A Shameful Trade: The Sale of Romanian Jews
This is a story about a tractor, a suitcase full of cash, and the dark secret of how many Romanian Jews were allowed to emigrate to Israel.
In 1958, a Romanian-made Permal tractor was part of a deal that facilitated the emigration of Jews from Romania. This tractor, now in an Israeli kibbutz, was a symbol of a larger, more sinister exchange.
The Romanian government, desperate for hard currency, engaged in a systematic trade of its Jewish citizens. In return for allowing Jews to leave, Israel provided various goods and services. These transactions were often conducted in cash, with the Romanian government receiving millions of dollars for each wave of emigrants.
One of the most infamous figures in this trade was Nicolae Ceausescu, the Romanian dictator. He personally profited from the sale of Jews, setting different prices based on the individual's occupation and education. The money was often hidden in Swiss bank accounts.
The story of the tractor and the suitcase of cash highlights the shameful chapter in Romanian history where human beings were treated as commodities. Despite the suffering of the Jewish people, the Romanian government prioritized economic gain over human rights.