Interview with Jasha Alfandari, president of the Jewish Community of Montenegro
Tell us a bit about your community.
The Jewish community in Montenegro, being first registered as an NGO in July 2011, is the youngest and probably one of the smallest Jewish communites in the world today. However, it is very vibrant and active in different fields. According to the last census, about 300 Jews live in Montonegro. Among them there are about 100 who are actively involved with the community.
Our community has very good relations with the government. At the end of January 2012 Judaism was recognized as the fourth official religion of Montenegro.
What are your main projects for the coming years?
The community has been granted an attractive location in a central area of Podgorica to build a synagogue and Jewish cultural center. The project design for the object has been finalized and we are now in the process of fundraising. We do not have the intention to commence construction until the funds are provided. In the meantime, we have furnished one large premise in our office and turned it into synagogue, so we have the capacity to celebrate holidays together.
What are your relations with the international Jewish community?
In less than a three years, our community has become a full member of a large number of international Jewish organizations such as the World Jewish Congress and the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress. We have also established close relations with the Jewish communities from the former Yugoslavia and become an important factor in fostering closer cooperation between them. Furthermore, our community has made a significant contribution to forming and establishing new communities in Albania and Kosovo.
Why did you become a Jewish activist?
I am dedicated to the preservation of the Jewish religion, tradition and indentity. My vision is to promote good interpersonal and interfaith relations and compromise, to develop tolerance, and to oppose xenophobia and anti- Semitism. We are working for a just and honest society and invest efforts to eradicate racial, religious, ethnic or any other form of discrimination.
I want to contribute for the preservation of our Jewish heritage, return and restoration of illegally confiscated and nationalized community property. It is time for true peace, where everyone can live with dignity, and we have to be the bridge to peace.
What are your impressions from the recent 'Mahar' conference?
The 'Mahar 2015' seminar for Jewish communities of the Balkan region, held in the city of Petrovac, took place for the third consecutive years now at the initiative of the Jewish Community of Montenegro. This conference was aimed at preventing the assimilation of the 2,500 Jews in the region and with the goal to establish cooperation between the region's Jewish communities. It was a special occasion for leaders of 26 Jewish communities to sit at the same table for the first time in two decades to discuss the pressing issues affecting our communities. World Jewish Congress CEO Robert Singer presided over the leadership meeting.
This conference was made possible thanks to a donation from the EAJC and WJC.
