Antisemitism is not an opinion

Kada se previđa aktuelna ekspanzija antisemitizma otvara se put ka njegovoj normalizaciji a ljudski rod rizikuje da ponovi istorijsku grešku tridesetih godina dvadesetog veka umanjivanja pretnje koju on nosi. Jer antisemitizam nije „mišljenje“, već ozbiljna povreda prava i uloga i međunarodnog i unutrašnjeg prava je da tu povredu kao takvu jasno definiše. Istoričar Robert Solomon Vistrih (Robert Solomon Wistrich) svojevremeno je zaključio da je antisemitizam „najduža istorijska mržnja“ kojom je bila zaražena gotovo svaka kultura, od antičkih vremena do danas. „On je doveo do Holokausta – jedinstvenog i najtežeg zločina u istoriji čovečanstva – kome nema oproštaja, utehe ili nadoknade“, a kojem su prethodili milenijumi pogroma, proterivanja, šikaniranja i diskriminacije Jevreja širom sveta. Daleko od toga da je iskorenjen, antisemitizam je danas u porastu u Evropi. Iskazuje se u različitim oblicima i, u manjoj ili većoj meri, prisutan je u svim evropskim državama, pa i u Srbiji.The current expansion of anti-Semitism cannot be overlooked, as doing so paves the way for its normalisation. This poses a grave risk of the human race repeating the historical mistake of the 1930s when the threat was downplayed. Anti-Semitism is not merely an "opinion"; it constitutes a serious violation of both international and domestic law. It is essential to clearly define such violations. Historian Robert Solomon Wistrich concluded that anti-Semitism is the "longest historical hatred", affecting nearly every culture from ancient times to the present. This prejudice led to the Holocaust - the most heinous crime in human history - an atrocity for which there is no forgiveness, consolation, or reparation. Centuries of pogroms, expulsions, harassment, and discrimination against Jews worldwide precede this history. Anti-Semitism is currently on the rise in Europe, far from its eradication. It manifests in various forms and, to varying degrees, is present in all European countries, including Serbia.Tekst objavljen u dnevnom listu “Danas”, u rubrici “Lični stavovi”, 1. februara 2026. (the text was published in the "Danas" daily newspaper in the "Personal views" column on February 1, 2026). Link: [https://www.danas.rs/dijalog/licni-stavovi/antisemitizam-nije-misljenje/

מגילת השואה של קהילת קדש צ'אקובץ : ... תש"ד 1944

Događaji i osobe koje su navedene u ovoj knjizi prikupljeni su iz raznih istraženih izvora, intervjua i razgovora, spoznaja i sjećanja koja su autoru stajala na raspolaganju i koja su mu ustupili drugi. Posve je jasno da mnogi događaji i imena, među kojima i neki od osobite važnosti, nedostaju. Sveukupni utjecaj koji su Židovi imali na život u Međimurju, kao i njihov doprinos razvoju sredine u koju su bili u potpunosti integrirani, neizbrisiv je. Zahvaljujući zajedničkim nastojanjima Ogranka Matice hrvatske u Čakovcu i Židovske općine Čakovec, knjiga je sada pred nama - na korist cijeloj zajednici. Trajni pečat koji su Židovi ostavili u gospodarstvu (obrtu, trgovini, industriji, bankarstvu) te u društvenim, kulturnim, prosvjetnim i mnogim drugim djelatnostima (kao odvjetnici, liječnici, inženjeri, farmaceuti, profesori, novinari…) iznimno je važan. Knjiga obuhvaća cjelokupnu povijest židovske zajednice, od dolaska prvih Židova na naše područje, preko njezina nastanka, razvoja i vrhunca, pa sve do tragičnog kraja nekoć jake, značajne i utjecajne židovske općine. Uz povijest zajednice obuhvaćena su i brojna šira društvena zbivanja.The events and people mentioned in this book are drawn from various research sources, interviews and conversations and from knowledge and memories available to the author and shared with him by others. It is clear that many events and names, including some of particular importance, are missing. The overall impact Jews had on life in Međimurje, as well as their contribution to the development of the environment in which they were fully integrated, is indelible. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Matica Hrvatska Branch in Čakovec and the Jewish Municipality of Čakovec, the book is now before us for the benefit of the entire community. The lasting impression Jews left on the economy (crafts, trade, industry, banking) and on social, cultural, educational and many other activities (such as lawyers, doctors, engineers, pharmacists, professors, journalists...) is extremely important. The book chronicles the entire history of the Jewish community in our area, from the arrival of the first Jews to its origin, development, and peak, all the way to the tragic demise of the once-powerful, significant, and influential Jewish municipality. Along with the history of the community, numerous wider social events are also included.Autor je promenio ime u Ec-Hajim, Moše.Naslov izvornika: מגילת השואה של קהילת קדש צ'אקובץ : ... תש"ד 1944, Megilat HaŠoa šel kehilat kodeš Čakovec, HJD; Knjiga o Holokaustu svete čakovečke općine, HJD, Tel Aviv, 5737. / 1977.Knjižnica Ogranka Matice hrvatske u Čakovcu knj. 136

