Jewish Heritage City Tour Iasi

Explore the vibrant past, architectural wonder, and stories of the Jewish community, starting from the Union Square, the central point of the city of Iași.

Lăpușneanu Street is a street that connects the northern neighbourhood of Copou to the centre of Iasi, the Union Square. Once known as the Street of Joy, the avenue was filled with merchants and craftsmen from all over Europe. Next, our tour guide will lead you to the Cuza Vodă Street, known in the past as the “Golia Alley”. This street connects the Union Square with Târgu Cucului, a former Jewish neighbourhood. After 1830, numerous buildings were constructed in the area that was used as shops, which turned this part of the town into a commercial centre.

Your next destination is the open-air “Pomul Verde” Jewish Theatre, a summer garden with a history of 141 years. On August 19, 1876, the poet and musician Avram Goldfaden laid the foundation of the first professional Yiddish-language theatre in the world, when he performed at a show together with his band.

In 1800, it was known “The Flour Market”, and it was located on the outskirts of the city. Merchants oftentimes came here to sell their products without having to pay customs duty, and over the years, it got the name “Târgul Cucului”, “cuc” meaning “cuckoo” in Romanian. The first Jewish families settled here around the year 1650, but a more significant population started settling after 1830. In this neighbourhood, you will find the oldest synagogue in Romania, The Grand Synagogue. It was erected in 1580, on the ruins of a Jewish praying site. In the past, on nearby the Stihii Street, there used to be 7 synagogues, along with dozens of other houses of prayer. The places of worship were organized on professional criteria, each synagogue taking the name of a guild. The same thing went for the “Merarilor” Synagogue, where apple merchants and gatherers came to pray.

Your Jewish heritage tour will end at the Jewish Community Center, initially named as the Jewish guild. From 2002, the center hosts a club which coordinates the Ritual restaurant, with kosher foods, that follow the kashrut norms. The restaurant also has a choir and a band that plays traditional music. The establishment is actively involved in the cultural life of the city; it organizes shows, conferences, commemorations, and film nights.