INTERESTING ITEMS

INTERESTING
(click on thumbnail to see enlarged in new window)

May 7, 2012 - An exhibition of photographs "A View of Israel" opened

On May 7th the mayor of Belgrade municipality Stari grad, Mrs. Mirjana Bozidarevic and Ambassador of Israel, H.E. Yossef Levy opened an exhibition of photographs titled "A View of Israel". The exhibition is staged on the Knez Mihajlova Street promenade across from the Cultural Center of Belgrade. A delegation of members of the Zemun Jewish Community with its president Nenad Fogel was present at the opening. The director of the Belgrade Tourist Organization, Mr. Dejan Veselinov stressed the huge significance of developing and enhancing tourist exchange between Serbia and Israel. Numerous strollers were taken in by the photographs and stopped to look at the sights displayed which in reality depict only a small portion of the bountiful tourist attraction that Israel can offer. The exhibition remains open till May 27th.

(Click on image to see our Photo Gallery)

Former Nazi guard Demjanjuk dies in Germany aged 91

(Reuters) - John Demjanjuk, a retired U.S. engine mechanic convicted for his role in killing 28,000 Jews as a guard at a Nazi death camp during World War Two, died on Saturday aged 91 in a care home in Germany, police said.
Once top of the Nazi-hunting Simon Wiesenthal Center's list of most wanted Nazi criminals, Ukrainian-born Demjanjuk denied the charges against him, saying he was drafted into the Soviet army in 1941 and then taken prisoner by the Germans.
A Munich court convicted Demjanjuk in May 2011 of helping to kill the Jews at the Sobibor death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. He was sentenced to five years in prison but freed because of his age.
He died on Saturday morning at the care home near Rosenheim, south of Munich, where he had been living, Bavarian police said...
More from the Reuters Site, Mar 17, 2012

Nadal, Bar Rafaeli Sizzle In Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

World No. 2 Rafael Nadal appears with Israeli supermodel Bar Rafaeli in the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine, which hit newsstands on Tuesday.
"I was calm and I enjoyed doing it," Nadal told Sports Illustrated, during the shoot. "It was a new experience for me."
Rafaeli, 26, the 2009 cover model, said, "I love tennis. The combination of him and Sports Illustrated. I'm so happy to be part of this. I was nervous."...
More from ATP site, Feb 14, 2012

Iran car explosion kills nuclear scientist in Tehran

A university lecturer and nuclear scientist has been killed in a car explosion in north Tehran.
Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan, an academic who also worked at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, and the driver of the car were killed in the attack.

The blast happened after a motorcyclist stuck an apparent bomb to the car.
Several Iranian nuclear scientists have been assassinated in recent years, with Iran blaming Israel and the US. Both countries deny the accusations.
The US state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters she did not have "any information to share one way or the other" on the latest attack.
Iran's Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi told state television that the attack against Mr Ahmadi-Roshan would not stop "progress" in the country's nuclear programme...
More from BBC News (January 11th, 2012)

Who Assassinated an Iranian Nuclear Scientist? Israel Isn't Telling
Like three previous Iranian scientists ambushed on their morning commute, the latest nuclear expert to die on his way to work was a victim of Israel's Mossad, Western intelligence sources tell TIME. Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan, an expert on a phase of uranium enrichment, perished on a Tehran street on Wednesday after an assassin in a passing motorcycle attached a magnetized explosive to the side of his Peugeot 405. "Yeah, one more," a senior Israeli official said with a smile. "I don't feel sad for him."
Wednesday's attack followed the pattern of previous operations planned by Mossad and carried out over the past two years by Iranians trained and paid by Israel's spy agency, according to intelligence sources. The targets were chosen from the ranks of scientists seen as crucial to Iran's nuclear effort — the country's top physicist, Majid Shahriari, was killed by a magnetized bomb in October 2010 — then shadowed for weeks to determine their routines and points of vulnerability...
More from the Time (January 13th, 2012)

Nazi Hunters Launch Drive to Find Remaining War Criminals

The Jewish human rights organization, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, has launched a new campaign to find and prosecute missing Nazi war criminals while they are still alive.
The director of the center, Efraim Zuroff, told a news conference in Berlin Wednesday the new operation will offer rewards of up to $32,000 for tips leading to the investigation and capture of war criminals.
He says the passage of time in no way diminishes the guilt of the killers.
Zuroff said a new legal precedent set by the recent prosecution of former death camp guard John Demjanjuk could pave the way to reopening more criminal cases. The 91-year-old Demjanjuk was convicted in Germany in May of nearly 30,000 counts of accessory to murder...
More from Voice of America site (December 14, 2011)

Experts stumped by ancient Jerusalem markings

JERUSALEM (AP) — Mysterious stone carvings made thousands of years ago and recently uncovered in an excavation underneath Jerusalem have archaeologists stumped.
Israeli diggers who uncovered a complex of rooms carved into the bedrock in the oldest section of the city recently found the markings: Three "V'' shapes cut next to each other into the limestone floor of one of the rooms, about 2 inches (5 centimeters) deep and 20 inches (50 centimeters) long. There were no finds to offer any clues pointing to the identity of who made them or what purpose they served...

