David Gafni's Project

A proposal for the design and the construction of Museum of Romanian Jews
- a demonstrational video recording -

Here I am sending you the script display that is designed for translating and preparing the video presentation. The script includes all the components of the presentation: photos, titles, explanations, etc. Below there is the detailed scenario;


Reading: bold letter - general title, Italics - presentation, normal letter - explanation

1. A proposal for the design and the construction of the project: "Museum of Romanian Jews"
Design and execution by David Gafni Art and Design Ltd.
2. Musical background - relevant Romanian pieces.
3. Part 1: The ancient community:
Romanian Jews from the first century A.D. until the establishment of Israel.
4. Chronological demonstration in the multimedia includes:
A. 60 visitors (buses and singles)
B. The audience is sitting in a spinning and moving amphitheater stage
C. A huge 360 degrees view comprised of films on 6 screens
D. A planetary cupola on which 4 films are screened.
E. Behind the screens - half transparent - the audience sees a 3 dimensional dioramic model.
F. On the dioramic model exhibits show up from a "storage" covert exhibition. The presented objects are mobile from all sides.
G. The experience of the illusion of the environmental reality changes 360 degrees all year long, day and night
H. The scenery of the hall changes according to the periods and to the events.

5. The era of the second Temple:
6. Presentation: The Temple and the Temple Mount are seen in their whole magnificence.
7. The destruction of the Second Temple: in 70A.D. The Roman governors Titus and Trajan enter Jerusalem. They ruin and burn the Temple Mount and the Temple itself, and they take Jewish prisoners to Rome along with the Menora and other objects from Temple.
8. Presentation:
A. A picture of Roman soldiers fighting Jews in front of the wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. An image of war: stones are being thrown with catapults and arrows are being shot; the sound of screams and noise of battle can be heard, while the stage vibrates.
B. Destruction and burning of the Second Temple; the illusion that the audience is at the place of the event.
C. A relief picture of the Titus Gate - animated characters cross the gate.
9. Kingdom of Dacia: In the 3rd - 4th centuries B.C., the kingdom of Dacia was established, which extended on the area between the Tisa, Danister and the Danube.
10. Presentation:
A. On the ceiling the audience sees a huge parchment map. The lens gets closer to the area of Dacia.
B. A big map of Europe is also screened on the ceiling.
11. A Roman Province: The year of 106 A.D. the Roman Emperor Trajan invaded the North of Danube with his army. With the Roman soldiers, Jewish prisoners-of-war, and mercenaries arrived and settled at the conquered place. The Bar- Kochba rebellion against the Romans burst out at that time, and as an outcome of it, Jerusalem became independent for several years. Romans suppressed the rebellion, and a new wave of Jewish war-prisoners were sent to the Roman Diaspora.
12. Presentation: A. Emperor Trajan was the head of the Roman troops on the shore of the Danube, and they entered Dacia. In the background, there is a huge panorama of 360 degrees of particular Romanian views. Noise of steps, horses and carts.
B. A coin of "The Captive Judea", the Trajan triumph bas-relief on Romanian landscapes background which grow in a three-dimensional imaging.
13. The era of anarchy:
Until the 7th century A.D. anarchic period took place in this area: wars, plenty of tribe invasions such as: Barbars, Goths, Huns, Slaves, Hungarians, Germans, Saxons, etc. Jews survived this period. Since the Roman reign, Jews lived in Romania constantly throughout 1900 up to today.
14. Presentation:
The audience sees constant movement of tribes of different kinds on the screens - and behind the screens - fighting and disappearing; sounds of battle around.
15. Presentation: A map of Barbaria with a typical barbarian figure.
16. The Chazar Kingdom: In the 7th century the Chazar Kingdom comes to be dominant in the area. It extends its boarders beyond Transylvania and Valachia. Jews, who were oppressed by the Byzantine Empire, found shelter here. On the screens animated movement of Jews is shown.
17. The period of Princedoms: During the period of the Princedoms of Valachia and Moldavia, Jews were given more rights for settling in the area. Part of Hungarian Jews and Jews who were expelled from Spain found here refuge.
18. Presentation: A Romanian prince in armor; a parchment document, and a crown.
19. Presentation: A Jew from Spain on the dioramic background of Romania, which includes synagogues, and photos of Judaica.
20. The Ottoman era: In 1391 Turks conquer Romania. Jews were allowed to take part in different professions.
21. Presentation: A Turkish figure on the background of the diorama of Romania in the Ottoman period. The public sees and listens to carts moving, and to Jewish characters in move. Under the line of the screens, three-dimensional models open up showing Jews busy with their works. The exhibitions move on a covert turning stage and every time turn on different scenery relevant to the era or the demonstrated scene.
