Belgrade Synagogue
Encyclopedia
Sukkat Shalom Synagogue or Belgrade Synagogue (Serbian
: Београдска синагога / Beogradska sinagoga) is currently the only fully active Jewish place of worship in Belgrade
, as other synagogues citywide are not active.
It is located in central Belgrade area - near Obilicev Venac Square and central high street Knez Mihailova.
On June 15, 1924 there was a solemn ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone, within which a charter containing texts in Hebrew
and Serbian
was sealed. The charter was signed by King Alexander
and Queen Maria of Yugoslavia
. The general construction was finished by November 1, 1925, and once the interior had been completed, the building was finally opened in the summer of 1926, and consecrated by Rabbi
Šlang.
The synagogue was built on land bought from the city by the Society of Ashkenazi Jews of Belgrade. According to official plans the building was to house the synagogue, ritual baths
, a school, community offices and apartments for the community employees. There had been an older Ashkenazi synagogue in the vicinity of the present one since the 19th century, but it was torn down to make way for new urban development. The synagogue is known in Belgrade as the "Kosmajska Temple", as its address before World War II
was Kosmajska Street. The name of the street has since been changed to Maršala Birjuzova Street (Marshal Biryuzov Street).
Traditionally this synagogue had followed the Ashkenazi rite and served a congregation of Belgrade Jews who spoke Yiddish. Today, however, it serves the small, mostly Sephardic, Jewish community remaining in the city following the Holocaust. There are regular services on Friday evenings and Jewish holidays. The rabbi serving this synagogue is the head rabbi
of Serbia, Isak Asiel.
Housed in the same building there is a community center for Jewish youth as well as rooms for occasional community functions and meetings. A Jewish kindergarten has recently been opened at the building as well. For many years now, the building has also housed several families affiliated in some way with the local Jewish community.
The architectural style is late Neoclassicist
(usually classified as academic style in this part of Europe), with an enclosed yard to the front. The building is graced with a large central staircase which dominates its façade together with the four grand windows of the synagogue chambers, as seen in the picture. The gable façade has a prominent round window at its center bearing the Star of David
.
The interior was partially renovated in 1990, and the city authorities have announced a general restoration program for the near future.
There is one other surviving synagogue building in the Belgrade area, located in the town of Zemun
. Built in 1850, it is not in use today, although it is still recognizably a Jewish place of worship.
One of the most prominent alternative cultural centers in Belgrade and Serbia today, the so-called "Cinema Rex", is situated in a building formerly belonging to Belgrade's Jewish societies "Oneg Shabat" and "Gemilut Hasadim". The building, designed by architect Samuel Sumbul, is a rare example, possibly the only example, of Sephardic pseudo-Moorish architecture in the city. It is equipped with a small concert and performance hall and various exhibition and office spaces. The cultural centre Rex is located in Dorćol
in Jevrejska Street (Jewish street). In earlier days this street was the nucleus of the Jewish community and throughout its history it has had the same name.
date back to the 16th century when the city was under Ottoman
rule. At that time Belgrade boasted a strong Jewish Ladino
-speaking Sephardic community mostly settled in the central Belgrade neighborhood called Dorćol
. The city's Ashkenazi Jews, many of them from Central Europe
and nearby Austria-Hungary
, mostly lived near the Sava river
in the area where the current active synagogue stands.
The Jewish community in Belgrade flourished most notably in the 17th century when Belgrade had a yeshiva
(a Jewish religious school), numerous community and cultural centers, Jewish charitable organizations, societies and shops. A beautiful 17th century Sephardic synagogue, then one of the most prominent buildings in the city, stood in today's Cara Uroša Street (see image right) complete with ritual bathing quarters.
Before World War II
some 12,000 Jews lived in Belgrade, 80% of whom were Spanish
- or Ladino-speaking Sephardim, and 20% Yiddish-speaking Ashkenazim.
By August 1942 the Military Administrated puppet government of German occupied Serbia announce that Belgrade was the first city in the New Order to be Judenfrei
or "free of Jews." Only 1,115 of Belgrade's twelve thousand Jews would survive. Ninety-five per cent of the Jewish population of Serbia
was exterminated during the German occupation. There were three concentration camps for Jews, Serbs
and Gypsies in the city at the time.
The majority of Jews were murdered in Serbia.
The Belgrade concentration camp Banjica
.
Its Commandant was the infamous pre-war police officer Svetozar Vujkovic
. At least 23,967 Jews, Serbs and Gypsies passed through the camp.
Most Jewish men perished at the Autokomanda
site near the city center, apart from those killed at the Banjica camp
; the camp at Sajmište
was on Independent State of Croatia
territory and it mostly saw the destruction of women and children. Wartime bombing
destroyed most of the Jewish monuments as well as much of the city. According to some reports the current synagogue was used by the occupying forces as a brothel
. The building was re-consecrated after the war. Since 1944 there has only been a very small Jewish community in Serbia and Belgrade.