The role of Jewish women in the preservation of Judaism

U jevejskim zajednicama na Balkanu, žene su bile glavne nositeljke svakodnevne religiozne prakse, naročito u sekularizovanim porodicama. Istorijski, često su bile „poslednja linija očuvanja“ npr. za vreme progona u srednjem veku, Holokausta u 20. veku i života u socijalističkim i sekularnim državama (uključujući Jugoslaviju). Ta uloga se bazirala na činjenicama da se jevrejski identitet prenosi po majci (halahički princip), dom je mala sinagoga (mikdaš me’at), a žena je njegov centralni akter, kao i da žene ispunjavaju tri ženske micve (zapovesti), paljenje šabatnih sveća kao unošenje svetlosti i mira, brige za prehrambenu svetost i brige za porodičnu čistoću (nida) kroz ciklus vremena, tela i svetosti.In Jewish communities in the Balkans, women have historically played a crucial role in daily religious practices, especially in secularised families. They were often viewed as the "last line of preserving" during difficult periods, including the persecutions of the Middle Ages; the Holocaust in the 20th century; and under socialist and secular regimes, such as in Yugoslavia. This important role stems from a few key factors: Jewish identity is passed down through the mother (as per halachic principles), the home acts as a small synagogue (mikdash me'at), and women are central figures within it. Additionally, women fulfil three essential mitzvahs (commandments): lighting Shabbat candles to bring light and peace, ensuring the sanctity of food, and maintaining family purity (nida) through cycles of time, body, and sanctity.Prezentacija i predavanje održani 07.03.2026. na seminaru „Šorašim“ na Zlatiboru (the presentation and lecture were held on March 7, 2026, at the "Šorašim" seminar in Zlatibor)

