop was used as a working tool, based on a methodology for its preparation and implementation, for knowledge exchange and highlighting the local Jewish Cultural Heritage. The tour provided an opportunity to test the city’s tourist potential, the main attractions that the participants were interested in, and the scheduling and transportation challenges presented by such a tour. 

The Walkshop started with a visit to the local Jewish cemetery, which contains the oldest extant tomb in the city, dating from the 17th century. The cemetery visit was guided by Rabbi Zvika Kfir, who presented the religious history of Timisoara’s Jewish community (that included both Sephardi and Askhenazi families). The Rabbi gave insight into the Jewish funerary traditions and elaborated the changes and ideas that evolved through the past three centuries, leading to the apparition of two different Jewish communities, namely Orthodox and Neolog. These differences are also reflected in the styles of the tombs and the types of burials, which vary greatly, illustrating the level of conformity to Jewish tradition or the assimilation to the mainstream culture, whether Austro-Hungarian or Romanian. Various types of tombs were visited, from the newest to the oldest (dating to the 17th century), and the Rabbi explained the symbols and the religious meaning behind them. The cemetery tour included a visit at the tomb of Rabbi Oppenheimer, who lived in the 19th century and who is considered by some to be a “miracle performer”. His tomb is a place where visitors, mostly non-Jews, leave notes with prayers and requests. The reason why Jews leave small stones on tombs instead of flowers was also explained, and the fact that in Judaism the emphasis is on life and that the dead should be left behind and forgotten in order for the living to continue their life was highlighted.

During the guided tour project partners had the chance to visit the Iosefin synagogue, which is the only one of Timisoara’s four synagogues that is still functional, and the mikvahs, the Rabbi elaborated on the religious ceremonies and practices in the community. 

The Walkshop continued with a visit to the city’s historical center. This part of the tour was guided by Mr. Gabriel Székely, who presented the most important elements of the architectural heritage designed by Jewish architects or owned by Jewish people. These elements of tangible Jewish heritage include buildings designed by the famous architect Lipót Baumhorn.

At the end of the day the Jewish Community of Timisoara invited the participants at their headquarters. The President, Ms. Luciana Friedmann, presented the particularly rich cultural and social activity of the Community, the elderly care programs, traditional holidays and customs. The project partners listened to a presentation about an upcoming book entitled On the Traces of Jewish Timisoara. The author of this guide is Ms. Getta Neumann, the daughter of the late Prime Rabbi of Timisoara, Dr. Ernest Neumann. The volume is the result of the author’s lifelong study and passion for keeping alive the history, culture and memory of the Jewish community in Timisoara. The evening ended with a traditional meal, an outstanding opportunity for the participants to taste Jewish culinary art.