Serbia

The history of Jews in Serbia encompasses both Sephardic and Ashkenazi communities, each contributing to the cultural tapestry of the region. Jews are believed to have settled in Serbia as early as the Roman period, but significant numbers arrived following the expulsions from Spain in 1492, leading to a flourishing Sephardic community. Ashkenazi Jews began arriving in the late 18th and 19th centuries, establishing their own presence. The Jewish population experienced relative prosperity during the 19th century, particularly during the era of modern Serbian statehood. However, the devastation of the Holocaust significantly impacted the Jewish community, with a large portion of the population being tragically lost. Before World War II, the Jewish population in Serbia was approximately 22,000. Tragically, during the Holocaust, around 80% of the Jewish population in Serbia perished. Despite these challenges, the Jewish community in Serbia has shown resilience, working to preserve their cultural heritage and identity.

As for Centropa’s interviews: we have been lucky to work with Rachel Chanin in Serbia - an American who speaks excellent Serbian and who is married to Yitzhak Asiel, Serbia's chief rabbi. Aside from Rachel's extensive social welfare and cultural activities, she conducted interviews for us in Serbia and in North Macedonia. Over the years, we have also managed to pick up a handful of interviews in Croatia and Bosnia.

Centropa's archive has captured a significant number of Jewish stories from Serbia, comprising 24 interviews that provide invaluable insights into the lives and experiences of the Jewish community. Additionally, there are more than 450 photos in the Centropa archive from Serbia, which visually document the rich heritage and history of Jews in the region, preserving their memories for future generations.

„The Sephardim in Belgrade“ is a Centropa project in partnership with Carnegi Mellon University Jewish Studies  - Entertainment. It includes the podcast that delves into the rich history and cultural heritage of the Jewish community in Dorćol, Belgrade, Serbia, offering listeners personal stories and insights. Additionally, a walking tour is available that guides participants through the significant sites in Dorćol, allowing them to explore the vibrant history of the area and its Jewish past firsthand following the story about the Kalefs, the Jewish family in Belgrade.

Since 2012, Centropa has been organizing seminars and Summer Academies for teachers in Serbia. In 2022, the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Centropa, emphasizing the obligation to preserve the memory of the Jewish contribution to the European and world cultural heritage as well as the memory of the victims of the Holocaust through education and professional development of teachers.

Here’s a brilliant set of pages about what happened in Serbia during the Holocaust.