Belgrade currently has a very active Jewish community center housing the Federation of Jewish Communities of Serbia and the Jewish Historical Museum. The city also has several commemorative monuments to Jewish suffering in past wars, the newest of which was unveiled at Autokomanda, near the site of the mass killing of Jews during WWII.
There are Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish cemeteries in Belgrade, but only the Sephardic one is in regular use today.
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
: Београдска синагога / Beogradska sinagoga) is currently the only fully active Jewish place of worship in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, as other synagogues citywide are not active.
It is located in central Belgrade area - near Obilicev Venac Square and central high street Knez Mihailova.
On June 15, 1924 there was a solemn ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone, within which a charter containing texts in Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
and Serbian
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
was sealed. The charter was signed by King Alexander
Alexander I of Yugoslavia
Alexander I , also known as Alexander the Unifier was the first king of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia as well as the last king of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes .-Childhood:...
and Queen Maria of Yugoslavia
Maria of Romania
Maria of Yugoslavia was the Queen consort of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia. She was originally a princess of Romania.-Early life:She was born in Gotha, Thuringia, in Germany, during the reigns of her maternal grandfather Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and her grand-uncle King Carol I of...
. The general construction was finished by November 1, 1925, and once the interior had been completed, the building was finally opened in the summer of 1926, and consecrated by Rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
Šlang.
The synagogue was built on land bought from the city by the Society of Ashkenazi Jews of Belgrade. According to official plans the building was to house the synagogue, ritual baths
Mikvah
Mikveh is a bath used for the purpose of ritual immersion in Judaism...
, a school, community offices and apartments for the community employees. There had been an older Ashkenazi synagogue in the vicinity of the present one since the 19th century, but it was torn down to make way for new urban development. The synagogue is known in Belgrade as the "Kosmajska Temple", as its address before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was Kosmajska Street. The name of the street has since been changed to Maršala Birjuzova Street (Marshal Biryuzov Street).
Traditionally this synagogue had followed the Ashkenazi rite and served a congregation of Belgrade Jews who spoke Yiddish. Today, however, it serves the small, mostly Sephardic, Jewish community remaining in the city following the Holocaust. There are regular services on Friday evenings and Jewish holidays. The rabbi serving this synagogue is the head rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
of Serbia, Isak Asiel.
Housed in the same building there is a community center for Jewish youth as well as rooms for occasional community functions and meetings. A Jewish kindergarten has recently been opened at the building as well. For many years now, the building has also housed several families affiliated in some way with the local Jewish community.
The architectural style is late Neoclassicist
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
(usually classified as academic style in this part of Europe), with an enclosed yard to the front. The building is graced with a large central staircase which dominates its façade together with the four grand windows of the synagogue chambers, as seen in the picture. The gable façade has a prominent round window at its center bearing the Star of David
Star of David
The Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles...
.
The interior was partially renovated in 1990, and the city authorities have announced a general restoration program for the near future.
There is one other surviving synagogue building in the Belgrade area, located in the town of Zemun
Zemun
Zemun is a historical town and one of the 17 municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia...
. Built in 1850, it is not in use today, although it is still recognizably a Jewish place of worship.
One of the most prominent alternative cultural centers in Belgrade and Serbia today, the so-called "Cinema Rex", is situated in a building formerly belonging to Belgrade's Jewish societies "Oneg Shabat" and "Gemilut Hasadim". The building, designed by architect Samuel Sumbul, is a rare example, possibly the only example, of Sephardic pseudo-Moorish architecture in the city. It is equipped with a small concert and performance hall and various exhibition and office spaces. The cultural centre Rex is located in Dorćol
Dorcol
Dorćol is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Stari Grad.- Location :Dorćol begins already some 700 meters north of Terazije, the central square of Belgrade...
in Jevrejska Street (Jewish street). In earlier days this street was the nucleus of the Jewish community and throughout its history it has had the same name.
Jews in Belgrade
The first written records of the presence of Jews in BelgradeBelgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
date back to the 16th century when the city was under Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
rule. At that time Belgrade boasted a strong Jewish Ladino
Judaeo-Spanish
Judaeo-Spanish , in Israel commonly referred to as Ladino, and known locally as Judezmo, Djudeo-Espanyol, Djudezmo, Djudeo-Kasteyano, Spaniolit and other names, is a Romance language derived from Old Spanish...
-speaking Sephardic community mostly settled in the central Belgrade neighborhood called Dorćol
Dorcol
Dorćol is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Stari Grad.- Location :Dorćol begins already some 700 meters north of Terazije, the central square of Belgrade...
