Jewish community in Romania: synagogues, kosher, holidays

The Jewish community in Romania: the short answer

Romania has a small, well-organised Jewish community. The Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania (Federația Comunităților Evreiești din România, FEDROM) brings together 38 local communities according to its website, from Alba Iulia to Zalău. Most community life is concentrated in Bucharest: the Choral Temple holds prayers every day, Chabad runs a kosher restaurant, a shop and Shabbat meals, and the Jewish Community Center (JCC) organises holidays, courses and summer camps.

Outside the capital the picture is different. Iași, Cluj, Timișoara, Oradea and Brașov have active communities, some with kosher food, but in small towns the community is sometimes an office, a historic synagogue and a few dozen members.

In plain words: in Bucharest you can live a full Jewish life with a little planning. Outside it, the communities are mainly about heritage and connection, not daily infrastructure.

We have already written a short guide to the Jewish community in Bucharest, and covered the history in Romania's Jews and the link to Israel. Here we go one step further: who does what, where, at what time, and how you get involved.

Who runs Jewish life in Romania

The Federation (FEDROM). The representative body of Romanian Jewry, headed, according to the federation's website, by Silviu Vexler. Its headquarters are at Sfânta Vineri Street 9-11 in Sector 3 of Bucharest, next to the Choral Temple. Under the federation operate the social and medical assistance department (DASM), the "Amalia și Șef Rabin Moses Rosen" home for the elderly, the Hasefer publishing house, the newspaper Realitatea Evreiască and the Museum of the History of Romanian Jews.

The Rabbinate office (Cancelaria Rabinică). Located at Sfânta Vineri 9, and open according to its website Monday to Thursday 08:00 to 15:00 and Friday 08:00 to 13:00. Rabbi Rafael Shaffer publishes the prayer schedule, the weekly Torah portion and the list of kosher products there.

Chabad Romania. According to Chabad, it was founded in Romania in 1999 by Rabbi Naftali Deutsch and Rebbetzin Risha Deutsch. Its centre is the Yeshua Tova synagogue, at Tache Ionescu Street 9 in the city centre.

JDC (the Joint). According to the World Jewish Congress, JDC is active in Romania, makes sure every Jew has at least basic food and heating in winter, and runs the community centres in the big cities together with the federation. JCC Bucharest opened in September 2007 as a partnership between the federation and JDC.

Synagogues and prayers in Bucharest

The Choral Temple (Templul Coral). Sfânta Vineri 9-11. This is the community's main synagogue, with prayers on weekdays, on Friday and on Shabbat. The times change with the season, and the Rabbinate publishes the current schedule on its prayer times page. For the holidays the federation publishes a separate schedule.

Yeshua Tova. A Hasidic synagogue from 1827, considered the oldest in the city, used today by Chabad with the Ashkenazi rite. Chabad's Shabbat prayers are held here: on Saturday morning a Chassidus class at 09:30 and Shacharit at 10:00.

The Great Synagogue (Sinagoga Mare). Built in 1845 to 1846 by Ashkenazi Jews from Poland, and inaugurated on Rosh Hashanah 1847. If you want to pray there, check with the community when it is open. The federation's list also includes the Credința synagogue (Hevrah Amuna) in Bucharest.

Kosher food: what Bucharest has now

Bereshit restaurant. A strictly kosher (mehadrin) restaurant run by Chabad, on the second floor of Yeshua Tova. According to Chabad it is open Monday to Thursday: parve breakfasts 08:30 to 13:30, and meat and fish 13:30 to 21:30. It is under the supervision of Rabbi Naftali Deutsch, with Pat Yisrael and Chalav Yisrael.

Shop and catering. In the same place there is a shop with kosher products from local, European and Israeli sources, and an ordering website. According to Chabad, Shabbat catering orders close on Wednesday at 22:00.

Shabbat meals. Bereshit organises Friday night dinners and a Saturday lunch buffet, by registration and advance payment only. Prices and cancellation terms are published every week on the registration site.