More from Yahoo News (December 7, 2011)

Rumor has it Paul McCartney is converting to Judaism
Nu, so let's investigate

Paul McCartney, or rather Sir Paul McCartney, was known as “the Cute One” of the Beatles. Word has it that this cutie pie is contemplating converting to Judaism. In fact, he attended Yom Kippur services and subsequently told his friends he'll be completing his conversion studies next year. Sir Paul, on behalf of the Jewish People, let me be the first to wish you mazal tov! Heck, mazal tov in the sky with diamonds!
What might all this mean for Paul, for the world, for the Beatles, for us? Wow, I was going to ask the same questions, but you beat me to it. First of all, it’s got to be great public relations for us Jews when one of the most famous musicians in the world, from one of the most famous bands in the world, and a knight at that, chooses to come over to the Judaic side...
More from AISH.COM (Nov. 29, 2011)

Mystery of Dead Sea Scroll Authors Possibly Solved

The Dead Sea Scrolls may have been written, at least in part, by a sectarian group called the Essenes, according to nearly 200 textiles discovered in caves at Qumran, in the West Bank, where the religious texts had been stored.
Scholars are divided about who authored the Dead Sea Scrolls and how the texts got to Qumran, and so the new finding could help clear up this long-standing mystery.
The research reveals that all the textiles were made of linen, rather than wool, which was the preferred textile used in ancient Israel. Also they lack decoration, some actually being bleached white, even though fabrics from the period often have vivid colours. Altogether, researchers say these finds suggest that the Essenes, an ancient Jewish sect, "penned" some of the scrolls.
Not everyone agrees with this interpretation. An archaeologist who has excavated at Qumran told LiveScience that the linen could have come from people fleeing the Roman army after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, and that they are in fact responsible for putting the scrolls into caves...
More from Yahoo News (November 22, 2011)

Dead Sea Scrolls Go Online in Israel Museum Project With Google.
(HD video available on YouTube Page)

Sarkozy tells Obama Netanyahu is a "liar"

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy branded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "a liar" in a private conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama that was accidentally broadcast to journalists during last week's G20 summit in Cannes.
"I cannot bear Netanyahu, he's a liar," Sarkozy told Obama, unaware that the microphones in their meeting room had been switched on, enabling reporters in a separate location to listen in to a simultaneous translation.
"You're fed up with him, but I have to deal with him even more often than you," Obama replied, according to the French interpreter.
The technical gaffe is likely to cause great embarrassment to all three leaders as they look to work together to intensify international pressure on Iran over its nuclear ambitions...
More from Yahoo News (November 8, 2011)

Hugo Boss apologises for founder's Nazi past

German fashion house Hugo Boss has apologised for its Nazi connections as details of the strength of its support for the Third Reich emerge in a new biography of the company.
Designer Hugo Boss was the favoured tailor of Hitler and won the contract to supply Nazi forces with their uniforms.
After the war he argued that he had supported Hitler "to save the company" rather than because of any National Socialism ideology, but new research shows that he was in fact a loyal Nazi.
A new book publishes records that show that during the second world war the company used 140 forced workers kidnapped by the Gestapo from Poland.
At its clothes factory based in Metzingen, Baden-Wurttemberg the work force also included 40 French prisoners of war in its production of Wehrmacht uniforms...
More from Telegraph Site (Sept. 22, 2011)

SWC Acquires Hitler's First Anti-Semitic Writing
One of the Most Important Documents in the History of the Third Reich

This week, the Simon Wiesenthal Center announced that it had acquired the most significant document in its 34-year history (see New York Times article). The document, a 4-page letter signed by Adolf Hitler, dated September 16, 1919, six years before the publication of Mein Kampf describes his hatred of Jews outlining his plans which call for, "The uncompromising removal of the Jews altogether," which he says can only be accomplished, "Under a government of National strength and never under a government of National impotence." Hitler warns against an "emotional anti-Semitism which will always find its expression in the form of pogroms" and seeks rather "a legal ... removal of the rights of the Jew."...
More from Simon Wiesenthal Center site (June 2011)

