The old town of Bistrița in Transylvania is a lively, welcoming place with cafés, bakeries, parks and nicely renovated old houses. Near the center, once again, a synagogue, this time in excellent condition and even open.
As we approach, an elderly man immediately invites us in and turns on the lights for us. This is not a museum, and certainly not a house of prayer; it’s an art center. A stage with a piano has been set up in front of the Aron Koidesh and the Ezras Nashim, the women’s balcony, is filled with paintings by various local artists. Some of them are very interesting, in my view.
The question what should be done with old, disused Shuls is a difficult and controversial one and I have no clear opinion. I am sad to see them no longer serving their purpose. I am sad to see the damage to many buildings. I try to evoce images of what Jewish life used to look like in such places.
I also feel that this is not a good place for Jews. We are better off in Israel, there is no reason whatsoever to return and settle these lost places. This would be madness!
In Bistrița’s case, I am happy with what I find: A good and useful place which conserves the memory of what was once and can never be again.
Edit: I have been made aware of a little polish village, Radzanów, that recently staged a fake jewish wedding. The goal apparently was to educate the populace on the odd traditions of their former neighbors who have all been killed in the Shoah.
One resident is trying to re-open the local Shul that still stands. He, however, wants it to be a full-fledged synagogue complete with Sefer Torah and all, not a museum. He believes that returning a Sefer to the Shul will help the place heal.
Of course I think that maintaining Shuls where there will never ever be a Minyan is somewhat silly. But I do like the notion that these places where the Jews were driven out or murdered, need healing.
