Sarajevo Jewish tour

Sarajevo Jewish tour – The first Jews arrived in the regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the middle of 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 Jews who were able to reach his territories. Sephardi Jews fleeing Spain and Portugal were welcomed in – and found their way to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Thrace and other areas of Europe under Ottoman control. Sarajevo became center for Jews.

The view from Jewish cementery

The Sarajevo Haggadah

Do not miss amazing story of the 700 years old Haggadah, the Muslim librarian who saved it from the Nazis. This book survived three wars and it is still the most important item of National Museum.

Sarajevo jewish tour starts with visit to the Old Jewish Temple. Today it is The Jewish Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina that brings story about five centuries of Jewish community in Sarajevo. Find out about Jewish trade during life in Sarajevo and development that happend in Sarajevo due to Jews. Listen traditional Bosnian song known as sevdalinka and find its connection to Sefardic religious songs.

Sarajevo jewish tour covers Ashkenazi Synagogue as well. It is the only Synagogue serving sermons nowadays in Sarajevo. Do you know that Jewish community helped Sarajevo during the war? Jews of Sarajevo, even most of them left city when war started never didn’t forget what Sarajevo has done for them. They founded few foundations and trusts that directly helped besieged city during the war.

Jewish community in Sarajevo

Jews in Ottoman Empire were generally well-treated and were recognized under the law as non-Muslims. Despite some restrictions, the Jewish communities of the Empire prospered. They were granted significant autonomy, with various rights including the right to buy real estate, to build Synagogues and to conduct trade throughout the Ottoman Empire. Jews, along with the other non-Muslim subjects of the Empire, were granted full equality under Ottoman law by 1856.

We mention rich Jewish history on several Sarajevo tours, but this specific one is focused entirely on long-lasting traditions and customs of Jews in Sarajevo.

Highlights:

Old Jewish Temple – Gallery New Temple – Ashkenazi Synagogue – First hotel in Sarajevo – Grand Jewish Templ -First Jewish secondary school – First Jewish credit foundation – Jewish villa AMA in Sarajevo – Old Jewish cementery – Salom family palace – Second oldest Jewish cementery in Europe – National museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Jewish Haggadah in Sarajevo