About 800,000 Jews lived in Romania before WWII. Nearly annihilated and long marginalized, the Jewish Romanian Community \u2013 now numbering around 12,000 – is celebrating the 145th anniversary of the granting of citizenship and freedoms with a series of institutional events. Among the most notable initiative is the release of a new coin honoring Mauriciu Brociner (1854-1946), the first Jewish officer to serve in the Romanian army.
\nA delegation from the World Jewish Congress is participating in these events. The representatives, including UCEI President Noemi Di Segni, met with Romania highest state authorities and discussed the country\u2019s stance on the Middle East conflict. Since the era of dictator Nicolae Ceau\u0219escu, after the Six-Day War, Romania was the only country in the Communist block to maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"