With only about 4,000 members of the Jewish community left in Bucharest today, it is rather difficult to imagine that in 1930 it represented up to 11% of the entire city’s population. The Jewish quarter was severely affected by the Fascist pogrom in the 40s, followed by the demolitions initiated in the 80s by the communists, with most streets simply wiped off the map and 6 synagogues and Jewish temples demolished. Nevertheless, some emblematic buildings like the Great Polish Synagogue and the legendary Barașeum Theatre have survived and are here to tell their stories.
Take a trip down the history lane and learn about some of the most influential Jewish personalities, like the Dadaist and Modernist architect Marcel Iancu and his landmark buildings, discover the major sights and cultural icons of the former Jewish Quarter in Bucharest and find out about a darker period of Romanian history.
Posted By : ChapnickP
We just completed a trip that took us through 9 countries in about 7 weeks and this was one of the best tours of our trip; and one of the best tours I’ve had in many years of traveling. Laura is a fantastic tour guide!! Knowledgeable and personable she shared a wealth of information, not only about “Jewish” life but about life in Romania in general. Her commentary was factually rich and personally relevant as she shared stories about her life growing up that brought the larger context of Romanian life into focus. She took us to great places and it felt like the people we met at these places genuinely liked her and welcomed us as friends. My wife and I are kind of “slow” tourists: we like to look deeply and contemplate what we are seeing. With Laura, we never felt rushed or that we “had to move on” to be on schedule.
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Posted On : 2024-06-17 15:31:06 
Posted By : Philip_C
Laura was one of the best guides I have ever had. She was knowledgeable, personable, articulate and genuine. She has not only done her homework in researching the Jewish heritage in Bucharest but has also connected with some of the key stakeholders of the tradition who are still here. She has developed a rapport that made us feel as if we were being welcomed by old friends. Clearly the people she took us to visit respected her a great deal. She was kind and willing to take the tour in the directions that our small group of six wanted to go. She answered our all of our questions with patience and candor. She also shared the wider context of both life in Bucharest through interesting historical details and stories from her own life growing up under Communism and the transition to the current scene.
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Posted On : 2024-06-11 14:01:33 
Posted By : Paperlady0618
This was an amazing, insightful, historical tour to 3 synagogues and the Yiddish Theater.
If you want to know about the Jewish community of the past in Romania, don’t miss this tour.
Guide speaks clearly and offers great information.
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Posted On : 2024-06-10 10:17:21
Posted By : dottyonthemove
Laura Genescu was a terrific guide. She was engaging, informative and, to our delight, allowed our tour to extend beyond what we expected. She took us to several synagogues where we got explanations from people working at those places. Particularly interesting was the Jewish State Theater, which performs some plays in Yiddish and is supported by the government. We highly recommend touring with Laura
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Posted On : 2023-09-16 03:59:25
Posted By : stevenbV7057TQ
Laura is an amazing guide. We worked with her to develop a program incorporating the half-day Jewish Heritage Tour into a full day including other aspects of Bucharest. We also had a behind the scenes visit to a theater that still offers Yiddish productions. Laura is very personable and easy to work with. I highly recommend her company.
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Posted On : 2023-06-26 08:03:02
Posted By : ronl579
This was a top notch experience that I would highly recommend
It is full of information especially historical context and contemporary information of a community that once flourished and now a shadow of its former self but still with a presence and preservation of a few remaining institutions
Laura explained this all in a relaxed and meaningful way
Thanks Laura
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Posted On : 2022-09-16 05:04:43
Posted By : ethelnadia
Do not miss this mind blowing tour filled with juicy stories, gorgeous synagogues in Bucharest, shown by our most friendly and afficionado guide, Laura!
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Posted On : 2022-02-23 16:18:40