Lenin's Jewish roots confirmed

Newly released letter written by Lenin's eldest sister reveals their maternal grandfather was a Ukrainian Jew who converted to Christianity to escape Pale of Settlement, gain access to higher education.
For the first time ever, ordinary Russians can now see documents that appear to confirm long-standing rumors that Vladimir Lenin had Jewish heritage.
In a country long plagued by anti-Semitism, such heritage can be a significant taint, especially for the founder of the Soviet Union who is still revered by many elderly Russians.
Among dozens of newly released documents on display at the State History Museum is a letter written by Lenin's eldest sister, Anna Ulyanova, saying that their maternal grandfather was a Ukrainian Jew who converted to Christianity to escape the Pale of Settlement and gain access to higher education...
More from Y Net News (May 24, 2011)

Wiesenthal Center Honors Tom Cruise and 3 Medal of Valor Honorees at its 2011 National Tribute Dinner

The Simon Wiesenthal Center bestowed its highest honor, the Humanitarian Award, upon actor and producer Tom Cruise for his longtime support of the Wiesenthal Center and its Museum of Tolerance.
Producer/Director/Writer J.J. Abrams emceed and the Humanitarian Award was presented to Mr. Cruise by Brad Grey, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures. Dinner Chairs were Mr. Grey, Kevin Huvane, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Barry Meyer, Ron Meyer and Tom Rothman.
Others in attendance also included Katie Holmes, Jerry Bruckheimer, Mark Burnett, Julie Chen, Roma Downey, David Ellison, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Malin Akerman, Richard Lovett, Les Moonves, Edward James Olmos, Brett Ratner, Jeremy Renner, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa...
More from Wiesenthal Center site (May 5, 2011)

John Galliano sacked by fashion house Dior

British fashion designer John Galliano has been sacked by fashion house Dior following alleged anti-Semitic comments he made last week.
Dior said it had decided to fire him after seeing a video clip allegedly showing Galliano telling two women in a Paris cafe: "I love Hitler."
"I very firmly condemn what was said by John Galliano," said Dior's chief executive Sidney Toledano.
A lawyer for the 50-year-old designer said he denied the allegations.Toledano said Galliano's alleged comments "totally contradict the values which have always been defended by Christian Dior."...
Whole text from BBC Site (March 1, 2011)

The first haircut

Rabbi Yehoshua and spouse Miri Kaminetzky have been living in Belgrade for some years now. They are founders of the Chabad Serbia. The proud parents organized the unique ceremony of son Mendi’s third birthday i.e. the boy’s first haircut. According to Jewish tradition a child’s hair is cut once he has reached the age of three.
The central event of a third birthday ceremony, the Jewish traditional hair-cutting, is among its most significant customs. Dating far back into time, the custom is revered by all Jewish ethnics, irrelevant of their place of birth. What makes the third year of life so important? In Judaism it is the age that signifies the beginning of a child’s upbringing. From then on it is a parent’s duty to raise children to learn and live by the commandments of the Torah.
The first strand of hair was cut by Mendi’s grandfather, rabbi Kaminetzky who arrived from Israel to take part in this important event. Present at this delightful ceremony were numerous guests from Serbian Jewish Communities. In answer to rabbi’s Yehoshua Kaminetzky request to take part in the symbolic haircut, Federation President Aleksandar Nećak and representatives of JC Belgrade, Subotica and Zemun: Mr. Jovan Elazar, Mr. Tomislav Halbrorh and Mr. Nenad Fogel each cut a lock of the child’s hair.
Belgrade 21.02.2011.

(Click on image to see our Photo Gallery)

World Monuments Fund: Subotica Synagogue

Designed in the late 1890s and built in 1902, Subotica Synagogue is among the most impressive examples of Art Nouveau ecclesiastical architecture in the region. The synagogue design was originally submitted as a competition proposal by Marcel Komor and Dezso Jakab to be built in Szeged, Hungary. After the design placed second, it was adapted and built in nearby Subotica...

Roman statue discovered in Ashkelon after storm damage
A 1.2 meter high statue of a woman was found after part of a cliff crumbled, revealing archaeological treasures.

