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[By: Stephanie Persin]
Serbia has a Jewish history that can be traced back to the 12th century. Today, the Jewish population in Serbia is approximately 1,400 people.
- Early History
- World War II & the Holocaust
- Breakup of Yugoslavia
- Present Day Community
Early History
From the period of the
12th century C.E. until the mid-18th century,
Jews in Serbia were generally treated well.
They were traders mainly involved in selling
salt. By the end of the Turkish rule
over Serbia, Jewish tradesmen were largely
responsible for the trade route between the
northern and southern ends of the lands ruled
by the Turks.
In 1804, the Serbs waged
a war against the Turks for their independence.
In response to the violent revolt, many Jews
moved to Zemun and created their own community
there. In support of the wars of independence,
Jews supplied the Serbs with weapons, and
in return, Jews faced brutal attacks by the
Turks.
The wars of independence lasted until
1830 when the Serbs gained the right to self-rule.
The new Serbian government
was not as friendly in their relations with
Jewish citizens. In fact, by 1831, the Serbs
had already begun to prohibit Jews from certain
professions. Prince Milosh Obrenovich tried
to improve the Jewish situation, but he was
overtaken by the Karageorgevich family in
1842. The new dynasty sympathized with non-Jewish
merchants and, by 1845, the Serbian Jews
had been prevented from participating in
even the most basic of professions such as
tailoring.
In 1856, Jews were expelled
from provincial towns. Prince Milosh Obrenovich
reclaimed his role as ruler and again Jews
were hopeful of their situation. By 1860,
however, Milosh's son was ruling and he followed
the ways of the Karageorgevich rulers. Non-Jewish
merchants were again favored and Jewish Serbs
were prohibited from the mercantile industry.
The inconsistency of the
laws regarding Jews continued through the
end of the 19th century. In 1861, for example,
a decree that called for the expulsion of
sixty Jewish families was retracted after
one month. In its place, a law was written
to allow Jews freedom to practice professions
within their own communities. At the same
time that the government declared an emancipation
of all Serbian citizens, it also reverted
back to past discriminatory laws against
Jews. The Serbian parliament did not lift
its restrictions on Jewish citizens until
1889. Because of blatant Serbian anti-Semitism,
the Jewish population in the area decreased
each year. In 1912, 5,000 Jews remained in
Serbia. Jews in the region began to give
their support to the Zionist cause. Sephardic communities,
in particular, were influenced by Zionist
ideals.
The Holocaust & World War II
By 1941, the Jewish population
in Serbia was approximately 12,000. While
there was a long tradition of anti-Semitism
throughout the republic, the Nazi regime brought
with them an official decree against Jews. German
troops occupied the city of Belgrade and began
to destroy Jewish homes, stores, and synagogues.
Jews were quickly forced to register themselves
with the government and registered Jews were
required to wear yellow
identifying stars. An organization of non-Jewish
Serbs was created to help control the "Jewish
Problem".
While it was at first sufficient
to subject Serbian Jews to forced labor,
by the end of the summer in 1941, the Nazis
had sent 2,500 to a concentration camp outside Belgrade. 8,000 Jewish men who lived in and
around Serbia were brought to this same concentration
camp. It became clear that none of the Jews
would be leaving the camp. Forty-five hundred
of the prisoners were killed by gunfire between
August and October of 1941.
The former Yugoslavia was
liberated in 1944. Throughout the entire
region, only 14,000 Jews returned. The community, however
wasted no time in trying to rebuild and the Federation of Jewish
Communities was quickly opened. Many of the
Jewish communities throughout Yugoslavia
were reclaimed.
The Breakup of Yugoslavia
In 1989, following the rise of Slobodon Milosevic to power, Yugoslavia's republics
began to violently break apart from each other. While the entire
region became embroiled in war, the
Jewish communities in particular were thrown into the
middle of the situation. Anti-Semitism was
not blatant during the 1990s, but rather
it was used as a way to win Jewish favor.
All sides, particularly the Croatians and the Serbs, would accuse
each other of anti-Semitism, hoping to bring
Jews to their own side.
By 1992, the breakup of Yugoslavia resulted in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Macedonia all declaring independence. Serbia and Montenegro remained together and formed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In 2003, the Republic was renamed Serbia and Montenegro and in May 2006, a public referendum in Montenegro determined that the small area would cease its union with Serbia and declare its own independence.
Present Day Community
Currently, there are around 1,000 Jews living Serbia, with the majority based in the capital of Belgrade.
While many Jews left
Serbia and Montenegro during the many years of conflict, their monuments and
synagogues remain. One synagogue particularly
well-known both for its beauty and for its
present state of devastation is the Subotica
Synagogue, located in the city of Subotica.
The synagogue was built in 1902, and while
its beauty remains, it is in need of major
renovations. The synagogue is one of the
last architectural structures built in the
Secessionist style of the early 1900s. The
World Monuments Fund listed the Subotica
Synagogue as one of the 100 most endangered
memorial sites. Both the World Monuments
Fund and the Jews of Serbia and Montenegro
are attempting to restore the Subotica Synagogue
and are asking for donations from the international
community.
The only remaining functioning synagogue in Serbia is the Belgrade Synagogue. The Serbian government recognizes Judaism as one of the seven "traditional" religious communities of Serbia.
Sources: American
Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
Centropa
Quarterly
ISJM
Jewish Heritage Report, Vol. II, nos 3-4
Jewish Telegraphic Agency report:
June 23, 2005
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