22. The 16th century era: In this period Jews came from Poland to Moldavia. They founded product storages for export through Romania's ports. Jews were permitted to build flourmills, synagogues, working shops, and they were also allowed to deal with wheat, leather and beef.
23. Presentation: A multi-screened panorama picture of an engraving from the 16th century that presents a typical Romanian port. In the background there are flourmills on the dioramic model. On the screen there are mobile animated sailing ships.
24. The Hacham Bashi: Rabbi "Bashi the Wise" stood at the head of Jewish communities in Romania. Jews received the status of "members of a guild". Jews who survived the Hamilnicky pogroms in Poland, came to Romania.
25. Presentation: The character of Hacham Bashi, synagogues and temples.
26. The Russian era: During the 17th-18th centuries, 6 wars took place between the Turks and the Russians. In this period the hostility toward Jews increased. Jews were banned to buy land, prejudice was present and bloody riots took place.
27. Presentation: A simulation of war is seen from all sides of the hall by pictures, sound of fuss, tumult, clink of ruined buildings, horse carriage, the wheels of carts and the screams of the injured people.
28. The Era of the Spring of the Nations: In the year 1848 a liberal revolution broke out in Valachia. Jews participated in the revolution. The revolution crushed and the Jews found themselves in a bad situation. During the Crimean War, the Austrians conquered, wan and returned to the Turks the reign of Romania. Jews were allowed to deal with growing grapes and trading wine. Alexandru Ioan Cuza was elected to be the ruler of Romania. Under his ruling the area was first called "Romania."
29. Presentation: Panorama of vine on Romanian landscape background, loaded carts that transport casks of wine. On the bottom of the screen, vine-cellars and other vine stores. In addition, there is appropriate music in the background and the picture of the ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza.
30. The era of Carol I: In 1866, ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza was substituted by King Carol I from his throne. The area of the Romanian kingdom was called "Regat". The situation of the Jews worsened; suffocating economic conditions; universities closed their gates to the Jews. Part of the Jews were assimilated, part of them emigrated to Israel by ships.
31. Presentation: A. The map of "Regat"
B. Panorama of Romanian landscape, and ships in sailing
C. In the front of the stage the scenery of a prow and an anchor of a ship from the 18th century rise up. Behind the seats of the public a flagpole shows up and sails are hoisted. The audience has an experience as if they were sitting in a moving boat that floats on the sea.
32.The Focsani Congress: In 31, December, 1881, a congress took place on the subject of the emigration and the settling in Israel; Samuel Finels headed the congress. This was the first Zionist conference, which preceded the congress of Katowich by two years, and the Zionist Congress in Basel by sixteen years.
33. Presentation: A. The picture of the congress; in the background - the panorama of Focsani.
B. A painting of the Zionist dreams of Lilian and Raban.
C. Suitable music silently in the background
34. Aliya to Israel: In 1882 more Jews emigrated to Israel and founded the cities of Rosh Pinah and Zichron Yakov. The vine cellar in Zichron Yakov was built according to the knowledge that was learnt from the Romanian new immigrants (olim). In 1883 "Hibbath Zion" movement bought more land in Israel.
35. Presentation: A huge diorama of the first Aliya, sounds of work, carts, horses, ploughs. In the background there are screens on which famous signatures and prominent characters appear; in the panorama pictures of Rosh Pina and Zichron Yakov are shown.
36. Hassids, society and education: All branches of Judaism were represented in Romania. In the towns and cities Jews sought education in Torah study centers, Synagogues and at Universities. The Jewish community founded a theatre in Yiddish, students read the erudite literature and researchers made and published studies. Journalists wrote articles, which were published in different journals.
37. Presentation: A. A huge diorama of a Jewish little town in its whole extent and fullness of its institutions: sounds of prayers and talmudic arguments; images of Synagogues, Yeshivas and Heders for children; signboard of different crafts, and welfare institutions. Smoke comes out of the chimneys, carts are crossing the roads, moving figures are seen. Photos and drawings of a small town; appropriate music.
B. The former panorama changes to a view of a typically Romanian city with its public buildings, moving cars, carriages and passing figures; background music.
38. The First World War: Jews participated in the war as members of the Romanian army. Jewish emigration waves from Romania as an outcome of despair, economic limitations and banning. After signing the peace contract there was an unsuccessful endeavor of founding a Jewish party. The anti-Semitic "Iron Guard" brought violence, terror and discrimination toward the Jews. Some governments agree on permitting Zionist activity.
39. Presentation: A. Picture of Jewish soldiers in the panoramic background of the First World War.
