Alexandru Safran
Encyclopedia
Alexandru Şafran was a Romania
n and, after 1948, Swiss
rabbi
. As chief rabbi of Romania (1939–1948), he intervened with authorities in the fascist
government of Ion Antonescu
in an unusually successful attempt to save Jews
during the Holocaust.
, and received his doctorate
in philosophy
from Vienna University (1933). He briefly succeeded his father as rabbi in Bacău, before becoming the chief rabbi
of Romania in 1940, then the youngest chief rabbi in the world. In September 1940 Romania allied to Nazi Germany
and, under Nazi influence, had begun to introduce anti-Jewish laws. In 1941, Şafran and Romania's Union of the Jewish Communities, through intervention with Nicodim Munteanu
, the patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
, convinced Antonescu to revoke an order forcing Jews to wear the yellow badge
.
Shortly thereafter, the government dissolved all Jewish organizations, so Şafran and other Jewish leaders formed an underground Jewish Council. In 1942, Şafran used his contacts with ambassadors (notably the Swiss René de Weck), the queen mother Elena
, and church officials, including the papal nuncio Andrea Cassulo
, to convince Antonescu to resist German demands for the wholesale deportation of Jews.
As World War II
continued, the Jewish Council organized efforts to aid and lobby of the return of Jews deported to Transnistria
. About 57 percent of Greater Romania
's pre-war Jewish population of about 800,000 survived the war.
In 1945 he worked with composer George Enescu
to raise relief funds for Romanian famine, including a United States
tour. However, Şafran refused to cooperate with Communist authorities
after the war, and, in 1947, was forced into exile in Geneva
, Switzerland. In 1948, he became chief rabbi of Geneva, where he remained until his death. There he worked with United Nations
, Red Cross, and other organization to improve human rights
.
He wrote several books including a memoir, Un Tăciune smuls Flăcărilor: Comunitatea Evreiască din România, 1939-47, published in Romanian
in 1995. His best known writing is on the Kabalah.
He was elected an honorary member of the Romanian Academy
in 1997, as well as being named senator for life
. He is buried in Israel
beside his wife, Sarah. They had a son and a daughter.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n and, after 1948, Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
. As chief rabbi of Romania (1939–1948), he intervened with authorities in the fascist
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
government of Ion Antonescu
Ion Antonescu
Ion Victor Antonescu was a Romanian soldier, authoritarian politician and convicted war criminal. The Prime Minister and Conducător during most of World War II, he presided over two successive wartime dictatorships...
in an unusually successful attempt to save Jews
History of the Jews in Romania
The history of Jews in Romania concerns the Jews of Romania and of Romanian origins, from their first mention on what is nowadays Romanian territory....
during the Holocaust.
Biography
Şafran was born in BacăuBacau
Bacău is the main city in Bacău County, Romania. It covers a land surface of 43 km², and, as of January 1, 2009, has an estimated population of 177,087. The city is situated in the historical region of Moldavia, at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, and on the Bistriţa River...
, and received his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from Vienna University (1933). He briefly succeeded his father as rabbi in Bacău, before becoming the chief rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of Romania in 1940, then the youngest chief rabbi in the world. In September 1940 Romania allied to Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
and, under Nazi influence, had begun to introduce anti-Jewish laws. In 1941, Şafran and Romania's Union of the Jewish Communities, through intervention with Nicodim Munteanu
Nicodim Munteanu
Nicodim Munteanu also known as Patriarch Nicodim was the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church between 1939 and 1948.-Biography:...
, the patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Romanian Orthodox Church
The Romanian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church. It is in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox churches, and is ranked seventh in order of precedence. The Primate of the church has the title of Patriarch...
, convinced Antonescu to revoke an order forcing Jews to wear the yellow badge
Yellow badge
The yellow badge , also referred to as a Jewish badge, was a cloth patch that Jews were ordered to sew on their outer garments in order to mark them as Jews in public. It is intended to be a badge of shame associated with antisemitism...
.
Shortly thereafter, the government dissolved all Jewish organizations, so Şafran and other Jewish leaders formed an underground Jewish Council. In 1942, Şafran used his contacts with ambassadors (notably the Swiss René de Weck), the queen mother Elena
Elena of Greece and Denmark
Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark was the wife of King Carol II of Romania and the mother of King Michael I of Romania...
, and church officials, including the papal nuncio Andrea Cassulo
Andrea Cassulo
Andrea Cassulo was an archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church and a representative of the Holy See in Egypt, Canada, Romania and Turkey from 1921 to 1952.-Early life and ordination:...
, to convince Antonescu to resist German demands for the wholesale deportation of Jews.
As World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
continued, the Jewish Council organized efforts to aid and lobby of the return of Jews deported to Transnistria
Transnistria (World War II)
Transnistria Governorate was a Romanian administered territory, conquered by the Axis Powers from the Soviet Union during Operation Barbarossa, and occupied from 19 August 1941 to 29 January 1944...
. About 57 percent of Greater Romania
Greater Romania
The Greater Romania generally refers to the territory of Romania in the years between the First World War and the Second World War, the largest geographical extent of Romania up to that time and its largest peacetime extent ever ; more precisely, it refers to the territory of the Kingdom of...
's pre-war Jewish population of about 800,000 survived the war.
In 1945 he worked with composer George Enescu
George Enescu
George Enescu was a Romanian composer, violinist, pianist, conductor and teacher.-Biography:Enescu was born in the village of Liveni , Dorohoi County at the time, today Botoşani County. He showed musical talent from early in his childhood. A child prodigy, Enescu created his first musical...
to raise relief funds for Romanian famine, including a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tour. However, Şafran refused to cooperate with Communist authorities
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
after the war, and, in 1947, was forced into exile in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland. In 1948, he became chief rabbi of Geneva, where he remained until his death. There he worked with United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, Red Cross, and other organization to improve human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
.
He wrote several books including a memoir, Un Tăciune smuls Flăcărilor: Comunitatea Evreiască din România, 1939-47, published in Romanian
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
in 1995. His best known writing is on the Kabalah.
He was elected an honorary member of the Romanian Academy
Romanian Academy
The Romanian Academy is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 acting members who are elected for life....
in 1997, as well as being named senator for life
Senate of Romania
The Senate of Romania is the upper house in the bicameral Parliament of Romania. It has 137 seats , to which members are elected by direct popular vote, using Mixed member proportional representation in 42 electoral districts , to serve four-year terms.-Former location:After the Romanian...
. He is buried in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
beside his wife, Sarah. They had a son and a daughter.
External links
- "The Virtual Jewish History Tour — Romania" by The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise, 2006.
- "Former Romanian Chief Rabbi Dies at 95" by Frank Jordans, Associated Press, 28 July 2006.
- "Alexandru Safran," Obituaries, The Times, London, August 9, 2006.
- "Dr. Alexandre Safran", B’nai B’rith Europe News, 18 August 2006.
- "Apostolic Nuncio in Bucharest" cooperation in 1944.