Leaders of Yugoslavia Jewry Play Host to Visitors at Federation’s 50th Anniversary

The leaders of Yugoslav Jewry played host this week to representatives of overseas Jewish communities and organizations at celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Yugoslavia. About 800 persons attended a public meeting presided over by the Federation’s president, Dr. Lavoslav Kadelburg. The Belgrade and Zagreb Jewish choirs performed as did several Yugoslavian Jewish artists.

The Vice President of Yugoslavia, Miso Pavichevich, addressed the local Jewish leaders and their overseas guests, speaking of Jewish losses during the Nazi era and the contributions of Yugoslav Jews to the partisan resistance movements of World War II. Dr. Kadelburg noted in his response that Yugoslavian Jews enjoyed full equality with all other national groups in the country.

The visitors from abroad represented Jewish communities from 18 cities in 13 countries, including Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland. A large delegation of the World Jewish Congress was headed by its president Dr. Nahum Goldmann. Dr. Arieh Tartakower and Dr. Gerhard M. Reigner. Others included Simon Edenburg, representing the Jewish community of Argentina; Michael Fidler, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews; Theodore J. Kolish, a vice president of the American Jewish Congress, and Mrs. Kolish; and the organizations of Jews of Yugoslav origin in the United States and Israel.