New Perspectives on the Holocaust

The Case of Transnistria

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place every year on 27 January. Last week, the Romanian Cultural Institute in London organised a profoundly moving and thought-provoking event to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Together with the Romanian Embassy in the UK and the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in the UK, we set out to honour the memory of those who suffered during one of history’s darkest chapters.

The evening featured the screening of “Portrait of a Holocaust Survivor: Adolfina Regenbogen” (2020), a moving documentary directed by Teodora Drăgoi and Adrian Cioflâncă, presented in London by courtesy of the Romanian public broadcaster TVR. This was followed by an insightful conversation about the deportations of Jewish and Roma people to Transnistria, led by esteemed professors Marius Turda (Director, Centre for Medical Humanities, Oxford Brookes University) and Igor Casu (Director, National Archives Agency, Republic of Moldova). The discussion was expertly chaired by Professor Dan Stone (Director, Holocaust Research Institute, Royal Holloway, University of London).

The event began with a warm welcome from Aura Woodward, RCI London Director, and opening remarks by H.E. Laura Popescu, Ambassador of Romania to the UK, and H.E. Ruslan Bolbocean, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the UK.

We were humbled to welcome such a large and engaged audience, including Holocaust survivors and family members of those who endured unspeakable tragedies. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to our remarkable guest speakers, valued partners, and everyone who joined us to bring light to the shadows of history. Let us never forget!