JEWISH Sarajevo

Meet Bosnia: Sarajevo Jewish Tour

and 2 other Tours

Guides

Jadranka Šuster

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Hotel Old Sarajevo

and 2 other Hotels

Restaurants

The Singing Nettle

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אתרים מומלצים Sites to see

Sites

Sarajevo Haggadah at The National Museum of the Republic

The Sarajevo Haggadah is an illuminated manuscript that contains the illustrated traditional text of the Passover Haggadah which accompanies the Passover Seder. It is one of the oldest Sephardic Haggadahs in the world, originating in Barcelona around 1350. The Haggadah is owned by the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo. Its monetary value is undetermined, but a museum in Spain required that it be insured for $7 million before it could be transported to an exhibition there in 1992. The Sarajevo Haggadah is handwritten on bleached calfskin and illuminated in copper and gold. It opens with 34 pages of illustrations of key scenes in the Bible from creation through the death of Moses. Its pages are stained with wine, evidence that it was used at many Passover Seders. The Sarajevo Haggadah was submitted by Bosnia and Herzegovina for inclusion in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register and was included in 2017. Image attribution: Kleinjp, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons; Smooth_O, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Sites

Old Jewish cemetery of Sarajevo

The OId Jewish Cemetery in Sarajevon is located on the slopes of Trebević mountain, in the south-western part of the city. It's the largest Jewish cemetery in Southeast Europe and was in use for approximately four hundred years from the beginning of the 16th or 17th century until 1966. Though it was established by Sephardic Jews during the Ottoman period, it also became the burial ground for Ashkenazi Jews after they arrived in Sarajevo with the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the late 19th century. It contains more than 3850 tombstones and covers an area of 31,160 square meters. It has four monuments dedicated to the victims of fascism: a Sephardi one designed by Jahiel Finci and erected in 1952, two Ashkenazi ones, and one dedicated to the victims of Ustasha militants. The Jewish Cemetery was on the front line during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and was used as an artillery position by Bosnian Serbs. It was thus severely damaged by bullets and fire caused by explosions. It was also heavily mined but was completely cleared in 1996. Notable people buried in the cemetery include Rabbi Samuel Baruh (first rabbi of Sarajevo from 1630 to 1650; his grave is believed to be the oldest in the cemetery), Rabbi Isak Pardo (rabbi from 1781 to 1810), Rabbi Avraham Abinun (Grand Rabbi from 1856 to 1858), Moshe ben Rafael Attias (1845 – 1916), Laura Levi Papo LaBohoreta (writer of the early 20th century), and Isak Samokovlija. Separate vault or "grave" for damaged books known as a Genizah, is located in the southeastern part of the cemetery, with the first burial taking place on 3 July 1916. It is assumed that some 14 chests of holy books were buried in the second burial ceremony, so currently exhumation of Geniza is under way to determine its content. Image attribution: Julian Nyča, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Sites

Sarajevo Ashkenazi Synagogue

The Sarajevo Synagogue is Sarajevo's primary and largest synagogue located on the south bank of the Miljacka river. It's an Ashkenazi synagogue, designed by the famous architect, Karlo Parzik, and built in the year 1902. This was the first religious object to be built in Sarajevo in the Pseudo-Moorish style and today is the only functioning synagogue in Sarajevo. It is believed that Paržik’s designs for this Sarajevo synagogue (which at that time, was the third largest temple in Europe) were based on the synagogue in Budapest. While the city's other synagogue, a Sephardic synagogue, was mostly destroyed by the Nazis in 1941, the Ashkenazi synagogue escaped destruction. Prior to the Holocaust, the populations of Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jews peacefully co-existed with their Christian and Muslim neighbors in Sarajevo and elsewhere in Bosnia and Herzegovina, however, the Holocaust left fewer than 5,700 Jews in former Yugoslavia. Image attribution: Dans, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

