J. D. B. News Letter

The Jewish community of Jugoslavia is not homogeneous. It is made up of elements that lived under different influences, before they became a part of the Jugoslav state in 1918.

Historically and geographically speaking, there are in the main two groups: the Ashkenazim, to the north of the Danube and the Save; and the Sephardim, to the south of this river, that is to say, already on the Balkan peninsula, thus in Serbia, Bosnia and Dalmatia. The Sephardim have pushed on beyond these boundaries up to Zagreb (Croatia) where in 1927 they founded an independent community, while the Ashkenazim, even before the World War, had settled in the southern district and had some large colonies in Belgrade and Sarajevo (Bosnia).

The Sephardim, in point of language and religion and with regard to customs and usages, are quite homogeneous. This cannot be said of the Ashkenazim. In the former Croatia-Slovenia they speak chiefly Serbo-Croatian and are organized, with two exceptions, in progressive communities.

The Ashkenazim, in the districts that were annexed to Hungary, speak mainly Hungarian and are partly conservative and partly Orthodox.

All Sephardim and Ashkenazim Croation-Slovenes favor a unified Jewish community. The movement looking to the unification of the Jugoslavian Jews is also being served by the Chief Rabbinate, the communal associations, the Association of Rabbis, the Zionist Federation, the B’nai B’rith lodges and the Association of Jewish Youth. The drawing together of the Jewish elements of the population is also being served by the Jewish press, which includes the weeklies, “Zidov” of Zagreb, the “Jevrejski Glas” of Sarajevo, the monthly publications “Hanoar” for mature youth, and “Haaviv” for children, both published in Zagreb. All the organs appear in the Serbo-Croatian language and are edited in the Zionist spirit.

The most important cultural, social and charitable institutions of Jugoslavian Jewry are in Belgrade, Zagreb and Sarajevo. The number of Jugoslavian Jews reaches about 72,000, of whom two-thirds are Ashkenazim and one-third Sephardim. The fewest number of Jews are in Slovenia and there are practically none in Montenegro.

Among the Jews of Jugoslavia, represented in trade, commerce and industry, many occupy a leading place in the economic life. There is also a large number in intellectual callings-there are very many doctors and lawyers in particular. In the field of art, and more particularly in music, Jews are active and successful. The work of the Jews is particularly important in the field of general social aid and public beneficence. (Continued on Page 4)

There is a Jewish proletariat among the Sephardim, but in a very small number.

The Jews of Jugoslavia enjoy equal rights. The rabbis, as representatives of the Jews, are shown the same marks of esteem on the part of the authorities as are the heads of Christian churches. In all branches of the service of the State, including the military and educational departments, there are Jews in the highest positions. The State protects Jewish institutions and favors them when occasion arises.

Tolerance and friendliness towards the Jews are traditional with Jugoslavian governments. A latent anti-Semitism in clerical circles is still present as a remnant from Austro-Hungarian times, thus between the Magyars and Slovenes. The relations of the Jews to the non-Jewish population, however, is in general good. More particularly the part of the Jugo-Slavian population living in Serbia stands our by its favorable attitude towards the Jews. Thus, all in all, it may be said that the position of the Jews in Jugoslavia, that is to say in the kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, is satisfactory.