In September, on the 19th, Jews in Soroca and around the world will celebrate the Jewish New Year 5781 according to the Jewish calendar, called Ros Hashanah or Rosh Hashanah. The celebration begins on the evening of September 18 (Friday) and ends on the night of September 20 (Sunday). The Jews believe that during this period God Almighty accepts people's repentance more easily and is accustomed to congratulating each other by saying „A sweet and good year!”
According to tradition, Rosh Hashanah would be the anniversary of the creation of the first humans, Adam and Eve. Jewish New Year's customs include the sounding of the shofar (ancient musical horn) in all synagogues and a family dinner at which symbolic dishes such as apples smeared with honey are eaten so that the year that begins to be good and sweet. The traditional Jewish meal is also prepared in Soroca, with cake, pumpkin and fish. We can usually see her at the ethnic festival.
Soroca Synagogue
A trip to the Soroca Synagogue (built in the early 20th century) is the easiest and most interesting way to get to know Jewish culture. The term „synagogue” means „to gather” a place of union of the Jews. Semen Vexler, president of the Jewish community in Soroca, often leads visitors to this building – an architectural monument, telling in detail the entire history of the Jews of Soroca. Inna Grinșpun, music teacher, is also a personality who is actively involved in preserving and promoting Jewish culture, along with other representatives, who gathered at a table number no more than 10 Sorocene Jews. A small number, compared to the number of hundreds and even thousands of Jews who once lived in the Sorocii fair.
Entering the synagogue, Semen Vexler turns on the lights and suddenly a spacious, cool room full of religious objects and Jewish symbols opens before his eyes. At the entrance, you can easily see a metal object of Jewish worship, called Mezuzah. Semen Vexler touches him respectfully with the hand that then kisses her.
- Can anyone who wants to repeat this gesture? I ask, intending to practice this ritual.
- Jews do this, but it is not forbidden for others, he replies.
I have seen such a seajelly fixed on the door of a grocery store in Soroca. I find out that it is placed on gates and doors to protect people from trouble. On the seajellies are written in letters, according to the typical Jewish scribes, two commands from the Old Testament. It is a constant reminder of God's uniqueness and obedience to Him.
Upstairs in the synagogue there is a window - it is the place where women, on the upper floor, listen to prayers and watch the religious processions in the synagogue, in which only men can participate. On the tables are the open books and the head covers, as if they were left 5 minutes ago. The reality is that a rabbi has not stopped here for a long time. On the second floor is the Cultural Center of Jewish society - a space with a library, tables and chairs, official and religious objects.
Tora
In the synagogue of Soroca, in a safe, three Torahs (holy books of Judaism) are kept. It is not known how old they are, Semen Vexler assumes that he is more than 150 years old. One of the Tores has a special history. It was lost in the 1940s and could not be found for long. During the war, a Christian buried her in the ground. A man from Cosăuți returned it in the '90s to the synagogues in Soroca.
The term "Torah" in Hebrew translates to „teaching” or „law”. The Torah describes the genesis of the Jewish people, accounts of the trials and tribulations they went through, and their covenant with God.
The Jewish Cultural Center in Soroca preserves historical documents and photographs from the city's past. Here we find that in Soroca, the Jews settled in the 16th century. XVI, in the desire to escape the pressures of Poland and Germany.
On one of the panels, we read the following information. „In the Jewish encyclopedia from 1913, it is mentioned: according to the 1847 revision in the county there were Jewish communities: Soroca with 343 families, Otaci - 559. In 1897, in the county with more than 218 thousand inhabitants, 31 thousand were Jews. In Soroca, out of 15148 inhabitants, 9777 were Jews, Otaci had 6976 inhabitants, of which 4690 were Jews, Vertiujeni - 1057 inhabitants in total, of the Jews - 1047; Slag - 2107 total and 1802 Jews. In Soroca the oldest active synagogue is from 1775, there is a Tore over 300 years old, it is a hospital, a society to help the poor, a library…”
Star of David
Everywhere on flags, coverings we see the Star with six corners - the emblematic element in the decoration of the synagogue. The six peaks would symbolize that God rules over the entire universe. Also noteworthy are the canvases with painted deer and lions.
Menorah
Another object of worship existing at the place of honour is the minor. Menorah (Hebrew: מנורה) is a seven-armed chandelier. It is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish people. It is first described in Exodus, where God gives Moses detailed instructions for making it. After the creation of the State of Israel, a seven-armed menorah was chosen as the national coat of arms, which expresses the desire for national rebirth.
They left:
In 1987 - 2, 3 families;
1988 - about 50 people;
1989 - about 100 people;
1990 - about 500 people;
1991, September 1 - more than 100 people.”
From the Jewish encyclopedia (https://yivoencyclopedia.org)
"Located in a fertile area of black earth, Soroca has become a rapidly growing centre of the Jewish settlement since the establishment of its first Jewish agricultural settlements in 1836. Soroca has hosted one of the oldest Jewish communities in Bessarabia. In 1817, 157 Jewish families lived in Soroca; in 1847 there were 343; in 1864 there were 4,135, and in 1897 there were 8,783 (representing 57.2% of the population).
In 1900 the city had 17 synagogues. Emigration (especially to the United States and Argentina) had begun, however, after the passage of restrictive laws in 1882 and the resulting economic difficulties. At the 1902 population census, 27,800 people were registered, including 12,000 Romanians, 8,700 Jews, 7,100 Ruthenians, Russians and Armenians. In 1930 the city had 5,462 Jews (36% of the population).
After 1941, a concentration camp was set up in Vertujeni, where 26,000 Jews were imprisoned. From September to the end of December 1941, the survivors were deported on foot to the Transnistrian camps. It is estimated that after the war, about 1,000 Jews remained in Soroca. The city's last synagogue functioned until 1961 when the Soviet authorities closed it.
Jewish culture began to revive in 1989, and in February 1991 the Society for Jewish Culture in Soroca began publishing a page in the local newspaper "Realitatea". About 200 Jews lived in Soroca in 2004.
In his novel Ha-Keramim (The Vineyards; 1930) Shelomoh Hillels wrote a colourful description of the Jewish life in Soroca, and the Yiddish poet Zelik Berdichever evoked the world of ordinary Soroca Jews in his poems. In the 1990s, Arkady Gendler (1921–), originally from Soroca, wrote the song "Mayn shtetele Soroke".
Every Sorocean who has reached an age of memories can tell many interesting stories from the city's past in which at least one character is Jewish, either about the most skilled barber in town, a seamstress or about friendly neighbours, the teacher or the doctor of yesteryear. Collected, it could contain a captivating book.
Other photos can be watched here.
The sourse: Cultura evreiască la Soroca în pragul Anului Nou 5781. [online] [citat 21.09.2020]. Disponible: ziarulnostru.info
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