CONTRIBUTION OF JEWISH MINORITY TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF BACAU

Cristina-Iolanda Filipoaia,Mihai Deju

doi:10.29358/sceco.v0i31.463

Abstract

During more than six centuries of existence, Bacău benefited both from the favourable socio-economic and political context, and from the interrelationships with the other communities, from the harmonious combination of these two elements resulting both the growth and development of the locality and the position in the local and regional hierarchy. The main beneficiaries of the progress made were of course the inhabitants, the city representing a living environment for them, as well as the essential factor in the functional dynamics and in the urban landscape. Giving meaning to the past, we must recognize that each community that contributed to the development of Bacău has its own history, Bacău becoming the trustee of the communities ‘history entirety, which in perfect communion with Romanians defined the complex identity of the locality. The Jewish community is no exception, whose collaboration with Romanians for over two centuries has contributed to increasing the economic level of development of the locality since the second half of the 18th century.

Highlights

Basic component of the national urban system, Bacău municipality has grown and developed permanently during more than six centuries of existence, evolution determined on the one hand by the favourable socio-economic and political context and, on the other hand, by all interrelationships with the other settlements, their intensity and frequency determining its position in the urban hierarchy at local and regional level
Each community that contributed to the existence of Bacău has its own history, Bacău being the communities’ history entirety that in a process of perfect symbiosis with the Romanians defined the complex identity of the locality
The wood industry, favoured by the existence of the vast forest area in the county and by the rafting that was practiced on Bistrița and which was advantageous from this point of view in Bacău, benefited from the involvement of Jewish entrepreneurs, who set up plank factories (Ștrul Kendler) or sawmills

Summary

Introduction

Basic component of the national urban system, Bacău municipality has grown and developed permanently during more than six centuries of existence, evolution determined on the one hand by the favourable socio-economic and political context and, on the other hand, by all interrelationships with the other settlements, their intensity and frequency determining its position in the urban hierarchy at local and regional level. The inventory of 1831, redone in 1832, shows that out of the almost 3000 inhabitants of Bacău at that time, 519 were Jews, respectively 13,5% of the population.

Results

Conclusion