The massive storm that swept through Israel over the weekend caused a great deal of damage to archaeological sites all along the Mediterranean coast, but also uncovered a an impressive statue of a woman between 1650 and 1800 years old in Ashkelon.
The statue, a 1.2-meter high figure of a woman with her head missing, has been dated to Roman times and is thought to have stood erect in a bath house.
The statue was discovered when a cliff crumbled into the water at a sea-side archaeological dig in Ashkelon. Among the chunks of earth that broke off from the cliff were parts of a large building that apparently were once a part of a Roman bath house...
More from HAARETZ site, published Dec.14th, 2010

After 62 years, Holocaust survivor reunites with lost friend whose passport led her to America

When Cherie Rosenstein penned her essay about being a 5-year-old orphan fleeing war-torn Europe for a new life in America, she probably couldn't have imagined that the story would reunite her with the woman whose passport secured her entry into the United States 62 years ago. But that's exactly what happened.
In 2007, Rosenstein, whose parents both perished in a Nazi concentration camp, wrote about her childhood experiences for the Dayton Jewish Observer. Her name as a child was Maria Helena Chuchnowicz, and in April 1947, she was living in an orphanage in Paris. As Rosenstein put it, "The war's end brought problems of staggering proportions: thousands of Jewish survivors with no homes, families or money." The Rev. Samuel Schmidt of Cincinnati visited the orphanage and returned to the States with photographs of the facility and the children it sheltered. A local couple -- Libby and John Moskowitz -- saw a picture of Rosenstein and decided to adopt her...
More from Yahoo site, published September 24, 2010

Holocaust museum to Romania: scrap 'racist' coin

BUCHAREST, Romania – Romania's central bank has issued a special coin commemorating a prime minister and religious leader who stripped Jews of their citizenship before World War II. The move prompted protest Monday from Romanian Jews as well as a director at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Radu Ioanid, who runs the museum's international archives, said he was "shocked" by the bank's decision to mint the coin depicting late Patriarch Miron Cristea, who led the Romanian Orthodox Church from 1925 to 1939 and was prime minister from 1938-1939.
The patriarch was responsible for revising the citizenship law, stripping about 225,000 Jews — or 37 percent of the Jewish population — of their Romanian citizenship, Ioanid said.
"I can't understand how the patriarch managed to pass through the filter," said Robert Schwartz, representative for Romanian Jews in the city of Cluj. "It is known there are black stains connected to his attitude towards the Jews." Schwartz said there were other Romanians, such as the patriarch's contemporary Queen Maria, who had done much for Jews and should have been honored...
More from Yahoo site. Published August 2nd 2010

Baby No. 2 for Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen?

Isla Fisher and her husband, comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, are known for their steady silences when it comes to confirmingpersonal news — they kept quiet regarding daughter Olive‘s birth, as well as their recent nuptials — but after Sunday’s photos, there seems to be little doubt that there’s a sibling on the way for their 2½-year-old!
The actress, 34 — who has kept her belly under wraps in recent days, covering it in loose tops, as well as her purse — stepped out in West Hollywood sporting quite the bump.
When contacted for comment, reps for the couple remained mum.
(from "People" site April 19th 2010)

Cigs contain pig's blood, academic says

Cigarettes may contain traces of pig's blood, an Australian academic says with a warning that religious groups could find its undisclosed presence "very offensive".
University of Sydney Professor Simon Chapman points to recent Dutch research which identified 185 different industrial uses of a pig - including the use of its haemoglobin in cigarette filters...
..."The Jewish community certainly takes these matters extremely seriously and the Islamic community certainly do as well, as would many vegetarians...."
More from TheWest.com.au

Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen get married!

Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen have finally tied the knot after what has to be the longest engagement the showbiz world has ever seen - six years!
The British comedian and his Aussie actress wife married in a small, private Jewish ceremony last week, according to Woman's Day.
Only their 2-year-old daughter and close family and friends were invited — other friends found out about he wedding by email after the deed was done.
"We did it — we're married!" Isla wrote in the group email. "It was the absolute best day of my life and in so many beautiful moments I missed you all so much. I thought of you as everything was happening, but Sacha and I wanted no fuss — just us!"
Source:entertainment.msn.co.nz

Teenage tennis star is runner-up in Open final

JEWISH tennis player Sean Berman has fallen at the final hurdle, losing the final of the Australia Open Junior Boys’ Singles competition to 14th seed Brazilian Tiago Fernandes 7-5, 6-3 on January 30.
There were few easy points in the hard-fought contest, and the 17-year-old had his chances, but managed to convert just two of a possible nine break points.
Berman, who was unseeded in the tournament, went for his shots, but it was Fernandes who had the better of the big moments.
Berman started brightly, breaking Fernandes in the opening game of the first set and consolidating with an easy service game.
More from The Australian Jewish News

Miep Gies, who helped hide Anne Frank, dies at 100

By ARTHUR MAX, Associated Press Writer – Tue Jan 12, 2:23 pm ET
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – Without Miep Gies, the story of Anne Frank might never have been known.