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Tours of Sarajevo

Meet Bosnia: Sarajevo Jewish Tour

If you are interested in finding out more about the rich culture and heritage of the Jewish community in Sarajevo, you should join our Sarajevo Jewish Tour. The first Jews arrived in Bosnia in the middle of the 15th century from Spain and Portugal. As tens of thousands of Jews fled the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions, Sultan Bayezid II of the Ottoman Empire welcomed the Jews who were able to reach his territories. Straightaway, Sephardi Jews fleeing Spain and Portugal were welcomed in the Ottoman domains. They found their way to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Thrace and other areas of Europe under Ottoman control. As a consequence, Sarajevo became an important centre for the Jews of the Balkans. Let us guide you through the streets of Sarajevo and show you the most important Jewish monuments in our city.

Bosnia Jewish Tour

Are you looking for an intellectually rich, carefully crafted Jewish tour of Bosnia? We may be able to help. Our Jewish heritage tour of Bosnia serves as the grand opening of our unforgettable journey through the rich Jewish heritage of the Western Balkans. Our 12-day Jewish heritage travel itinerary offers a comprehensive exploration of the rich Sephardic and Ashkenazi culture, history, and traditions of the Jews of former Yugoslavia. The undisputed star, however, of our Sarajevo Jewish tour — and of our whole Bosnia Jewish tour — has to be the magnificent Sarajevo Haggadah. The gorgeous 14th-century illuminated manuscript is housed at Bosnia’s National Museum and was only recently put on display. You will learn how it was courageously saved from the Nazis by Dervis Korkut, the museum’s Muslim curator. During WWII, Korkut and his wife also saved the life of Mira Papo, a young Sarajevo Jew, and were recognized by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations. During the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, as Sarajevo was shelled by Serb forces, Enver Imamovic, the museum director, saved the manuscript by transporting it to the vaults of the national bank. No less fascinating are the splendid Ashkenazi Synagogue (1902) — doubling as the Jewish community center — and the Old Sarajevo Jewish Cemetery (established in the early 1600s), one of the oldest Sephardic cemeteries in Europe. The rounded shape of the tombstones is one of the unique features of Bosnian Jewish cemeteries. Our Sarajevo Jewish tour also makes stops at the 1930 Sephardic Great Temple (Il Kal Grande), the Sarajevo Menorah monument, and the Jewish high school. As we leave Sarajevo, our Bosnia Jewish tour follows the route of an annual local Jewish pilgrimage to the grave of Moshe Danon, Bosnia’s celebrated 19th century rabbi, who was at the center of a notable series of events known as the Sarajevo Purim. On our way to rabbi’s Danon’s grave in Stolac, we will also make a stop in beautiful Mostar. The Old Bridge over the Neretva river is one of the most iconic symbols of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Email us at [email protected] to request a detailed day-by-day itinerary of our Bosnia Jewish tour or send a message through our contact form.

Sarajevo Jewish Tour with Funky Tours

The Sarajevo Jewish Tour, comprising visits to both Sephardim and Ashkenazi synagogues, Haggadah book at the National Museum, Jewish cemetery and Vraca Memorial Park, provides a very comprehensive insight into the Jewish role of the dynamic Sarajevo past. This 4 hour experience will help you to better rationalize the true meaning of the most known Sarajevo nickname: “Little Jerusalem” (Ladino: “Chico Yerushalaim”) and to become more familiar about the Jewish role during the vibrant historic events.

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מסעדות בסגנון יהודי JEWISH STYLE RESTAURANTS

Restaurants

The Singing Nettle

The Singing Nettle brings the feeling of home to your table. We offer a variety of traditional Bosnian dishes, some unjustly forgotten in today's gastronomic offer of other restaurants, as well as those prepared with nettle in particular, alongside other wild herbs from nearby mountains and fields. The offer is seasonal so the ingredients vary depending on the time of the year, and we strive to revive the use of neglected and autochtonous foods which were so beloved by our proud ancestors. The method of preparation also follows those principles, so many dishes are prepared through slow-cooking for many hours. Our entire menu is readily available for your enjoyment. The restaurant is comprised of two floors with capacity of 50 seats. Its design is inspired by traditional Bosnian décor, where food is served in authentic sahans, where coffee is brewed, and where rhythms of sevdalinka song can often be enjoyed.

