Bucharest Part II- Temples, Churches .. And Soon to be Mosques

Our 2nd day in Bucharest, I did something that completely took me out of my element. I am traveling with a good friend, who is observant of the Jewish religion. Wednesday was Tom Kipper, the holliest holiday of the year in the Jewish religion, and she wanted to spend the morning at services. We arranged to be able to attend the Bucharest Choral Temple for services. This temple, built in 1857, was closed for renovations for more than 11 years, and had just opened  this year. It is the city's main working temple and is absolutely stunning inside. I was worried about not understanding Romanian or Hebrew, but I have to admit, it was a fascinating experience. First to be in a house of worship that was just awe-inspiring is enough to keep a wandering ADHD mind entertained for a few hours. Next, the people were hysterical to watch!! The way they dressed, got up at random to say hello to friends and then have little side conversations while the rabbis were saying prayers on the alter. After passing through the security, where flashing my US passport was not enough, I had to name-drop the person who invited us and offer up my first born. (since Devin wasn't around, they reluctantly let us in). Then we had no idea what to do since they were incredibly relaxed and easy-going once inside the temple. I snuck in some photos and also snuck upstairs to the 2nd floor during the sevice for amazing panoramic views. 

As I looked around at some of the older women and men (in their 60's, 70's and older) I couldn't stop thinking about how hard their life must have been during the war and the years that followed. There were approx 300,000 Romainian Jews who were deported to camps, where the majority perished. For the few who survived, they did not want to return to their country and nor did the Nicholae Ceausescu regime want them back. He had already displaced 40,000 countrymen and their neighborhoods to make room for his redevelopment plans, so he made arrangements with Israel to "tax" them in exchange for the emimmigration of the Romanian Jews. Israel ended up paying a tax or a soft-dollar equivalent for each person who emigrated to Israel.

At any rate, this morning was a first for me and I was able to be able to share a unique and rare experience with my close friend.

After services, we went to grab a coffee (see below) and then take a hop on/hop off bus tour of the city. We visited the Stravropoleous Chuch. This tiny, lovely chuch dates back to 1724, has a cute adjoining courtyard with tombstones and an ornate wooden interior. I was surprised to find that you can freely enter the Orthodox churches all over the city without paying a free and take pictures. We only found, later in Bulgaria, where they would charge you a fee. And then an additional fee on top of that to take pictures! Again we were amazed by its beauty and former grandeur! 

During Morning Services for Holidays (from the 2nd Floor balcony)

It was all Greek to Me!!, actually Romainian (left) Hebrew on the right.

Outside of the newly renovated temple.

Coffee break! Check out fourth item down. No translation needed!!

St. Stravropoleous Church

Ceiling

Architect Ion Mincu restored the courtyard in 1899.

Iconostasis 

Nice view of museum thru gates in old town

Museum row

Buildings being restored 

The infamous Parliament Bldg that Ceausescu displaced 40,000 people's homes and destroyed turn of the century homes, business, churches, temples and mosques to build. Built in 1984 but never finished, it has 12 stories, 3100 rooms, covering 330,000 meters and cost $5 billion.