The former office secretary who helped hide the Jewish teenager from the Nazis for two years gathered up the scattered diary pages after the Frank family was arrested and sent to concentration camps. She locked the papers — unread — in her desk until Frank's father Otto returned, the only family member to survive.

Gies died Monday from a neck injury suffered when she fell last month, the Anne Frank House museum said. She was 100 and had been one of the few people still alive who knew Anne Frank...
More from Yahoo News

December 24, 2009 - Older than the faculty

The Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade recently celebrated 90 years from the founding of this academic institution. Professor Marko Anaf, Faculty lecturer in retirement celebrates his 100^th birthday today.
Professor Anaf was born in Požarevac on December 24, 1909 where he completed his elementary and high school education. He completed his medical studies at the Belgrade Faculty of Medicine in 1936. What needs to be mentioned is the fact that he is the first professor of this Faculty to reach the age of 100. Observing the traditional Jewish custom of birthday congratulations the Jewish Community in Zemun sincerely wishes Professor Anaf to live to celebrate his 120^th birthday. Jom huledet sameah!
In honor of Professor Anaf’s celebration we cite below a text by Ljiljana Luković published in “Lecturer’s of the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade” book II, edited by Radoje B. Čolović and associates, issued by Medicinski fakultet u Beogradu (Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade) in 2005.
(Photo: R. B. Čolović and Dragana Pantelić)

Polish police found the infamous ''Arbeit Macht Frei'' sign that was stolen from the gate of the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz after an intensive three-day hunt and arrested five suspects, police said overnight Sunday. The sign was found cut into three pieces. Police spokeswoman Katarzyna Padlo told The Associated Press that the sign was found Sunday night in northern Poland, the other end of the country from the southern Polish town where the Auschwitz memorial museum is located and where it disappeared before dawn Friday. Padlo said police detained five men between the ages of 25 and 39 and took them for questioning to Krakow, which is the regional command of the area that includes the Auschwitz museum. Another police spokesman, Dariusz Nowak, said the 16-foot (5-meter) sign, made of hollow steel, was found cut into three pieces, each containing one of the words. (Guysen.International.News)

Auschwitz death camp sign stolen
The infamous Arbeit Macht Frei sign at the entrance to the Auschwitz Nazi death camp in Poland has been stolen.
The wrought iron sign, whose words mean "Work Sets You Free", was unscrewed and pulled down from its position above the gate in the early hours of Friday. Polish authorities denounced the theft, while Israel's Holocaust museum branded it an "act of war".
More than a million people - 90% of them Jews - were murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz during World War II.
Investigators say at least two people would have been needed to steal the five-metre-long (16ft), 40kg (90lb) sign.
The theft occurred between 0330 and 0500 local time on Friday, police spokeswoman Katarzyna Padlo told AP news agency....
More from BBC site(Dec 18th, 2009)

Demjanjuk trial

The second day of the trial of the accused Nazi guard is set to begin with Demjanjuk hearing the formal charges against him as well as testimony from survivors and relatives of victims of the Holocaust.
The second day of the trial of Ukrainian-born John Demjanjuk is set to begin in Munich with a formal reading of the war crimes charges he faces. On Monday the 89-year-old man was wheeled into the courtroom in a wheelchair, moaning.
His family claims he suffers from illnesses that make him unfit for trial. But courts in Germany and in the US where Demjanjuk lived for decades after World War II, dismissed such claims. The US allowed him to be extradited in May.
Demjanjuk is accused of aiding in the murder of 28,000 victims at the Sobibor death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. He was a Soviet Red Army soldier captured by the Nazis in 1942. Bavarian state prosecutors say he was trained and then transferred to Sobibor to work as a guard...
More from Deutsche Welle site (Dec 1st, 2009)

90-Year-Old Charged in Nazi Massacre
A former SS sergeant who worked unnoticed for decades as a train-station manager was charged with 58 counts of murder Tuesday after a student doing undergraduate research uncovered his alleged involvement in a massacre of Jewish forced laborers.
University of Vienna student Andreas Forster was working on a project about the slaying in a forest near the Austrian village of Deutsch Schuetzen when he stumbled across Adolf Storms' name in witness testimony...
More from AOL News site (Nov 18th 2009)

Golden Lion to Samuel Maoz's Lebanon at 66th Venice Film Festival
Venice Biennale 2 - 12 September 2009
Official Awards
The 66th Venice International Film Festival ran 2nd to 12th September 2009.
The International Juries awarded the following prizes:
- Golden Lion for best film: Lebanon by Samuel MAOZ (Israel, France, Germany) ...

