Israeli President Herzog Marks 85 Years Since Iași Pogrom with Memorial Visit in Romania

Israeli President Isaac Herzog began his official state visit to Romania by touring the Holocaust Museum in Iași, commemorating 85 years since the horrific Iași pogrom. This massacre was one of the most brutal mass killings of Jews in Europe during World War II. During his visit, Herzog viewed unique exhibits and historical artifacts that honor the once-thriving Jewish community in Iași, alongside chilling documentation of the massacre, including shooting pits, mass graves, and the "death trains" where thousands of Jews were suffocated by the fascist Romanian regime.

At the museum, Herzog unveiled a special memorial plaque symbolizing the joint commitment of Israel and Romania to preserving Jewish heritage, educating future generations about the Holocaust, and intensifying the fight against rising global antisemitism. In a speech at the square where the pogrom began, Herzog warned the international community about the dangers of hatred and linked the lessons of the past to the importance of a strong Jewish sovereignty today.

He stated, "We stand in the square where the shocking Iași pogrom began 85 years ago, where thousands of Jews were slaughtered, tortured, and murdered in pits, mass graves, and death trains. This museum documents the pain, suffering, courage, heroism, and the scale of the horror. I invite the entire world to come and see this place." Herzog emphasized the need to educate young generations about how such cruelty is born and the consequences if it is not confronted in time.

He also reaffirmed that Israel is the only homeland and safe haven for Jews worldwide, underscoring the ongoing necessity to remember and commemorate the Holocaust. After concluding his poignant visit in Iași, Herzog flew to Bucharest to continue his official meetings as part of the state visit to Romania.