The story of Jared Kushner, America's most famous son-in-law

Njegova [Kušnerova] supruga, Ivanka Tramp, pre braka je prešla na judaizam, nakon čega zajedno vode jevrejski porodični život. Džared Kušner (Jared Kushner), za koga je srpska javnost čula kada je njegova kompanija nameravala da podigne hotel na mestu zgrade „Generalštaba“, potiče iz ugledne i bogate američke aškenaske jevrejske porodice. Njegovi baka i deka po očevoj liniji emigrirali su u SAD početkom 20. veka, bežeći od antisemitizma i pogroma u Istočnoj Evropi, iz oblasti koje su krajem 19. i početkom 20. veka bile deo Ruskog carstva, a danas su deo Belorusije i istočne Poljske. Antisemitizam i migracija krajem 19. i početkom 20. veka obeleženi su porastom institucionalnog antisemitizma, periodičnim pogromima, pravnim restrikcijama, npr. kao Jevreji Kušnerovi preci nisu imali pravo da poseduju zemlje ni pristup državnoj službi. Ovi uslovi su direktno podstakli emigraciju u SAD, u okviru šireg talasa istočnoevropskih Jevreja (1880-1924). Kušnerovi preci napuštaju Evropu pre Holokausta, ali iz istog civilizacijskog straha koji će se kasnije potvrditi genocidom. Iako porodica nije bila nužno direktno pogođena Holokaustom, memorija progona je integralni deo porodičnog identiteta. Kušnerovo poreklo nije samo etničko ili versko, već ima i političko-kulturnu dimenziju, npr. iskustvo jevrejske dijaspore, sećanje na Holokaust, i snažna identifikacija sa Izraelom značajno su oblikovali njegov svetonazor i političke stavove, naročito tokom njegove uloge savetnika u administraciji Donalda Trampa, uključujući angažman oko tzv. Abrahamovih sporazuma.Jared Kushner's wife, Ivanka Trump, converted to Judaism before their marriage, and together they have led a Jewish family life. Kushner, who gained public attention in Serbia when his company proposed building a hotel on the site of the "General Staff" building, comes from a prominent and wealthy Ashkenazi Jewish family in America. His paternal grandparents immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century, fleeing anti-Semitism and pogroms in Eastern Europe, specifically from regions that were part of the Russian Empire during that time and are now located in Belarus and Eastern Poland. The late 19th and early 20th centuries were marked by rising institutional anti-Semitism, periodic pogroms, and legal restrictions that prevented Jews from owning land or accessing civil service jobs. These harsh conditions encouraged many Eastern European Jews to emigrate to the United States during a significant wave of migration from 1880 to 1924. Although Kushner's ancestors left Europe before the Holocaust, they did so out of a deep-seated fear of persecution, a fear that was later validated by genocide. While his family may not have been directly affected by the Holocaust, the memory of persecution remains a crucial aspect of their identity. Kushner’s heritage encompasses not only ethnic and religious elements but also a political and cultural dimension. This includes the experiences of the Jewish diaspora, the memory of the Holocaust, and a strong identification with Israel. These factors significantly influenced his worldview and political views, particularly during his tenure as an advisor in the Donald Trump administration, where he was involved in discussions around the so-called Abrahamic agreements.Tekst objavljen u dnevnom listu “Danas”, u rubrici “Lični stavovi”, 1. februara 2026. (the text was published in the "Danas" daily newspaper in the "Personal views" column on February 1, 2026). Link: [https://www.danas.rs/dijalog/licni-stavovi/prica-o-dzaredu-kusneru-najpoznatiji-americki-zet/

Mother as the keeper of identity. The role of Jewish women in raising children

U judaizmu se jevrejski identitet prenosi po majci. To daje simboličku i praktičnu težinu njenoj ulozi: ona je prva „čuvarica kontinuiteta“. Kroz svakodnevne rituale, jezik, hranu i običaje dete uči ko je pre nego što nauči šta je. Dom glavni prostor učenja, a majka njegova organizatorka ona uvodi dete u obeležavanje Šabata i praznika prenosi porodične priče i sećanja (uključujući traume poput progona ili Holokausta) uči osnovne moralne vrednosti: pravdu (cedek), brigu za druge, učenje kao vrednost samu po sebi.In Judaism, the mother plays a crucial symbolic and practical role as the primary "keeper of continuity", passing down Jewish identity. A child learns their identity primarily at home, where everyday rituals, language, food, and customs play a key role in this process. The mother organises the home as the main place of learning, introducing the child to Shabbat and holidays. She conveys family stories and memories, including historical traumas like persecution or the Holocaust, and instills basic moral values such as justice (tzedek), care for others, and the importance of learning.Prezentacija i predavanje održani 07.03.2026. na seminaru „Šorašim“ na Zlatiboru (the presentation and lecture were held on March 7, 2026, at the "Šorašim" seminar in Zlatibor)