May 11, 2009 - Actor Will Smith Receives Simon Wiesenthal Center's 2009 Humanitarian Award

Holocaust survivors, Business, Political and Entertainment industry leaders and members of the Jewish community were in attendance when the Simon Wiesenthal Center bestowed its highest honor, the 2009 Humanitarian Award, upon actor and philanthropist Will Smith at its National Tribute Dinner in Los Angeles.
The award was given to Mr. Smith for his commitment to education, cultural diversity, and social responsibility and was presented by actress Charlize Theron at the star-studded event. Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks served as Master of Ceremonies. Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer Josiah Bell entertained.
The Wiesenthal Center also presented Medals of Valor to: Karnit Goldwasser, wife of murdered Israeli soldier Ehud Goldwasser for her commitment to speaking out against terrorism and for the release of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier, kidnapped in Israel, still being held in captivity by Hamas in Gaza for almost three year; Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III, the heroic pilot responsible for the "Miracle on the Hudson," when he masterfully landed US Airways Flight 1459 on the Hudson River and saved the lives of 155 people; and Marion Pritchard, for saving the lives of hundreds of Dutch Jews during World War II, most of whom were children.
Dinner Chairmen were Jeffrey Katzenberg; Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment; Ron Meyer, President and COO, NBC Universal; and Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman Sony Pictures Entertainment and Chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group and last year’s SWC Humanitarian Laureate.
Benefits from the evening help support the educational programs of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museum of Tolerance.

The first independant exhibition of art photography of a member of our Community on show in Berlin

Desanka Fogel, graduate of the Sapiro College Class of Photography and Digital Media in Sderot , Israel presented her work at her first one man exhibition of art photography in Berlin . The exhibition was staged in the Kreuzberg quarter, the multinational habitat of Berlin ’s younger population under the sponsorship of Mrs. Enisa and Mr. Mensud Bujošević,

Sixty five art photographs were exhibited in five series. Two series form a self portrait. The portrait series is followed by the Union series, a show of her final exam work for which Desanka received top marks. The two remaining series are staged under the heading FAMILY. Within the scope of the five presented series experimental mode photographs were also on show. The exhibition was open from January 30 to February 7 inst. Visitors from Israel , England , Ukraine , ex-Yu countries and finally Germany favorably appraised the young artist’s work.
Ben Shahar

Holidays Charity Bazaar
On December 7, the Belgrade Fair (Hall 2) was host to the “Holidays Charity Bazaar”. Diplomatic and business representatives of 30 countries in

Serbia

gathered at this humanitarian bazaar, the ninth in row, organized by the International Women’s Club – IWC Beograd. Traditionally the Israeli stand attracted the largest crowd. Dead Sea cosmetics were the most sought out product. Guest to the stand was the fast food restaurant “Falafel” situated in Kraljice Natalije Str. No.66.

The Slovenian stand also drew the attention of visitors. Slovenian national products displayed and on sale at the stand appealed to the palate of gourmands. The atmosphere of the event was heightened by the presence of an abundance of children. This was definitely an excellent introduction to the Christmas and, of course, Hanukah festivities which the expectant children are looking forward to.
An important point of this event is also its charity character, since the complete income from the sales of ‘minor items’ and tickets, having the price of RSD.200.00, will be sent for humanitarian purposes.

Plans for Auschwitz found in Berlin apartment: report
BERLIN (AFP) – Original plans for the construction of the Nazi extermination camp of Auschwitz, including a gas chamber and crematorium, have been found in a Berlin apartment, a newspaper reported Saturday.
The daily Bild published copies of some of the 28 plans, which the head of Germany's federal archives, Hans-Dieter Krekamp, called "authentic proof of the systematically planned genocide of the Jews of Europe."
Click here for link to this article published on Yahoo News

January, 16th 2008 - Filip David's interview to Croatian "Feral Tribune"

Belgrade writer Filip David speaks for "Feral Tribune" about his new "double" novel "Dream About Love and Death", about faith of one literal generation and about tragedy of today's Serbia.

Click here for link to this article published in Feral.hr. site.

