holocaust memorial center

8/7/2019 HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL CENTER

1/15

13.12.2010 Berlin

HOLOCAUSTMEMORIAL CENTER

Holocaust Fund of the Jews from Macedonia


2/15

Jewish community till WWII The first evidence of Jews dates from the 3rd century BC in the ancient

town of Stobi

Oldest synagogue in the Balkans was found in Stobi

In Ottoman period tens of thousands of Jews fled from Spain and

Portugal. The sultan granted them with:

- significant autonomy- right to buy real estate

- right to build synagogues

- and right to conduct trade

The Jewish community was almost entirely Sephardic, and most

spoke Ladino

Prior to WW I there were approx. 8.000 Jews in Bitola, 3.000 in Skopje

and 500 in Stip

More then 3.500 Jews migrated to the land of today Israel and Latin

America between the wars


3/15

Jewish community in WWII In April 1941, the Bulgarian occupation army entered and occupied

today's territory of Macedonia

In 1941 The Law for Protection of the Nation (similar to the

Nurmberg Act of 1936) was signed by Tzar Boris III- enforcing the wearing of the yellow star

- Inventory on all Jewish properties

- 30% one-off property tax

- general limitation on property rights for Jews

- prohibiting marriages with non-Jews

- prohibiting running business, starting new business or selling current business

- prohibited agriculture, professorship and higher education

- limited heating and food

On 2 March 1943 the Government (with the Tzars blessing) approvedthe secret plan for deportation of all Jews - from annexed territories

including Bulgaria it self

The Bulgarian Jews were also arrested but not deported, due to the

protest from key political and clerical leaders, as well as the

approaching Soviet Army


4/15

Jewish community in WWII On March 11th 1943 the Bulgarian army and police, rounded up the

entire Jewish population from Bulgarian-occupied territories of

Macedonia, Serbia and Greece

- Macedonia 7,148 Jews or98% of the total Jewish population!- Greece (Thrace) 5,000 Jews

- Serbia (south) 3,000 Jews

All 7,148 Macedonian Jews were killed in Treblinka

50% of them according to the deportation lists were children!

Most effective exercise of the Final solution plan in the world

Jews took active role in the Partisan movement and most of them were

on top command positions including army Generals .

There are 5 Macedonian families that saved Jews during the WWII and

they were proclaimed Righteous Among the Nations


5/15

Jewish community after WWII The Macedonian Jewish Community was restored in December 1944,

from almost 140 survivors mostly Partisans

Most of them immigrated to Israel

Today, the Jewish community of the Republic of Macedonia numbers

250 people

In 2000 the Skopje synagogue was revitalized

The community has ties with the Jewish communities and

associations all around the world

Very well incorporated and plays active role in social, cultural and

religious life in Macedonia

Excellent relations with all Macedonian governments and institutions

Respected by all political parties

NO ANTI-SEMITISM AT ALL!!!


6/15

Memorial Center Brief history 05.2000 Law on Denationalization was enacted

04.2002 Holocaust Fund of the Jews from Macedonia was officially

established by the Government of the Republic of

Macedonia

08.2002 First Jewish property return (properties of Jews without

legal hears killed in SHOAH) was given to the Holocaust

Fund

01.2005 Denationalization of the site in the part of Jewish quarter

09.2005 Beginning of the construction of the Memorial center

12.2007 Financial and legal issues regarding the restitution

process has been settled

2010 Interior design is done by Dr. Michael Berenbaum and his

team


7/15


8/15

MUSEUM ART CENTER

South-est aerial view


9/15

ART CENTER MUSEUM HOTEL

South-west aerial view


10/15

MUSEUM ART CENTER

East


11/15

Memorial Center Facts Steering committee

- Ms. Ljiljana Mizrahi (President)

- Dr. Pande Lazarevski (Vice President)

- Mr. Predrag Kenig

- Mr. Manoil Jakovlevski

- Mr. Tomislav Iliev

International Advisory Board- Rabbi Andrew Baker , Chairman

- Mr. Avner Shalev

- Mr. Radu Ioanid

- Dr. Jurgen Wickert

- Mr. Edvard Serotta

- Mr. Stephan Kramer

- Dr. Walter Schwimmer

- Mr. J. D. Bidenagel

- Ms. Heather Conley


12/15

Memorial Center Goals A Memorial

A Museum

An Educational and Research Center

A Cultural Center

A Place for Changing Exhibitions

Regional center for SE Europe


13/15

Memorial museum Opening

11.03.2011


14/15

PREPARED BY TOMISLAV ILIEV


15/15

Thank You

holocaust memorial center

Documents