Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the beginning of its construction, Bucharest’s Choral Synagogue will be rededicated on Dec. 16 — the first night of Hanukkah — following an extensive, eight-year renovation process.

The restoration was realized with the support of the Government of Romania, Bucharest City Hall, the local district City Hall, the Caritatea Foundation, and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.



The December event will include lighting of the first Hanukkah candle and also an artistic program including performances by leading actors and musicians.



It will be, according a statement by the Federaion of Romanian Jewish Communities, “a symbolic gesture of recognition of the value of light in people’s lives, and the heroism of the Maccabees to preserve the identity of nation and faith in God.”

Aurel Vainer, the president of FEDROM, shared these pictures showing the restoration work and previewing the synagogue before its reopening.