July 12^th, 2007 – Visit to The History Archive of Belgrade
Researches related to edition of CD monograph about history of the Jewish Cemetery in Zemun lead us inevitably to the History Archive of Belgrade. Dr Branka Prpa, director of the archive kindly responded to request of our president Nenad Fogel and in pleasant conversation promised all the aid we may need. She emphasized that the Archive of the Zemun Magistrate is also a part of their fund and that we could find there many valuable documents about life of our community in 18^th and 19^th century, only if we have somebody who can read German gothic letters.
Respecting good manners when paying a visit Nenad Fogel gifted our host the newest edition about history of our community, book “Jewish Community in Zemun 1739-1945” with CD. Dr Prpa reciprocated gifting our community with exceptionally valuable editions of the History Archive (5 books) with a common title “Living in Belgrade – City of Belgrade governance documents. Here is what Dr Prpa wrote in prologue of this valuable edition: “Very few could think that a 100 year old archive of the main administration of Belgrade could be a first-class history source, which thereby can be read as an exciting novel. History of the capital and history of Serbs is recognized from the fund of Belgrade governance as exchange, connection and antagonism of events, people and culture in times of doubts and hopes which follow birth of modern Serbian state.” Dr Prpa’s editorial finish with this: “The History Archive of Belgrade invites you to discover our town, to think about Belgrade not as a past but to think present beginning from the past.”

June 6-th, 2007 - New novel by Filip David

On the occasion of his new novel "Dream About Love and Death" Filip David has signed an exclusive contract with "Laguna", publishing house from Belgrade and it's "Meridijan" edition of Serbian literature of 21 century. As explained by Mr. Igor Marojevic, "Laguna" editor in chief, the novel "Dream About Love and Death" consists of two short novels ("Short Novel About Love" and "Short Novel About Dying") which will mark 10^th anniversary jubilee of "Meridijan" edition.
It’s a convulsive writing accenting questions regarded to war and Judaism and is taking place on various geographic locations. For domestic readers the most attractive location will be Zemun.

Classical approach to history novel are edited here with documentary and research techniques. The "Dream About Love and Death" is the first Filip David's novel after nine years. It is expected that it will be released till the end of this summer, says Marojevic.
M.V. (From "Politika" newspaper dtd. June.6-th, 2007)

February 15^th 2007 - Five years of prison for denying Holocaust

German Court sentenced today author Ernst Zundel five years of prison for emanating race hatred and denial of facts that Nazis murdered over six million Jews. Zundel, who's only book is entitled "Did 6 Million Really Die?", is sentenced to the maximum penalty due to German law about Holocaust denial.
He was in custody in Germany since March 2005, after he was deported from Canada . The court stated that he wouldn't be released with caution because of fear that the convict might escape. In his final addressing Zundel told that the court should establish an international expert commission to investigate Holocaust. He told that he would convene press conference and publicly apologize to all Jews and other victims if commission confirms that Jews were killed using gas. Zundel is a German citizen who spent most of his life in Canada . He had an internet site in his past where he published "Germania Rundbreif" in which he claimed that Holocoust has never happened. (Srna)

January 24^th 2007 – Friendly waterpolo match Belgrade – Israel

On Wednesday, January 24^th in swimming pool Tasmajdan there was a waterpolo match between teams of Waterpolo Club "Beograd" from Belgrade and representation of Israel . That was the first match of Israeli representation within their winter preparation trainings in Belgrade . Match between these two equable teams was played in the best sport spirit. " Belgrade " won with exciting 11:10 (Milos Kostic)

December 17^th 2006 – Visit to artist

It was our great pleasure and honor to be invited by our member and artist Sasha Montiljo to visit him in his home in Dobanovacka St. , Zemun. The very approach to his house and interior especially, his creation, indicated to productive and imaginative artist of refined sensibility. His paintings, of course, prove that more. Although (hyper)realistic their colors and compositions express luxuriant spirit of this artist.
Montiljo had several successful solo exhibitions and participates in a few recognized painters colonies. Famous Croatian poet, singer and composer Arsen Dedic has opted for his painting to illustrate cover page of his newest poetry book.
In company of his iguana pet Serge we talked about the art and tough times one artist has to pass to be recognized and to provide his own very existence.
We invite all to support our gifted member!
Visit his internet site at: http://www.montiljo.com (J.R.)

May 2006
We are very proud to announce that our young member Tamara Eberle, activist and leader of our Children section, has finished elementary school with A grade. Her ambitions are to enroll Secondary Medical School – Physiotherapy and to continue studies on Medical Faculty. We are bringing you Tamara’s photo from graduation evening and we are sending her our sincere congratulations!

