Friday, May 22nd, 2015, the Jewish Communities Federation of Romania organized at the Coral Temple in Bucharest, on the occasion of the feast of SHAVUOT 5775, dedicated to the reception of the Torah by Moses on Mount Sinai, the debate event entitled “Decalogue – the foundation of justice, with the participation of His Excellency President Klaus Werner Iohannis and of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Romfilatelia, a traditional partner, received the invitation of Mr. Aurel Vainer, President of the Jewish Communities Federation in Romania, to attend this solemn event along with the philatelic exhibition Tablets of the Law, Laws of the World, dedicated to Jewish values of the universal cultural heritage.
The exhibition included, in addition to the postage stamps issue with the eponymous title, the issue Jewish Cultural Heritage – Great Jewish Temple of Radauti – 130 years, both issued in 2013. Also, as the promoter of bilateral cultural relations, Romfilatelia unveiled the panel of the Romania – Israel joint issue – First Yiddish Theater in the world – 1876 – Iasi, issued in 2009.
The debate had the role of creating a bridge for understanding among people, regardless of ethnicity or religion, based on the common core of monotheism – The 10 Commandments, the welcome speech being held by Mr. Aurel Vainer, President of the Jewish Communities Federation of Romania.
In his speech, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, gave the speech called The Decalogue – relationship with God and responsibility for others and noted that “The Ten Commandments were the basis for dialogue and cooperation between Christians, Jewish, but also other religions, and they help us to understand that true life is a communion of sincere and generous love.
The Romanian President, Klaus Werner Johannis, said that an important part of our country’s progress toward democracy is due to the link to the Jewish nation:
The Jewish community boosted our economic development, cultural life, enriched our identity. That is why Romania is today grateful to you for what we are as a nation.”
MP Aurel Vainer, President of Jewish Communities Federation of Romania, noted that the Ten Commandments are universally valid, not only in space but also in time and have contributed to the evolution of modern man, and philatelic issue Tablets of the Law, Laws of the World, plays very nicely into this concept.
The event brought together prominent officials, among who spoke: the Prime Minister of Romania, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, the President of the Romanian Constitutional Court, the Ombudsman, the Israeli ambassador in Bucharest, Jewish community leaders from Romania and abroad, and being read the message of the President of the Jewish World Congress.
Mr. Eduard Kupferberg, director of the Rabbinical Chancellery of Romania and the moderator of the event, thanked Romfilatelia for the issuance of stamps, which reflected the Jewish values as part of the world cultural heritage elements, noting the two issues relating to the subject of the debate.
In appreciation of Romfilatelias involvement in this cultural endeavor, Aurel Vainer, the president, gave Mrs. Cristina Popescu, General Director of Romfilatelia, the event plaque.
The event ended with a concert of traditional music by the Bucharest Klezmer Jewish Band, the band belonging to the Jewish Communities Federation of Romania.
