The Sighet Generations
Annual Gathering
Elisha Wiesel, Peninah Zilberman and Alina Marincean at the 2019 Annual Gathering.
It all started when…
The first gathering for all Jewish descendants of Sighet took place in May 2014, marking the 70th Anniversary to the Jewish deportations from Sighet.
Well over 100 participants came from Israel and North America. We were honoured by ten Holocaust survivors who shared their stories and experiences with us, about growing up in pre- and post- WW II Sighet or the broader region of Maramures. It was a very emotional and important event for for all the second and third generation descendants who took part.
A number of people discovered their relatives during their visit. A Memorial service took place at the train station, from which the Jews of Maramures were sent to Auschwitz. Another service was held at the Sighet Monument, commemorating all those Jews who didn’t return from the camps.
In the City hall, Sighet’s mayor Ovidiu Nemes, opened the event, where a special collage of pictures with many of past faces of Jews from Sighetu Marmatiei faces were on display.
At the May 2017 and May 2019 gatherings most of the participants were second, third and fourth generation descendants. It was a different kind of gathering, with an emphasis on understanding more aspects of Sighet’s pre-war period, before the deportations as well as visiting villages and towns’ around Sighet where family members used to live.
The May 2019 Gathering, marked the 75th Anniversary to the deportations, and we were honoured with the presence of Elisha Wiesel, his son Elijah, Rabbi Boteach and his son. It was a very special visit for Elisha Wiesel, as many years have passed since he last visited Sighet with his father (Z”L) Elie Wiesel. We spent Sabbath praying in the Sighet synagogue and visiting Elie Wiesel’s natal home.
The following year, in May 2015, we attracted over 200 participants from all over the world. Our program included small tours around Sighet, walking tours visiting all Jewish Heritage sites in Sighet, a Friday and Saturday religious service, traditional Sabbath dinner, and most importantly: listening to the participants’ numerous stories.
Tarbut’s objective for organising these annual gatherings is to commemorate Sighet’s Jewish past, trying to provide each participant with a unique and valuable experience.
These are some of the things participants told us about their experience at the annual gathering:
It closes a cycle in my life. I now have a better understanding where my family came from.
The stories my parents told me suddenly became so much more real; I saw the place and the name of street….
I just wanted to come and see for myself, now that my parents are gone.
I am sad my parents are no longer here with me, but I brought my children along.