Synagogue in Stara Pazova

Research team of the second edition of book "Jewish Community in Zemun 1739-1945" headed by Mr. Nenad Fogel, president of JC Zemun, visited Stara Pazova on January 29th 2006 in order to collect more material about Synagogue that existed there until 1949.
Sadly, during Nazi pogrom in World War 2 entire Jewish population of the region was exterminated and accordingly the Jewish Community of Zemun sold the abandoned building of their "Israelitic Filial Religious Community" to Babinka family. Descendant of the family, Vladimir Babinka and his relatives warmly welcomed the JOZ delegation and showed us his premises that were built on adapted Synagogue basis. From the elder members of the family we learned more about circumstances of residing and living in those times. Mrs. Ana Babinka-Kardelis confirmed that Synagogue was not demolished during the war and for the printing purposes renounced a family photo showing their house before adaptation. (B.F.)

Before WW2 and today

Confiscated Properties of Zemun Jews
One of the most beautiful villas at the outskirts of Zemun, just over Tosin Bunar St. today is a feeble beauty waiting to be returned to her real owners.
Exceptionally wealthy family of Polgars built a magnificent house in 1929, with superb view on Belgrade - and today is in Belgrade.
As we were told by one of today's tenants who moved-in back in 1954, many are interested in buying the house.

A lot of beautiful buildings, once owned by the members of our community, are now in ownership of unfortunate tenants due to state policy at the beginning of 90's. Thanks to the state negligence they are now in situation to be owners of somebody else's property.
Sad destiny of the house that was nationalized by post-war authorities is not the lonely case. As Serbian proverb says: "Somebody else's – always damned", but many took great advantage out of somebody else's trouble.

We would like to enable all members of our community to show what properties were taken away from them, when and how. We will publish old photographs of these properties and photograph their today's state. Send us your stories and your documentation.

December 2005. Australia
Member of our community, Olga Fogel from Perth, Australia these days is on training preparations for West Australia Championship in rock climbing. In 2002 Olga won second place in Novice Category. After successful ending of studies in Perth Academy of Natural Therapies she is again devoted to her favorite sport. Next summer (February) she is expecting big temptations in a strong competition of the best ladies from West Australia. On the photo is Olga on Margaret River Climbing.

Israeli food in Belgrade
In 13, Roosevelt St. in Belgrade (near Vuk Monument) there is an newly opened Israeli fast-food restaurant with famous FALAFELs (120 din) - vegetarian food made of chick-pea prepared in a special way, then fried in deep palm oil. The owner is Mr. Shahar Smolakov, Israeli with diploma of a chef. "Humus thina" and "humus zaatar" (110 din), "sambu-sak" (50 din), are also at deposal as well as "nargilas" with oriental tobacco. We were surprised how many guests passed through while we were "checking" this place.
Note: The restaurant is closed from June '06. We'll check temporarily or for good.

November 25^th 2005 Formal Assembly of Zemun fire brigade "Matica"
Volunteer fire brigade of our municipality organized a magnificent manifestation in the House of Airmen in Zemun on the occasion of it's 135 year anniversary. Doyen of this institution, Mr. Djodje Acimovic guided us through the history of the society using his charming words, video beam and superior performance of Belgade Brass Orchestra. Mr. Nenad Fogel, president of JC Zemun, represented our community in the honorable raw.

Medal gifted to JC Zemun
Mr. Zivorad Jocic and his son Djordje visited us on November 10-th 2005, during video presentation od Zoran Kosh's CD publications. In his emotional speech Mr. Jocic greeted the public and expressed admiration and compliments to our community. As a gesture of respect and love his son gifted our community with his medal for the first place on a tennis tournament.

David's Star on a cross
This interesting item was sent to us by our reader Mr. Rajko Sredanovic. Puzzling grave with a cross and a David's Star engraved in it. Location where this photos were shot is graveyard near church of St.Mateja in Vilusi, Monte Negro (30 km from Niksic and 30 km from Trebinje.

We would be grateful if somebody who knows more about this would send us more info.

Annual meeting of association of people of Bajina Basta origin
On invitation of Mr. Dragan Pantelic, organizer of the regular annual meeting of this association's, president of Jewish Community of Zemun Mr. Nenad Fogel and his wife were invited to a banquet which is prepared every year at beginning of November at "Sava Center". Besides president of our community Zemun was represented with prima donna Dragana Jugovic-Del Monaco.
You can learn more about Bajina Basta on their internet site http://www.bajinabasta.org/

We invite all our members and friends of our community to send us their articles or informations about important or interesting happenings. The material will be published on one of our pages, clearly stating the author - volunteer of the item
Our e-mail: jozemun@EUnet.rs