The Rabbinate's kosher list. The Rabbinate office publishes a consolidated list of kosher supermarket products, in Hebrew, last updated in June 2026. One important point from the list: according to the Rabbinate, there is currently no bakery under supervision in Romania. So bread is bought according to the guidance in the list, or at the Chabad shop.

Jewish education: Laude-Reut and what surrounds it

The school many people know as Lauder-Reut is now called Complexul Educațional Laude-Reut. According to the school, it was founded in 1997 within the Ronald Lauder Foundation, became fully independent in 2016 to 2018 and changed its name. It covers kindergarten, primary, middle and high school, with more than 600 students. In September 2026 it opened the 2026 to 2027 school year, marking 30 years of activity.

The difference between a family that feels at home and one that feels alone is usually three phone calls in the first week.

What matters for a family from Israel:

Hebrew and tradition. According to the school, the curriculum includes Hebrew, tradition and holidays. In the kindergarten, children are introduced to Hebrew culture and language by teachers who are native Hebrew speakers.
Menu. According to the kindergarten, the weekly menu is built on kosher principles.
Admission. Kindergarten enrolment runs all year, and for the youngest group about a year ahead. Places are limited. Priority goes to siblings of current students and to children who are members of the Jewish community.
The link to Israel. Israel's ambassador to Romania, Dr. Lior Ben Dor, is honorary president of the board of trustees.

If you choose another international school, you can add Hebrew at the JCC: in 2026 to 2027 it opened Hebrew courses for beginners, intermediate and advanced learners, taught through English. For the other options, see our guide to international schools in Bucharest and the next chapter in the series, International education in Romania.

Culture, the museum and cemeteries

The State Jewish Theatre (TES). At Iuliu Barasch Street 15. Shows in Yiddish are translated into Romanian in real time through headphones. In May 2026 the theatre hosted the 11th edition of the international Yiddish theatre festival TES FEST, marking 150 years of Jewish theatre in Romania. Tickets at the box office or on mySTAGE.

The Museum of the History of Romanian Jews. On Mămulari Street, in the tailors' guild synagogue from 1836. According to the museum, it was founded in 1978 on the initiative of Chief Rabbi Moses Rosen. On display: shtetl and city life, the contribution of Ashkenazi and Sephardi families to Romania, and the federation's art gallery.

Cemeteries. The Ashkenazi Filantropia cemetery, on Ion Mihalache Boulevard in Sector 1, opened in 1865 and has about 29,000 graves. The Sephardi cemetery, at Olteniței Street 2 opposite Bellu cemetery, also opened in 1865. Families looking for their grandparents' graves start with the local community.

Welfare: what the community does for the elderly and those in need

The federation's welfare department (DASM) runs a medical assistance centre, homes for the elderly in Bucharest and Arad, and assistance departments in the capital and in provincial towns. According to the department's website, some services for Holocaust survivors are funded by a Claims Conference grant. For a young family this matters less day to day, but it is good to know if you arrive with an elderly parent, or if you want to volunteer.

Holidays and events: one year in the community

To get a feel for the rhythm, here are some of the events published in 2026:

Purim. The JCC Purim party in Bucharest, 7 March 2026.
Israeli Independence Day. A festive evening at the JCC, 22 April 2026, with falafel, hummus and a children's choir.
Lag BaOmer. A JCC family picnic, 10 May 2026.
Bereshit seminar. A weekend of study and Shabbat in Constanța-Mamaia, 28 to 31 May 2026, with lecturers from Israeli universities.
Summer camps. The JCC runs a family camp, camps for children and teenagers, and a trip to the international camp at Szarvas in Hungary. For example, the July 2026 family camp cost 600 lei per adult.
The Tishrei holidays. Prayers and events at the Choral Temple, including Sukkot and Simchat Torah.
9 October. Romania's national Holocaust Remembrance Day, which the federation marks every year.
Hanukkah. In December 2025 Laude-Reut held a festive Hanukkah evening for the school community and its friends.

