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13.12.2010 Berlin
HOLOCAUSTMEMORIAL CENTER
Holocaust Fund of the Jews from Macedonia
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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
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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
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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
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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!!!
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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
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MUSEUM ART CENTER
South-est aerial view
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ART CENTER MUSEUM HOTEL
South-west aerial view
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MUSEUM ART CENTER
East
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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
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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
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Memorial museum Opening
11.03.2011
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PREPARED BY TOMISLAV ILIEV
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Thank You