According to a 2023 World Jewish Congress estimate, about 8,900 Jews live in Romania, most of them in Bucharest.
Built in 1864-1866 in Moorish Revival style, modelled on Vienna's great synagogue, and still holding daily prayers.
Bucharest's Jewish school was founded in 1997, runs from kindergarten to high school, and teaches Hebrew and Jewish culture.
Founded in 1948 in the historic Jewish quarter, it is described as the world's oldest Yiddish theatre in continuous operation.
Romania was the only communist country that did not break off relations with Israel after the Six-Day War.
Is there an active Jewish community in Bucharest?
Yes. About 8,900 Jews live in Romania according to a 2023 World Jewish Congress estimate, most of them in Bucharest, where there are synagogues with daily prayers, a Chabad centre with a mikvah and a kosher restaurant, and the Jewish school Lauder-Reut. The community is represented by the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania (FCER), and the city also has a State Jewish Theatre and Holocaust remembrance institutions.
Families who talk to me about moving ask not only about schools and prices, but also a quieter question: "Will there be a synagogue? Kosher food? Holidays?" The short answer: yes, on a small scale, but a real one.
A small community with a big history
Before the Second World War, Romania was home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the world. According to the World Jewish Congress, more than half of the pre-war Jewish population perished in the Holocaust.
Today the community is small, mostly Ashkenazi, and concentrated mainly in Bucharest. Other communities are active in Timișoara, Iași, Cluj and Oradea. All of them are brought together by the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania (FCER), founded in the 1930s.
Synagogues, kosher food and Shabbat in Bucharest
| Place | What to know |
|---|---|
| Choral Temple (Templul Coral) | Built 1864-1866 in Moorish Revival style, modelled on Vienna's great synagogue. Active, with daily prayers in the small hall |
| Great Synagogue (Sinagoga Mare) | Built in the 1840s by the Polish-Jewish community. Today also used as a museum |
| Chabad Bucharest | Daily minyan, mikvah, kindergarten and school, and a kosher restaurant |
At the start of the 20th century Bucharest had dozens of synagogues, Ashkenazi and Sephardic. Today only a few are active, so each one is both a place of prayer and a historical testimony.
Kosher food, Shabbat and holidays
Here Chabad is the main address. According to Chabad Romania, Bucharest has a daily minyan, a mikvah, a kindergarten and school, and a mehadrin kosher restaurant, Bereshit, which also serves Shabbat meals with advance registration.
According to the World Jewish Congress, kosher food is available in the Jewish communities of Bucharest, Timișoara, Iași, Oradea and Brașov. In practice, a kosher-keeping family needs to plan ahead: orders, deliveries and a stocked pantry. It is not Tel Aviv, but it is not a desert either.
Education: Lauder-Reut
Lauder-Reut was founded in 1997 within the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, whose mission is to revive Jewish culture and the Hebrew language in Europe after the Holocaust and the communist era. It runs a kindergarten, primary, middle and high school, and according to the school, it has more than 400 students.
Alongside the school, according to the World Jewish Congress, the community also runs Talmud Torah classes giving children a basic Jewish education. That is a good option for families who choose a different international school and want to keep a connection to the holidays, tradition and language.
For children arriving from Israel, Hebrew at school can make the move much easier. The other options, American, British and French, are covered in our guide to international schools in Bucharest.
The short answer: yes, on a small scale, but a real one.
Culture, history and remembrance
The State Jewish Theatre
The State Jewish Theatre (TES) was founded in 1948 and sits on Iuliu Barasch Street, in the heart of the historic Jewish quarter. It is described as the world's oldest Yiddish theatre in continuous operation.
The Holocaust memorial and the Elie Wiesel Institute
On 8 October 2009 the Memorial to the Victims of the Holocaust in Romania was inaugurated in central Bucharest. The Elie Wiesel National Institute for the Study of the Holocaust in Romania works on research and education, and supported its creation.
Romania and Israel
Romania was the only communist country that did not break off diplomatic relations with Israel after the Six-Day War in 1967. The Israeli Embassy in Bucharest is active, and ties between the two countries are broad, from tourism to business.
A day in Jewish Bucharest: a route for a first visit
Before deciding to move, it is worth spending one day visiting. A possible route:
- Morning at the Choral Temple, one of the active synagogues in the city.
- The Great Synagogue, today also a museum telling the community's story.
- The Holocaust memorial, behind City Hall, in the city centre.
- A kosher lunch at the Chabad centre.
- An evening at the State Jewish Theatre, if there is a performance that week.
A visit like this teaches you more about the community than any article, including this one.
Settling in: five steps for a new family
- Contact the community before you land. The Federation and Chabad know a new family's first questions.
- Plan kosher food in advance. Find out what the restaurant and delivery services offer, and what to bring.
- Choose the school and the neighbourhood together. If Hebrew matters to you, check Lauder-Reut and the distance to it.
- Holidays with the community. Rosh Hashanah, Passover and Purim are good moments to meet families.
- Stay connected to Israel. There are direct flights between Bucharest and Tel Aviv; routes and times are in our flights guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many Jews live in Bucharest?
According to a 2023 World Jewish Congress estimate, about 8,900 Jews live in Romania as a whole, most of them in Bucharest. It is a small, mostly Ashkenazi community with active institutions.
Is there kosher food in Bucharest?
Yes. The Chabad centre runs a mehadrin kosher restaurant and a Shabbat catering service, and according to the World Jewish Congress kosher food is also available in other Jewish communities in Romania.
Which synagogue is active in Bucharest?
The Choral Temple, built in 1864-1866, is active and holds daily prayers. There is also a daily minyan at the Chabad centre.
Is there a Jewish school in Bucharest?
Yes. Lauder-Reut, founded in 1997, runs a kindergarten, primary, middle and high school, and teaches Hebrew and Jewish culture alongside the curriculum.
Is Bucharest safe for Jews and Israelis?
Romania kept diplomatic relations with Israel even in 1967, and the community operates openly. As anywhere in Europe, it is worth following official travel advice. Personal safety in the city is covered in is Bucharest safe?.
The bottom line
The Jewish community in Bucharest is small, but it is alive: an active historic synagogue, Chabad with a mikvah and a kosher restaurant, a school with Hebrew, and a Yiddish theatre. For a family that plans ahead, it is a good base for Jewish life in the city.
If you are considering a move and want to understand what it looks like in practice, book a 30-minute call with me. I will be glad to connect you with the right people and go through the neighbourhoods that suit you. For the wider picture, see our relocation guide to Romania.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources and data: World Jewish Congress, Romania · Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania (FCER) · Chabad Romania · Lauder-Reut · State Jewish Theatre · Elie Wiesel National Institute for the Study of the Holocaust in Romania · Embassy of Israel in Romania
This article is for general information only. Opening hours, kosher services and admission terms change; check current details directly with each institution.
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