The aim of the project “Bridges of Tolerance”, launched in 2013, is to disseminate information about the contribution of the Jewish minority group to the local culture, to fight the growing antisemitism in Europe through education, to encourage a public debate about the efficiency of the existing tools and modes of implementation of Hate Crime through the existing legislation and to bring about an inter-faith dialogue between Jews and Christians on the basic values of our Judeo-Christian civilization.

The opening ceremony and the first conference took place on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at the Cotroceni National Museum in Cerchez Hall. The event was attended by Sergiu Nistor, presidential counselor, Department of Culture, Cults and Centenary, Dr. Aurel Vainer, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Romania – Mosaic Cult, José Iacobescu, President of B’nai B’rith Romania, Serge Dahan, President of  B’nai B’rith Europe, academician Ioan Aurel Pop, President of the Romanian Academy, Professor Ion Bogdan Lefter, University of Bucharest, and other prestigious guests.

The first day program continued at the Cerchez Hall at the Cotroceni National Museum with a communications session moderated by Dr. Aurel Vainer, FJCR President, in which Nicolae Brînzea, Director of the “Eudoxiu Hurmuzachi” Institute, academician Ioan Aurel Pop, President of the Romanian Academy, Professor Victor Neumann, Professor Carol Iancu held presentations.

In the evening, the Symphonic Orchestra of the Physicians held an extraordinary concert at the Romanian Athenaeum.

The second day of the 2018 edition of the “Tolerance Bridges” took place at the National Bank of Romania headquarters, where the NBR governor, academician Mugur Isărescu, addressed the participants a welcome word. Two communication sessions were held later, moderated by Dr. Aurel Vainer and Professor Carol Iancu. The speakers were Lacziko Enikő Katalin, DRI State Secretary, Liliana Ţuroiu, Romanian Cultural Institute president, associate professor Irene Nathalie Iris Lackner, Ruth Lavi (BB Israel), Bedros Horasangian, writer, Professor Zoltan Rostas, Răzvan Voncu PhD, Mihai Bencze, winner of the European Citizen award in 2017. In the evening of the same day at the Odeon Theater, minorities’ show entitled The folklore as a means of knowledge and respect took place.

The partners of the event were the Romanian Cultural Institute, the National Bank of Romania, the “Eudoxiu Hurmuzachi” Institute and Leumi Bank.

“This project is a wake-up call to the government, a citizens awareness program about cultural diversity, and an educational  platform  for educators and students on Holocaust Remembrance and the dangers of racist ideologies” said Serge Dahan President of B’nai B’rith Europe. “I wish to see this project develop in other countries with the support of B’nai B’rith Europe”.