Oslobođenje – KUN – Culture, art and science journal, 2006-02-09 |
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| The construction of the Jewish Cultural Center and synagogue in Mostar |
For the reason of commitment made when he was a mayor, Mr. Safet Oručević, director of the Center for Peace and Multiethnic Cooperation Mostar, has recently relaunched the initiative for the construction of this Center.
At the meeting with Erna Cipra, the chairwoman of the Jewish Community Mostar, it has been agreed to form a construction committee that would, besides the representatives of the Jewish Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Center for Peace and Multiethnic Cooperation Mostar include the City of Mostar representatives, the mayor and the chairman of the City Council.
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In February 2000. the mayor of Mostar, Safet Oručević called upon UNESCO, World Bank, World Monument Fund, Aga Khan Trust and IRCICA to include capital buildings of four nationalities in “Mostar 2004” Project of the reconstruction of Old Bridge and reconstruction and protection of cultural heritage of Mostar.
Those buildings are Vakuf palace, Orthodox Bishop’s residence, Bishop’s palace in Vukodol and construction of the Jewish Cultural Centre with synagogue. Later on, the Catholic Church suggested replacing the Bishop’s Palace from the list with the facilities of the Croatian Cultural Association Napredak.
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| The Memorial honoring 137 members of Jewish families from Mostar |
At the end of 2000, a Memorial honoring 137 members of Jewish families from Mostar, who were civilian victims of fascism, was unveiled at the Jewish Cemetery in Mostar.
The construction of the monument, initiated by Safet Oručević, the mayor of Mostar then, began in 1997. The opening ceremony of the monument, consisting of seven arch plates carrying engraved names of the victims, symbolizing menorah, attended the representatives of |
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OHR, the ambassadors of Federal Republic of Germany and Republic of Hungary, consuls of the Republic of Turkey and Republic of Croatia, representatives of the American Jews distribution Committee New York, Kon Mihajlo Vili and chief rabbi Moriz Levi ph. D. (Switzerland).
For the first time in history of Mostar the representatives of Serb Orthodox and Catholic Church, Islamic Community and Jewish Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, gathered at this place. |
THE SPEECH OF THE MAYOR OF MOSTAR, SAFET ORUČEVIĆ
AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE MEMORIAL HONORING
MOSTAR JEWS, HOLOCAUST VICTIMS OF WORLD WAR II
Mostar, 1999-12-02. |
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I would like to greet You on behalf of the citizens of Mostar.
This is an exceptional event in the history of our city. That is why I feel the need to express some of my feelings.
Today, I feel proud and confused – proud to unveil the monument dedicated to our fellow townsmen, Jews, victims of fascism in World War II, and confused because we are doing that as late as/not earlier than today.
This poses the question – who needed 54 years of waiting, and why?! This memorial is a debt to Mostar Jews – a debt from our past, as well as a debt of our time.
Just few years ago – the history seemed to hit back. It seemed that the forces of evil found the refuge in our oblivion just to have their revenge. Unfortunately, Mostar remembers this last war more tragically than World War II.
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The symbols of Mostar, Old Bridge, churches and mosques in Mostar survived World War II fascism; however, they could not survive the fascism of the recent war. Mostar did not have concentration camps with its citizens as inmates during World War II, but it did in this one.
The monument, which we inaugurate today, raises many questions.
That is why today we must ask ourselves if we have learnt the historical lesson that the dark forces of evil will always surround us.
Have we done enough to remember the horrors we suffered in recent years?
Will we manage to pass on preserved remembrance without hatred to the future generations?
Unfortunately, even today, we bear witness to completely accidental or completely intentional attempts to find c o m p r o m i s e s between fascism and antifascism.
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There are also day-to-day attempts to abolish distinctions between the evil and fight against the evil.
That is why the monument we inaugurate here is a small monument dedicated to Jews killed in the Second World War, but we dedicate this ceremony to all good people fighting against evil, to all innocent victims, now and then, in Mostar, a city that became a great monument of antifascism.
I feel the need, here and today, to remind you again of the significant involvement of Bosnian Jews, and through them, the involvement of Jews from all over the world, who are helping Bosnia and Herzegovina and its people to overcome their enemies.
Shalom |
The initiative for the construction of the Jewish Cultural Center and synagogue in Mostar |
After World War II, Jewish Community Mostar donated the Synagogue to the City of Mostar as a sign of the gratitude for saving Jews during the enemy occupation under condition that it is exclusively used by the Puppet Theatre.
The mayor of Mostar, Safet Oručević, made a decision to compensate this gesture by the construction of the Jewish Cultural Center with synagogue.
On the occasion of Yom Hashoa - Holocaust Day (on Nisan 27, 5761) and the visit of the high-level delegation of JDC New York (American Jews Joint distribution Committee), the corner stone was placed on the construction site of the Jewish Cultural Center with synagogue.
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The future center will be only a few hundred meters away from Old Bridge, which is marked by UNESCO now. Once more, beside the high-ranking guests, representatives of Serb Orthodox and Catholic Church and representatives of Jewish and Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina were present.
The obligation to build the Jewish Cultural Center and synagogue remains. In the meantime, the new leadership has entered the office but, so far, nothing has been done concerning the construction project of the Jewish Cultural Center and synagogue..
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Soon – the news on latest activities on the construction of the Jewish Cultural Center and synagogue in Mostar.
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Future view of the
Jewish Cultural Center and synagogue in Mostar
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