B. A picture of election advertisement in Yiddish.
C. Judaica, interior of a Yeshiva, a Synagogue and a Temple.
40. The Nazis ascension and the Second World War: The endeavors of the Nazis to compel Romania and fulfill the "treatment of the Jews" failed. After the invasion to Russia, pogroms begun against the Jews. Jews were deported on foot and by trains to work camps or concentration camps.
41. Setting: A. "The Crystal Night" - the hall is imaging a synagogue that was smashed into pieces and burnt.
B. Pictures of abuse, deportation, starvation, and ghetto.
C. Pictures of allied troops debarking in Normandy and other pictures of the Second World War.
D. Pictures of concentration camps. The feeling that the public is "present" in the barracks of the camps.
42. Salvation of Jews: The paratroopers of the "defense" assist to the Jewish underground movement and to the youth-movements in guidance for refugees escapes and the emigration. 31 emigrant ships left the shores of Romania to Israel. Most of the European emigrants left the Romanian ports.
43. Presentation: A short film: Paratroopers "drop" from the ceiling.
B. Beak of emigrant ship appears in the front of the stage and behind the seats grows a flagpole; smokestacks and flags.
C. On the panoramic screens the public sees a stormy sea; the picture approaches to the Haifa shores. In opposite direction, a British war ship is shown shooting above the ship of the immigrants; there are shells and shootings. There is an exhibition of pyrotechnics on the stage - explosions, smoke and fire. The public riots; shouts in English from the loudspeaker, and cries of babies are heard.
D. Pictures of English soldiers pushing immigrants to the war ship by force, ships of immigrants that have managed to arrive to the seashore, Jews swimming to the beach and kissing the land of Israel.
44. November 29 and Proclamation of Independence:
45. Presentation: A. The audience sees an interior of a typical Romanian Jewish home in a small town. The family listens with attention to an old wood-made radio from where sounds of the U.N. elections are heard. The background sound of the elections turns to a tick of a horologe.
B. Pictures of dancing in the cities of Israel. Tick of the clock turns to rhythmical beat of the heart.
C. Sounds of the U.N. elections, in the background the council and members of the electors are heard. The election document.
D. David Ben Gurion reads from the Independence Scroll. In the background the melody of the "Hatikva" is played, composition of Naftali Hertz Imber, a Romanian Jew. Pictures of the Independence War are shown.
E. In the center of the stage a war is taking place at every side, even on the ceiling of the hall.
46. End of the first part, demonstration of the subject: A. The public leaves the hall of experiences, and passes to a museum exhibition of the first period that includes exhibits in glass-case such as journals, documents, books, objects, tools of everyday life and Judaica items.
B. Information stands for every subject, including sitting corners and scenery in the background.
C. The public exits through the reproduction of the "Titus Gate" and sees Jews, simulated by a computer, who come back "to Eretz Israel" through the other side of the gate; a very significant "closing of the circle".
47. Presentation: A. A "stewardess" calls the audience in the loudspeaker to enter the plane that leaves to Israel in five minutes.
B. The public goes up to the El-Al aircraft - a type from the very first years - with the help of an old mobile stair structure (Elevator for the disabled.)
C. On the plane there are 60 seats. Simulation of the view that could be seen through the side windows. Screening typical views of flight. The figure of the captain appears on the front of the central panoramic screen, that includes 3 screens, and tells about the Jews who still remained in Romania.
D. The stage moves during the simulated flight.
48. Second part - Romanian Jews from the birth of Israel up to the present The Romanian Jewish community headed by Rabbi Rozen, not only survived the "Iron period" but lived an extensive life with the different regimes in a good relation, and also with the Romanian Jews in Israel. Prominent characters from many fields, who have contributed to the prosperity of Israel, are shown. A contribution of an ancient community who kept its identity, needs, and dignity during 1900 years.
49. Presentation: A. Panoramic film shown on three screens fitting together in the shape of the front window of a flight cabin.
B. The public "flies" over Israel, from the north to the south, "enters" to companies, firms and public institutions, and "sees" the activity of the Romanian Jews in Israel.
C. Landing.
50. Presentation: A. The audience leaves the "flight" and goes toward the exit of this hall that opens to a museum exhibition which includes computerized information points, original exhibits in the glass-case, journals and objects of commemoration.
B. Exit.
51. Architecture and construction: The architectural concept, in the case that the edifice will be built: its shape will express symbolically the nature of the building.
52. Costs assessment and schedule- I suggest translating the blanks of the plans I have handed in.

Respectfully yours,
David Gafni, Art and Design