The town of Medias lies in the centre of southern Transylvania, just west of the medieval fortress of Sighisoara. Itself one of the seven original fortress cities after which the Saxon-settlers came to call Transylvania – Siebenbürgen, Seven Fortresses – the small town of 50,000 has a rich cultural and architectural heritage.
Jewish communities formed gradually in the Saxon regions. There are records of their presence from the 15th century onwards, though not in large numbers. In the mid-17th century an interdiction was announced forbidding Jews to settle anywhere other than Alba Iulia. This official law became increasingly difficult to enforce over time. By the late 18th century, individual Jewish merchants or traders received residency rights in larger towns, together with their families. As a community grew however, it was subject to sudden and groundless expulsion at the whim of the local government.
Unfortunately the census taken in 1785 by the Hungarian rulers was not implemented in the Saxon districts and thus not until the 1838 census is demographic information available for Saxon towns.
In 1838 Jewish populations of 10 or more were recorded in Aiud, Alba Iulia, Cluj, Dumbraveni, Fagaras, Medias, Odorhei, Sighisoara and Targu Mures but nowhere else in the region. However, just twelve years later in 1850 there were Jewish communities in almost every town included in the regional census.
Built in 1896 and together with the surrounding property, the synagogue represented the crux of Jewish life in Medias. The Rabbi’s house, community offices, Jewish school and Mikvah, the ritual baths, were all located on this property, which borders the former medieval walls. The Jewish community survived the war but immigrated to Israel in droves during the 50s and 60s. No services have been held for about 20 years and the building has remained closed to the public. Plans include high-quality restoration and installation of learning centre, cultural events program and exchanges with other European research institutes and museums.