26 Balkan Jewish leaders meet for first time since 1995

PETROVAC - More than 400 representatives from Jewish communities in the Balkans and former Yugoslavia convened in Petrovac, Montegnegro last week for the third annual Mahar conference, a seminar aimed at preventing the assimilation of the 2,500 Jewish people in the region. 
 
Following the opening of the four-day Mahar 2015 conference, 26 leaders of Jewish communities in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia and Hungary sat at the same table for the first time in two decades to discuss the pressing issues affecting their constituents. World Jewish Congress CEO Robert Singer presided over the leadership meeting, organized at the initiative of the Jewish community of Montenegro. 
 
“We are all one great family. Thank you for being, and remaining to be Jews,” said Singer. The WJC CEO also thanked Montenegro for its relationship with Israel and respect for its local Jewish community. “We greatly admire how Montenegro treated its Jewish population during the WWII. We, the Jews, appreciate those who are willing to help others in need.”
 
Milan Rocen, special advisor to the prime minister of Montenegro, told the gathering that Montenegro was proud of its anti-fascist movement and its protection of Jews during the Nazi-era. “At a time of unfathomable crime and moral downfall of many countries, both in Europe and around the world, Montenegro protected its Jews as best as it could. Anti-fascism is today a pivot around which the policies of the modern state of Montenegro revolve,” said Rocen.
 
The main goal of the annual Mahar conference is to establish cooperation between the Jewish communities of the region, saidJasha Alfandari, president of the Jewish community of Montenegro. Alfandri praised the community leaders for coming together at this year’s conference for the first official meeting since 1995. “Since the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, the leadership of the Jewish communities on the federal level has been lost,” Alfandri said.
 
Discussion topics over the course of the event focused on anti-Semitism, Israel-Diaspora relations and security concerns in Jewish communities, as well as issues specific to the Balkan communities, such as restitution of Jewish-owned property. Primary sponsorship for the event was provided by the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress.
 
During his visit to Montenegro, WJC CEO Singer also met with Foreign Minister Igor Lukšić to discuss the issues facing the local Jewish community, including relations with Israel, anti-Semitism in Europe and diplomatic relations between Montenegro and Israel.