Texts about the Poljokan family from Banja Luka

Pod naslovom "Tekstovi o banjalučkoj porodici Poljokan" donosimo šest priloga-članaka objavljenih između 2019 i 2024 godine, koji govore o poznatoj jevrejskoj porodici Poljokan iz Banja Luke. Prilozi o njima dati su kroz šest (6) tekstova objavljenih na sajtovima: Impuls, Gradski magazin Banja Luka, Banjaluka.com, SrpskaInfo, Društvena istorija Banjaluke i BL Portal. U njima se govori o dolasku ove porodice u grad, njihovim zanimanjima, njihovoj imovini, nažalost i kriminalnom ubistvu porodice - Salamona, Micike i njihovog sina Rafaela, stradanju ostatka porodice u Drugom svetskom ratu i konačno parku koji i danas nosi ime po njima, jer se nalazi na placu koji je pripadao ovoj poznatoj jevrejskoj porodici.Under the title "Texts about the Poljokan family from Banja Luka", we present six contributions: articles about the well-known Jewish Poljokan family of Banja Luka. From 2019 to 2024, six texts were published on Impuls, Gradski magazin Banja Luka, Banjaluka.com, SrpskaInfo, Društvena istorija Banjaluke, and BL Portal. They talk about the family's arrival in the city, their occupations, their property, and, tragically, the criminal murders of family members Salamon, Micika, and their son Rafael, as well as the fate of the remaining family during WWII. Finally, they mention the park that still bears their name, which is located on land once owned by this prominent Jewish family.Uz naslov svakog pojedinačnog članka naveden je originalni link (each article's title includes a link to the relevant page)

Preživljavanje rodne matrice Holokausta: ose rodne moći u svedočenjima preživelih Holokausta u Jugoslaviji

As an intricate dynamic network of social identifications, expectations, and behavioural models in their use and abuse, the interrelation of gender and power uncovers more than established gender roles and relations: it reveals deeper layers of individual and collective reasoning, which further informs and influences one’s thoughts and decisions. This can particularly be important in the times of crisis and survival, since it can have a direct effect on one’s ways and chances of survival, as well as on the experiences survived. In other words, gender-related mechanisms are in the background of the totality of conditions in times of crisis and war. In the case of the Holocaust, the gender-power axis can be identified in the survival response of the survivors, as well as in the executive decisions of the perpetrators, and it can all be read throughout the texts of the survivor testimonies. In order to understand the Holocaust as a gendered event, a gender-fuelled atrocity, I would like to analyse the testimonies of Yugoslavian Holocaust survivors gathered in the five-book edition "We survived: Yugoslav Jews on the Holocaust", 1-5 (Federation of Jewish Communities of Yugoslavia/Serbia & Montenegro/Serbia 2001-2009).Kao složena dinamička mreža društvenih identifikacija, očekivanja i modela ponašanja u njihovoj upotrebi i zloupotrebi, međusobni odnos roda i moći otkriva više od utvrđenih rodnih uloga i odnosa: otkriva dublje slojeve individualnog i kolektivnog rezonovanja, što dodatno informiše i utiče na nečije misli i odluke. Ovo može biti posebno važno u vremenima krize i preživljavanja, jer može imati direktan uticaj na nečije načine i šanse za preživljavanje, kao i na preživljena iskustva. Drugim rečima, mehanizmi povezani sa rodom su u pozadini ukupnosti uslova u vremenima krize i rata. U slučaju Holokausta, osa rod-moć može se identifikovati u odgovoru preživelih na preživljavanje, kao i u izvršnim odlukama počinilaca, i sve se to može pročitati kroz tekstove svedočenja preživelih. Da bih razumela Holokaust kao rodno obojeni događaj, zločin podstaknut rodom, želela bih da analiziram svedočanstva preživelih Holokausta iz Jugoslavije sakupljena u izdanju od pet knjiga „Mi smo preživeli: jugoslovenski Jevreji o Holokaustu“, 1-5 (Savez jevrejskih opština Jugoslavije/Srbije i Crne Gore/Srbije 2001-2009)

The Voice of B’nai B’rith "Gavro Schwartz": Magazine of Jewish Culture, Civilization and History, no. 38, July 2025