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מדריכים בעיר CITY GUIDES

Guides

Jadranka Šuster

I am Jadranka Šuster, an experienced licensed tour guide in Sarajevo, the city where I was born and grew up. I conduct my tours from the unique perspectives of an experienced professional guide, journalist and teacher. I am available to lead both walking and coach tours of Sarajevo, as well as all day trips from Sarajevo, including a tour of the beautiful mountain site of the 1984 winter Olympics, Mostar city, Počitelj, Međugorje ,Srebrenica, mountain villages Šabići, Umoljani and Lukomir, Cooking workshop, Copper smith work shop, Woodburning workshop - the Art of pyrography and more...

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קראו עוד בלוגים וספרים אלקטרוניים READ MORE BLOGS AND EBOOKS

World Jewish Travel Official May 31, 2022

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Four Centuries of Jewish Success and Survival

Sarajevo: A Jewel of Jewish History The Jewish community of Sarajevo is one of the best examples of Jewish success in the diaspora. The history that remains today is both a testament to a golden era of acceptance and a reminder of the evils of antisemitic persecution.

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Hotels in Sarajevo

Hotel Old Sarajevo

Hotel Old Sarajevo features elegant accommodation in the pedestrian zone of the old town of Sarajevo (Baščaršija). This heritage hotel perfectly combines traditional charm, modern design, and superior comfort. Ideal for sightseeing, the hotel is located in the culinary center of Sarajevo (Bravadžiluk street), a 10-meter walk from the famous City Hall (Vijećnica) and popular souvenir street (Kazandžiluk). Completely smoke-free, the hotel has a beautiful lounge area and 8 superior rooms, each with its own bathroom and shower. Guests enjoy a delightful breakfast of local delicacies and healthy choices. Outstanding service makes for a lovely stay in the heart of old Sarajevo.

Libris Boutique Hotel

Located in the old part of Sarajevo, Baščarsija, close to the City Hall (Vjecnica) and Spite House (Inat kuća), hotel Libris boutique is the ideal place for accommodation of groups and individual guests. The capacity of the hotel Libris boutique is more then enough for accommodation of groups and individual gueste. Hotel Libris boutique has capacity of 40 beds in: single use, double, triple and quadruple rooms and suite. Hotel Libris boutique provides a greate opportunity in terms of accommodation for organized group, individual guests, business people, excursions at reasonable prices.

Hotel Old Town

Hotel old town is located in the heart of the Old Town of Sarajevo, which with its quality of accommodation allows you a pleasant and unforgettable stay. It offers elegant, bright rooms with bathroom, air conditioning, TV, minibar, and free Wi-Fi throughout. In the immediate vicinity are many important sights from the distant and recent past. For business travelers, the proximity of all administrative centers allows the stay to be as successful as possible in business terms. Our friendly and professional staff is at your disposal and at your service to make your stay pleasant and unforgettable.

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🌍 Celebrating One Year of the Jewish Silk Road Portal

World Jewish Travel was thrilled at #IMTM 2024 to present a copy of the WJT Jewish Silk Road Pressbook to the CEO of the Azerbaijan National Tourism Board Florian Sengstschmid and Jamilya Talibzade its Israeli representative Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB).

The Pressbook celebrates the one year anniversary of the Jewish Silk Road Portal launch, an amazing example of using Jewish travel as a means of cultural diplomacy, whilst highlighting the significant Jewish contribution to the ancient trade route. Kudos to our participating partners from the Kiriaty Foundation (Turkey), National Board of Tourism of #Georgia, National Board of Tourism of #Uzbekistan, and Israeli Embassy of #India.