The communities outside Bucharest

City	The community (per FEDROM)	What is there
Bucharest	Sfânta Vineri 9-11, Sector 3	The Choral Temple with daily prayers, Chabad and Yeshua Tova, a kosher restaurant and shop, the JCC, Laude-Reut, the theatre and the museum
Iași	Elena Doamna 15	The Great Synagogue from 1671, the oldest surviving in Romania, active and restored by 2018. Kosher food according to the World Jewish Congress
Cluj-Napoca	Tipografiei 25	A kosher kitchen ("cantina rituală") with a weekly menu, and the Muzeon museum on the Jews of Transylvania
Timișoara	Gheorghe Lazăr 5	The synagogue in the Cetate district returned to use for prayer in 2022. Kosher food according to the World Jewish Congress
Oradea	Mihai Viteazu 4	The Neolog Sion synagogue, restored and used for concerts and events. Kosher food according to the World Jewish Congress
Brașov	Poarta Schei 27	A Neolog synagogue and an Orthodox synagogue on the federation's list. Kosher food according to the World Jewish Congress
Constanța	Sarmisegetuza 3	The Great Synagogue from 1911, whose restoration was completed in February 2026
Sibiu	Constituției 17	A community registered with the federation. Check in advance what is open to visitors
Sighet (Sighetu Marmației)	Basarabia 8	The Elie Wiesel Memorial House, which is also the Museum of Jewish Culture in Maramureș

The addresses are taken from the list of communities on the federation's website. Before a visit, call the community and check opening times.

Heritage trips: Iași, Maramureș and Sighet

Iași. The Great Synagogue at Sinagogilor Street 1 was built in 1671. According to Wikipedia, it is one of two synagogues in the city, out of more than 110 before the war, that still serve the community. There is a small museum in the women's gallery.

Sighet and Maramureș. The Elie Wiesel Memorial House is at Tudor Vladimirescu Street 1 in Sighetu Marmației and belongs to the Maramureș Museum. According to Romania's national museums guide, it is open Tuesday to Sunday: in winter 08:00 to 16:00, and in summer 10:00 to 18:00. The exhibition tells the story of Wiesel's childhood and of the deportation of the town's Jews in 1944.

A practical tip: combine the visit with the local community. The federation's list includes communities in Baia Mare and Sighet as well.

Israelis in Bucharest: embassy, business and security

The Israeli embassy. Bulevardul Dimitrie Cantemir 1, Block B2, 4th floor, office 402. Phone: +40 21 302 8500. According to the embassy, an appointment is required for the consular section, payment is in cash in lei only, and bags, phones and computers are not allowed inside. Public hours are Monday to Friday 09:30 to 12:30. In an emergency outside working hours, call the main number and press 1.

Business. The Romania-Israel Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIRI) was founded in 1990 as the first bilateral chamber of commerce in post-communist Romania. On the ties between the two countries, see Romania-Israel relations.

Security. Community institutions operate openly, and many events require advance registration. The embassy has strict security procedures, and you should expect similar checks at community events. In 2015 Romania passed a law making Holocaust denial an offence. The emergency number in Romania is 112. On personal safety in the city, see Is Bucharest safe?.

Checklist: a Jewish family's first weeks in Bucharest

Before the flight. Write to Chabad and to the Bucharest community. Tell them who you are, when you arrive and what matters to you: kosher food, school, a minyan.
First week. Register for a Shabbat meal at Bereshit. Registration closes in advance, so do not leave it to Friday.
First week. Download the Rabbinate's kosher list, and do a first shop at the Chabad store.
Second week. Apply for a JCC membership card. According to the JCC, the card is also issued to Israeli passport holders, their spouses and their children. You need a copy of an ID document, and the card is issued within two weeks at most.
Second week. By prior arrangement, visit the Choral Temple for Shacharit or Kabbalat Shabbat.
Third week. If you have children, book a tour of Laude-Reut. For the youngest kindergarten group, enrolment is about a year ahead.
Third week. Check which camps and courses are open at the JCC: a Hebrew course, a winter camp, a family camp.
In the first month. Save the embassy number and 112 in your phone, and check when your passports need renewing.
In the first month. Mark the next holiday in your calendar. A holiday is the fastest way to meet families.