Trideset osmi broj “Glasnika” bavi se knjigama triju autorica - Anne Marije Gruenfelder, Jasminke Domaš i Edith Bruck - koje se bave ekskluzivno židovskim temama. O knjizi povijesne tematike Anne Marije Gruenfelder “Nevidljivi” (2025.) piše Jasminka Domaš, a o zbirci poezije Jasminke Domaš “Bog govori jidiš” (2024.) piše Jaroslav Pecnik. Tu je također roman mađarsko-talijanske autorice Edith Bruck “Izgubljeni kruh” (2023.), na koji se osvrnula naša dugogodišnja suradnica Narcisa Potežica. S obzirom da se temat bavi autoricama, donosimo i esej o konceptu autorstva u židovstvu…Uvršten je još jedan tekst o istaknutoj ženi koja nas sve, s pravom, motivira. U znak sjećanja na našu istaknutu znanstvenicu i aktivisticu Melitu Švob, donosimo tekst Darka Fischera o njezinom životu i radu, koji završava zaključkom: nadajmo se da će u svakoj generaciji biti osoba poput Melite Švob!...The thirty-eighth issue of “Glasnik” deals with books by three authors - specifically, we are talking about books by three authors - Anna Marija Gruenfelder, Jasminka Domaš, and Edith Bruck - who deal exclusively with Jewish topics. Jasminka Domaš writes about Anna Marija Gruenfelder’s historical book “The Invisibles” (2025), and Jaroslav Pecnik writes about Jasminka Domaš’s poetry collection “God Speaks Yiddish” (2024). There is also a novel by Hungarian-Italian author Edith Bruck, “Lost Bread” (2023), which was reviewed by our long-time collaborator Narcisa Potežica… Another text about a prominent woman who rightly motivates us all has been included. In memory of our prominent scientist and activist Melita Švob, we bring you a text by Darko Fischer about her life and work, which ends with the conclusion: let’s hope that in every generation there will be a person like Melita Švob! ...Tema broja: Tri autorice (the theme of this issue: Three female authors).Časopis "Glasnik B'nai B'rith", Hrvatska dostupan je na Internet stranici [https://www.bnaibrith.hr]The magazine "The Voice of B’nai B’rith," Croatia, is available on the website [https://www.bnaibrith.hr]

Kaddish for Sarajevo

„Kadiš za Sarajevo“ Marka Bačanovića je poetsko-dokumentarni zapis o stradanju, pamćenju i identitetu Sarajeva tokom rata ispisan iz perspektive ličnog i kolektivnog gubitka. Naslovna metafora „kadiša“ - jevrejske molitve za mrtve - funkcioniše kao simbol univerzalne tuge i dostojanstva žrtava, ali i kao čin otpora zaboravu. Autor kroz fragmentarnu strukturu, esejske zapise i lirsku introspekciju rekonstruiše atmosferu u gradu pre i tokom rata. „Kadiš za Sarajevo“ molitva je za sve gradove, prostore i ljude posrnule u pošasti ljudskog zla, bilo da se ono manifestuje mikrosvijetima lokalne zlobe ili ipak makrouniverzumom najostvarenijeg zla u istoriji modernog čovječanstva. „Kadiš za Sarajevo“ molitva je da se nikome nikada ne dogodi zlo, jer svako je zlo, ono najmanje - integralno lično, kao i ono upakovano u ideologiju, podjednako veliko i moćno i u stanju poništiti čitave svjetove, te ga je potrebno svakodnevno prepoznavati, propitivati i iz sebe protjerivati. „Kadiš za Sarajevo“ molitva je ponajviše za one koji su u vrtlozima tih zala bespovratno iščezli. Sve napomene pisane uz pjesme, bazirane su na istorijski istinitim događajima, u onoj mjeri istine koju je prepoznao neko ko njihovu istoriju nije pisao, već joj je svjedočio u posrednosti istorijskih izvora ili usmenih predanja, kao i neposrednosti putopjesničke percepcije. Istorijskom dokumentarizmu, moguće je, nije mjesto u poetskim zbirkama, ali u okolnostima poput ove, kada se čitav svijet, najprije diskretno, a nekad čak ni to, uvija u šutnju glede najvećih užasa čovječanstva osvjedočenih prije manje od osam decenija, smatrao sam da se potrebno suočiti sa mogućnošću činjenja zla za koju svijet i danas nije ništa manje predisponiran, te jasno imenovati njegove počinioce i ideologe, o kojima se, ispostavlja se, danas jako malo zna, i koji su, nanovo se ispostavlja, za vlastite sumrake kojima su zamračili živote miliona, često prolazili nekažnjeno.“Kaddish for Sarajevo” by Marko Bačanović is a poetic and documentary reflection on suffering, memory, and the identity of Sarajevo during the war. It is written from the point of view of both individual and group loss. The central metaphor of the Kaddish - the Jewish prayer for the dead – serves as a symbol of universal grief, honouring the dignity of the victims and fostering resistance to forgetting. Through a fragmented structure, essayistic notes, and lyrical introspection, the author reconstructs the atmosphere of the city before and during the war. The book acts as a prayer for Sarajevo, as well as for all places and people affected by human evil. It reminds us of the importance of recognizing, questioning, and resisting such cruelty. Based on real historical events and testimonies, it stands as a poetic memorial to those who disappeared amid the turmoil of violence.Biblioteka Vertikale / Udruženje nezavisnih pisaca Srbije, Beograd. Edicija Poezija ; no. 28

