It is very important to continuously learn about the Holocaust so that such a tragedy would never happen again, because it is a lesson that must be passed on to future generations – it was said today at the academy organized by the Jewish Municipality in Sarajevo on the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The President of the Jewish Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jakob Finci, said that today all of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Balkans and Europe have reason to remember one of the most tragic events of the 20th century – the suffering of almost a third of the Jewish people, close to six million people, in the Holocaust.
He reminded that Jews have lived in Sarajevo since 1565 and that in 1941, about 12,000 Jews lived in the city, of which 9,500 were killed.
“That number speaks volumes about the cruelty of the Holocaust and the fact that no one was spared,” said Finci.
He pointed out that Jews in Bosnia and Herzegovina lived in good relations with all other communities for almost five centuries, and that even in the most difficult times they had people who were ready to help.
“Among the Righteous Among the Nations, non-Jews who saved Jews during the war, there are more than 50 people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we are still researching to find more names,” he said.
He particularly highlighted the courage of Derviš Korkut, who saved the Sarajevo Haggadah in 1941.
“Thanks to him, the Haggadah is still in Sarajevo today and will remain here forever, because it was named after Sarajevo,” Finci emphasized.
He said that it is important to continuously learn about the Holocaust so that such a tragedy never happens again.
“Therefore, learning about the Holocaust is a lesson that must be passed on. Together with the Ministry of Education and Culture, we are working to introduce Holocaust content into schools, as proclaimed by the United Nations,” he said.
Finci expressed hope that such tragedies belong to the past and that future generations will mark January 27 exclusively as a day of remembrance for the liberation of the Auschwitz camp in 1945 and as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The President of the Jewish Community, Rahela Džidić, said that this day is an opportunity to pay tribute to the victims, but also to renew commitments to truth, dignity and responsibility.
She pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina, and especially Sarajevo, have historically been a place where people, religions, cultures and traditions meet.
“Here, people met in tolerance, not in conflict. During the 460 years since the Jewish Community has existed in Sarajevo, together with all other religions and cultures, we have built cities, developed crafts, trade, industry, education, culture, sports and humanitarian work,” said Džidić.
She emphasized that the Holocaust erased the centuries-old presence of Jews in this area, but that examples of humanity and solidarity remain a permanent guide.
“Bright examples of saving Jews, saving the Sarajevo Haggadah by Derviš Korkut and many other actions of the citizens of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina show how kindness can survive the darkest times,” she emphasized.
She added that the long shadow of the Holocaust left its mark on the Jewish community.
“Unfortunately, our small community has become almost invisible because of all this. But we still exist, cherish our values and work to preserve our memory,” said Džidić.
The hazan of the Jewish community in Sarajevo, Igor Kožemjakin, said that the Jews never recovered from that tragedy and that it is therefore very important to nurture the culture of memory.
“We want to pay respect to the victims, because there is not a single family in Sarajevo that did not lose someone in the Holocaust,” he said.
As part of the commemoration, today a wreath was laid on the monument to the victims of fascist terror at the Old Jewish Cemetery, and tonight the film “The Wild One – Neuktivivi: The Story of Jack Garfein” by Tessa Louise-Salomé will be shown at the Meeting point cinema.
