The leadership of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Romania (FEDROM), the country’s EJC affiliate, is supporting an open letter by the Jewish Community of Caransebeș in the country’s southwest regarding inappropriate statements made by Minister for Internal Affairs Ion Marcel Vela in a local TV show, in which he stated that works being conducted in the courtyard of the city’s synagogue were being carried out “in the courtyard of the only Jew in Caransebeș.”
“We believe that this information is not only incorrect, but, being launched on a public channel of communication, is also becoming biased and we want to offer, in the following, a series of clarifications, for the correct information of the public opinion,” read the open letter from the community.
“Regardless of the number of members of a minority living in Romania, we consider it worrying that an incumbent Minister disregards its importance, ignoring the contribution over the centuries to the economic and cultural development of the city in which it is located. We also consider the parallel with other denominations to be worrying, as this can create controversy and misunderstandings in a city that has always been multiethnic and multicultural,” the open letter added.
“We express our astonishment, especially since we’ve had high regard for the performances of Mr. Vela at the leadership of the Ministry for Internal Affairs and his involvement in responding to the ongoing emergency affecting the life of our country,” said FEDROM president Dr. Aurel Vainer.
“We are deeply saddened by his statement and we are convinced that we will receive an appropriate response for this matter from Minister Ion Marcel Vela, to whom we wish great success in his political life in Caransebeș and at the national level,” he concluded.