Antisemitism in Serbia in the past and present

Predavanje Tamare Stojanović “Antisemitizam u Srbiji u prošlosti i sadašnjosti” je drugo predavanje četvrtog kursa pod nazivom "Antisemitizam" koji se realizuje u okviru projekta „Holokaust u zemljama bivše Jugoslavije“. Ovaj projekat je prvi ovakav projekat u regionu i ima za cilj da pruži dublje razumevanje Holokausta na prostoru bivše Jugoslavije, podstakne kritičko mišljenje, promoviše toleranciju i empatiju, kao i da istakne konstantnu važnost obrazovanja o Holokaustu u regionu. Projekat se sastoji od četiri zasebna online kursa sa po tri predavanja i jednog šestodnevnog seminara uživo, koji se organizuje nakon završetka četvrtog kursa u Beogradu i Skoplju. Svi kursevi, kao i seminar, bave se temom Holokausta i antisemitizma na prostoru bivše Jugoslavije. Svaki od četiri online kursa obuhvata dragocena opšta znanja iz pomenutih tematskih okvira, ali i fokus na pojedine delove regiona i iskustvo Holokausta u njima.Tamara Stojanović's lecture "Antisemitism in Serbia in the past and present" is the second lecture of the fourth course entitled "Antisemitism", which is being realised within the project "Holocaust in the countries of the former Yugoslavia". This project is the first of its kind in the region and aims to deepen understanding of the Holocaust within the former Yugoslavia, encourage critical thinking, promote tolerance and empathy, and emphasise the ongoing importance of education about the Holocaust in the area. The project includes four online courses, each with three lectures, and one six-day live seminar, organised after the end of the fourth course in Belgrade and Skopje. All courses, as well as the seminar, address the topic of the Holocaust and anti-Semitism in the former Yugoslav territory. Each of the four online courses provides valuable general knowledge from the specified thematic frameworks, with a particular focus on certain parts of the region and their experiences of the Holocaust.Trajanje 1:43:09 minuta (duration 1:43:09 minutes).Projekat realizuje organizacija Haver Srbija u saradnji sa Fondom za Holokaust Jevreja iz Makedonije, uz podršku Claims Conference. Koordinatori projekta su Tamara i Aleksandar Stojanović. (The project is implemented by the Haver Serbia organization in cooperation with the Holocaust Fund of the Jews from Macedonia, with the support of the Claims Conference. The project coordinators are Tamara and Aleksandar Stojanović).YouTube link [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T0x_h58a1U&list=PLhnejJShQmj6qZbBOZJmuu-BK74Qp4JVQ&index=7