You can’t believe what you’ve read in the title, can you? And yet this is a true story about a different kind of Romanian patriotism. One that stems from the love for one’s fellow man, responsibility, and fondness for the Romanian Motherland of one of the great Men of our nation, one who chose modesty and anonymity. The memory of this philanthropist occupies an unfairly small place in our history and our spiritual and symbolic heritage.
During his lifetime, he was one of the richest men in Romania and one of the greatest industrialists, bankers, and landowners our nation has ever had. At the time when his will was drafted, in the early days of World War I, his fortune was immense. His real estate, stocks in large companies all over the world, and bank deposits were estimated to add up to one billion gold lei. Among these properties were the nine palaces with 1300 rooms in central Vienna, a set of monumental buildings located around the Votive Church.
NOTA BENE! This Jew is not to be mistaken for the Aromanian Emanuil Gojdu, the one who bestowed upon Romanians his properties in central Budapest, which the Romanian state relinquished in the most idiotic and despicable way.
During his 79 years of life, our Jew lived discretely and modestly, while his death – as Iorga put it – amazed the entire Greater Romania due to the monumental gift he bequeathed upon its citizens. He donated his entire fortune for the forging of brotherhood among Romanians and the elevation of national culture. Besides, in drafting his will, he did not forget about Bucharest’s poor, for whom he made precise provisions. He wanted – mind you! – that ‘every year on Christmas and Easter they should be granted material aid’ out of the fund he had created. Moreover, he encouraged the other rich Jews and Romanians in the country to follow his example and make donations out of their fortunes.
You must be wondering who this mysterious Jew is and what other great deeds he performed for Romanians and our Motherland. You can learn about his identity, his amazing accomplishments, and especially about what became of the massive fortune he donated to Romanians (whether anything good was done for the people) by reading his story in the book The Wanderful Stories of Romania. This is one of the eight true stories in the book, which will enchant you through its content, form, and high-quality print. The book is an exceptional photo album containing 178 vintage photographs and eight true stories from the untold and far too little-known side of Romanian history. Even though the title features the word ‘stories’, be assured that this work is a scientific one, written in accordance with the rigorous norms of the Romanian Academy and containing footnotes which highlight information we have gathered for two years from primary sources such as archives, memoirs, the press of the time, and old magazines.
At the same time, the book was written for the Child in you, in an easily read language and a pleasant literary style.
The book can be ordered either by:
Telefon: +40722.365317
Mail: inovacescu(at)yahoo.com; ion(at)novacescu.ro
Facebook Profile: Ion Novacescu
Facebook Page: Poveștile Minunate ale României
