Involvement of Jewish Minority to the Cultural Development of Bacau

Abstract

During more than six centuries of existence, Bacau benefited both from the favorable 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. The sum of the histories of the communities that contributed to its secular existence, Bacau is in fact the binder and the proof of the perfect communion between them and the Romanians. Each community that contributed to the existence of Bacau actually contributed to the definition of the complex identity of the locality. Through its own cultural values, each community, with its own religion, history, with its own traditions, holidays and symbols, through its own way of being has expressed its vision of the world, of man and of relations with fellow human beings in a specific language, which it distinguishes it from both the majority population and the other communities. Over time, the Jewish community has contributed not only numerically to the growth of the population of Bacau, but also economically and culturally. Personalities with remarkable intellectual capacity honored Bacau both in the religious field and in the field of science and art. Their impact on the evolution of Bacau was extremely strong, largely due to the economic evolution of Bacău at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century.