Frequently asked questions

Can you keep fully kosher in Bucharest?

Yes, with planning. There is a strictly kosher restaurant with Pat Yisrael and Chalav Yisrael, a shop with products from Israel, Shabbat catering and a list of kosher supermarket products. What is missing: a supervised bakery, and a wide choice of restaurants.

Where do people pray on Shabbat?

At the Choral Temple, with Kabbalat Shabbat and Shacharit according to the Rabbinate's schedule, or at Yeshua Tova with Chabad. Times change with the season, so check the current schedule on the Rabbinate's website or with Chabad.

Do you need to be a "community member" to take part?

Not for prayers or for Chabad's Shabbat meals. Some JCC events need a membership card, and Israeli passport holders are eligible for one. At the Laude-Reut kindergarten, community membership gives priority in admission.

Is there Jewish life outside Bucharest?

There are active communities in Iași, Cluj, Timișoara, Oradea and Brașov, some with kosher food. In small towns the community is mainly heritage and an office. If you are moving to another city, call the local community before you decide.

How do you find a grandparent's grave in Romania?

Start with the local community in the town where they were buried. Bucharest has an Ashkenazi cemetery (Filantropia) and a Sephardi cemetery (Olteniței). Come with a full name, the year of death and family details.

The bottom line

Jewish life in Romania is small in scale but well organised: a federation of 38 communities, daily prayers at the Choral Temple, Chabad with full kosher services, a JCC open to Israelis, and a Jewish school celebrating 30 years. The difference between a family that feels at home and one that feels alone is usually three phone calls in the first week.

If you are considering a move to Bucharest, book a 30-minute call with me. We will go through the neighbourhoods, the distance to the synagogue and the school, and what to check before you decide where to live. For the bigger picture, see the guide to relocating to Romania.

Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania

Sources: Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania · FEDROM, list of communities and contact details · FEDROM, synagogues in Romania · Rabbinate office, prayer times in Bucharest · Rabbinate office, kosher in Romania · Chabad Romania, about · Chabad Romania, information for visitors · Chabad Romania, Bereshit restaurant · Bereshit, Shabbat meal registration · JCC Bucharest · JCC, about · JCC, membership card · JCC, camps 2026 · DASM, the federation's welfare department · Laude-Reut · Laude-Reut, about · Laude-Reut, kindergarten · Laude-Reut, opening of the 2026-2027 school year · Museum of the History of Romanian Jews · Zile și Nopți, TES FEST 2026 · Wikipedia, State Jewish Theatre · Zile și Nopți, the Great Synagogue of Bucharest · Wikipedia, Yeshua Tova Synagogue · Wikipedia, Filantropia cemetery · Wikipedia, Bucharest Sephardic Jewish Cemetery · World Jewish Congress, Romania · Embassy of Israel in Bucharest · Embassy of Israel, consular information · Antena 3, Independence Day evening at the Opera, 28.5.2026 · B'nai B'rith Europe, on the founder of CCIRI · Wikipedia, Great Synagogue of Iași · Wikipedia, Cetate Synagogue in Timișoara · Digi24, restoration of the Great Synagogue in Constanța, 26.2.2026 · Zile și Nopți, the Sion synagogue in Oradea · Jewish Community of Cluj · Romanian museums guide (cIMeC), Elie Wiesel Memorial House

General information only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Prayer times, prices, opening hours and admission terms change, so check them directly with each institution before you go. Correct as of 22 October 2026.

The complete guide: relocating to Romania

Relocating to Romania: the complete guide
Visas, residence and legal status in Romania
The Jewish community in Romania (you are here)
International education in Romania
Prominent Israelis in Romania

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.

What does Jewish life in Romania look like today, and how does a family from Israel connect to it?