. The city's Ashkenazi Jews, many of them from Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
and nearby Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, mostly lived near the Sava river
Sava River
The Sava is a river in Southeast Europe, a right side tributary of the Danube river at Belgrade. Counting from Zelenci, the source of Sava Dolinka, it is long and drains of surface area. It flows through Slovenia, Croatia, along the northern border of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and through Serbia....
in the area where the current active synagogue stands.
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
(a Jewish religious school), numerous community and cultural centers, Jewish charitable organizations, societies and shops. A beautiful 17th century Sephardic synagogue, then one of the most prominent buildings in the city, stood in today's Cara Uroša Street (see image right) complete with ritual bathing quarters.
Before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
some 12,000 Jews lived in Belgrade, 80% of whom were Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
- or Ladino-speaking Sephardim, and 20% Yiddish-speaking Ashkenazim.
By August 1942 the Military Administrated puppet government of German occupied Serbia announce that Belgrade was the first city in the New Order to be Judenfrei
Judenfrei
Judenfrei was a Nazi term to designate an area free of Jewish presence during The Holocaust.While Judenfrei referred merely to "freeing" an area of all of its Jewish citizens, the term Judenrein was also used...
or "free of Jews." Only 1,115 of Belgrade's twelve thousand Jews would survive. Ninety-five per cent of the Jewish population of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
was exterminated during the German occupation. There were three concentration camps for Jews, Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
and Gypsies in the city at the time.
The majority of Jews were murdered in Serbia.
The Belgrade concentration camp Banjica
Banjica concentration camp
Banjica concentration camp was a quisling and Nazi German concentration camp in occupied Serbia from June 1941 to September 1944 in World War II, located in the eponymous suburb of Belgrade. It started as a center for holding hostages, but later included Jews, Serbs, Roma, captured partisans, and...
.
Its Commandant was the infamous pre-war police officer Svetozar Vujkovic
Svetozar Vujkovic
Svetozar Vujković was a Serbian police officer and head of the Banjica Concentration Camp in German-occupied Serbia....
. At least 23,967 Jews, Serbs and Gypsies passed through the camp.
Most Jewish men perished at the Autokomanda
Autokomanda
Autokomanda is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located on the tripoint of the Belgrade's municipalities of Voždovac, Savski Venac and Vračar.- Location :...
site near the city center, apart from those killed at the Banjica camp
Banjica concentration camp
Banjica concentration camp was a quisling and Nazi German concentration camp in occupied Serbia from June 1941 to September 1944 in World War II, located in the eponymous suburb of Belgrade. It started as a center for holding hostages, but later included Jews, Serbs, Roma, captured partisans, and...
; the camp at Sajmište
Sajmište concentration camp
Sajmište concentration camp was a German run Nazi concentration camp located on the outskirts of Belgrade whilst part of NDH . It was established in December 1941 and shut down in September 1944...
was on Independent State of Croatia
Independent State of Croatia
The Independent State of Croatia was a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany, established on a part of Axis-occupied Yugoslavia. The NDH was founded on 10 April 1941, after the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers. All of Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed to NDH, together with some parts...
territory and it mostly saw the destruction of women and children. Wartime bombing
Bombing of Belgrade in World War II
The city of Belgrade was bombed during two campaigns in World War II, the first undertaken by the Luftwaffe in 1941, and the latter by Allied air forces in 1944.- German bombing :...
destroyed most of the Jewish monuments as well as much of the city. According to some reports the current synagogue was used by the occupying forces as a brothel
Brothel
Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...
. The building was re-consecrated after the war. Since 1944 there has only been a very small Jewish community in Serbia and Belgrade.
Belgrade currently has a very active Jewish community center housing the Federation of Jewish Communities of Serbia and the Jewish Historical Museum. The city also has several commemorative monuments to Jewish suffering in past wars, the newest of which was unveiled at Autokomanda, near the site of the mass killing of Jews during WWII.
There are Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish cemeteries in Belgrade, but only the Sephardic one is in regular use today.
See also
- JudaismJudaismJudaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
- Ashkenazim
- Sephardim
- Sofia SynagogueSofia SynagogueThe Sofia Synagogue is the largest synagogue in Southeastern Europe, one of two functioning in Bulgaria and the third-largest in Europe.Constructed for the needs of the Bulgarian capital Sofia's mainly Sephardic Jewish community after a project by the Austrian architect Friedrich Grünanger, it...
- Novi Sad SynagogueNovi Sad SynagogueNovi Sad Synagogue is a Jewish synagogue and one of the many cultural institutions in Novi Sad, Serbia. It is located in the capital of Serbian province of Vojvodina...
External links
- Official city of Belgrade site about Belgrade Jews (Serbian only)
- Jewish community of Belgrade
- Jewish community of Zemun
- Jewish Historical Museum in Belgrade
- History of Jews in Serbia
- Cinema Rex Cultural Centre (Serbian and English)
- Belgrade Sephardic music band