About this talk

When people hear the word "Transylvania," most think of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Yet the region is not only known for its dramatic landscapes and natural beauty, but also for its rich historical heritage beyond the legacy of Vlad the Impaler.

Located in today's Romania, Transylvania has a long and complex history, including a significant Jewish presence documented from the medieval period onward. Jewish communities left a profound mark on the region's social and cultural fabric.

This talk will offer an in-depth introduction to the history of Transylvania and its Jewish communities, shedding light not only on their struggles but also on their distinctive traditions. It will also provide an overview of the current state of Jewish life in the region. In addition, the talk will discuss the Szekler Sabbatarians (szombatosok) of Transylvania and examine Jewish communities in places such as Bezidu Nou (Bözödújfalu), Alba Iulia (Gyulafehérvár), Satu Mare (Szatmárnémeti), Cluj-Napoca, and Oradea, as well as important communities in the neighboring Banat region, including Timișoara (Temesvár) and Arad.

About Mercédesz

Mercédesz (Merci) Czimbalmos, PhD, was born in Hungary and has ancestral ties to Transylvania.

She is a researcher in Jewish studies and the study of religions. While her current research focuses primarily on Finnish Jewry and contemporary antisemitism in the Nordic countries, she has long studied Transylvania—particularly the Sabbatarian community, its history, and the final years of its existence. She has conducted extensive ethnographic fieldwork in the region, collecting data and documenting community memories.