See the overwhelming reaction from the press, by downloading our free pressbook. Special thanks to Moshe Gilad of the @haaretzcom for highlighting this forgotten but important story in the Galeria section of the newspaper and available to download on WJT.

👉Link to WJT Jewsih Silk Rad Pressbook and more is in our bio

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🌍 Celebrating One Year of the Jewish Silk Road Portal

World Jewish Travel was thrilled at #IMTM 2024 to present a copy of the WJT Jewish Silk Road Pressbook to the CEO of the Azerbaijan National Tourism Board Florian Sengstschmid and Jamilya Talibzade its Israeli representative Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB).

The Pressbook celebrates the one year anniversary of the Jewish Silk Road Portal launch, an amazing example of using Jewish travel as a means of cultural diplomacy, whilst highlighting the significant Jewish contribution to the ancient trade route. Kudos to our participating partners from the Kiriaty Foundation (Turkey), National Board of Tourism of #Georgia, National Board of Tourism of #Uzbekistan, and Israeli Embassy of #India.

See the overwhelming reaction from the press, by downloading our free pressbook. Special thanks to Moshe Gilad of the @haaretzcom for highlighting this forgotten but important story in the Galeria section of the newspaper and available to download on WJT.

👉Link to WJT Jewsih Silk Rad Pressbook and more is in our bio

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Step into the soul-stirring Pesach traditions of Jerusalem virtually. Experience the resonating echoes of Birkat Kohanim🌿

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#VirtualTravel #JerusalemVibes #SpiritualJourney #JewishTravel #Isarel #BirkatKohanim #JewishJerusalem

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Step into the soul-stirring Pesach traditions of Jerusalem virtually. Experience the resonating echoes of Birkat Kohanim🌿

Link is in our bio

#VirtualTravel #JerusalemVibes #SpiritualJourney #JewishTravel #Isarel #BirkatKohanim #JewishJerusalem

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Discover the enigmatic “Donkey Stable” in Jerusalem`s underground. Unveil the city`s secrets from home. 🌌

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#JerusalemUnderground #CitySecrets #ExploreHistory #JewishTravel #Israel #Travel #WesternWall

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Discover the enigmatic “Donkey Stable” in Jerusalem's underground. Unveil the city's secrets from home. 🌌

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#JerusalemUnderground #CitySecrets #ExploreHistory #JewishTravel #Israel #Travel #WesternWall

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🏰✨ Travel through time and faith without leaving home! Join on a virtual journey through Jerusalem’s Old City, a place where history and spirituality meet.

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#VirtualTour #Jerusalem #Passover
#easter #JewishTravel #Israel

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🏰✨ Travel through time and faith without leaving home! Join on a virtual journey through Jerusalem’s Old City, a place where history and spirituality meet.

Check our bio for more information🌟

#VirtualTour #Jerusalem #Passover
#easter #JewishTravel #Israel

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🌟 This journey brings Jerusalem`s sites right to your screen. Don`t miss this opportunity to connect with the spirit of Jerusalem from home.🌿

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#VirtualJerusalem #HolyWeekAtHome #easter #jewishtravel #EasterTravel #virtualTour

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🌟 This journey brings Jerusalem's sites right to your screen. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with the spirit of Jerusalem from home.🌿

Link is in our bio✨

#VirtualJerusalem #HolyWeekAtHome #easter #jewishtravel #EasterTravel #virtualTour

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Embark on a virtual journey through the Holy Land🌿!
Join `Explore the Holy Land’ Virtual Journey, where ancient traditions come to life.

Check our bio for the link💫

#VirtualJourney #HolyLandExperience
#EasterVirtualTour #PassoverExperience
#JerusalemVirtual #Travel

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Embark on a virtual journey through the Holy Land🌿!
Join 'Explore the Holy Land’ Virtual Journey, where ancient traditions come to life.

Check our bio for the link💫

#VirtualJourney #HolyLandExperience
#EasterVirtualTour #PassoverExperience
#JerusalemVirtual #Travel

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