SERBIAN STUDIES

Journal of the north american Society for Serbian StudieS

Vol. 27

2013

Nos. 12

Editors
Ljubica D. Popovich, Vanderbilt University, Co-Editor
Lilien Filipovitch-Robinson, George Washington University, Co-Editor
J Bv, Iowa State University, Associate Editor
Du Dv, Iowa State University, Book Review Editor
Editorial Board
Mr Bv-H, Library of Congress
J Bv, Iowa State University
r Jvv, World Bank
Rm Jvv-Grup, Columbia University
Du Kr, Independent Scholar
Gr Pv, Argosy University
I Sv, Lafayette College
Svt Tm, Alfa University, Belgrade

Copyright 2016 by Serbian Studies: ISSN 0742-3330

Permission is granted to reprint any article in this issue, provided appropriate credit is
given and two copies of the reprinted material are sent to Serbian Studies.
Technical Editor: Rosemarie Connolly
This issue was published in April 2016.

Serbian Studies is produced and distributed by Slavica Publishers. Individuals should

join the NASSS rather than subscribing directly to the journal. Libraries and institutions should order Serbian Studies from Slavica; the institutional subscription rate is
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Contents

A Note from the Editors

T Orr N Cmmt

I. Forward
Ur v Grr
T u Bru, 1914 / Tt Nt Br, 1914 9

II. Articles
Michele Frucht Levy
A Tangled Tale: The Survival of Serbian Jews during
r r II 15
Sibelan Forrester
B Humr D Ks Ts Tttrsm 43
Dr Kuu
Clrts, Eprts: T Js t Hust t
rs Asr Tm 55
Krst Jr
The Kragujevac Massacres and the Jewish Persecution of
Otr 1941 79
(Accompanying illustrations following page 82)
Mr N. Rvv Mtr
Danilo Ki Revisited 85

III. Literature
Miodrag Maticki
T M 93
Mr N. Rvv Mtr
Dp Fr 99

vi

Table of ConTenTs

IV. Art and Architecture

Mr Mv
T Js Hrt Nv Pr: A Cs D Mmr 103
(Illustrations following page 112)
Aleksandra Ilijevski
T Lst Vs Sr Mrsm: M Mv
Isak Azriel 121
(Iustrts p 135)
Asr Kv
The Creative Presence of Jews in Belgrade Architecture of the
Twentieth Century 147
(Iustrts p 154)

V. Book Reviews
C I. D (Br), The Smell of Human Flesh:
A Witness of the Holocaust. Memories of Jasenovac
(Mr N. Rvv Mtr) 167
Milan Koljanin, Jevreji i antisemitizam u Kraljevini
Jugoslaviji: 19181941
(Ptr ) 173

VI. Interviews
Dr Kuu
Frozen Time, Liquid Memories: An Interview Portrait of
Pavle osberger 177

VII. Sources and Documents

Michele Frucht Levy
Bibliographical Sources 193
Mru Muv
Scattered Memories of the Jews of abac 195
(Iustrts p 205)
Ljubica D. Popovich
A Memory: Fragile but Indelible 209

Table of ConTenTs

vii

VIII. In Memoriam
Vs D. Mv, Uvrst Nrt Cr, Cp H
(Kr Vv-Ptrv) 213

A Note from the Editors

This volume of Serbian Studies is dedicated to the life, experience, and contributions of the Jewish people in Serbia. Their lengthy history on the Balkan
Peninsula dates to Roman times. As in the case of other ethnic groups in
Antiquity, they were drawn to Serbian lands for a variety of practical considerations, including the opportunities and ease of trade via the peninsulas
network of waterways that provided access to major centers of commerce.
Although initially modest in number, Jewish settlements and population inrs sustt ur t M As t pr t Ottm
occupation.
T itt-tur pus t Js rm Sp Prtu
rut sit vs Js mmrts t t Bs. Stt prmarily in urban areas, they became an important part and presence within
the small, once-independent nation of Serbia. The two shared a commonality of experience, including loss of sovereignty and subsequent dependency
on and domination by foreign powers. As Turkish subjects they provided the
rqust truts t t Ottm Emprs sust tru ss
occupations that came to be associated with and required of each group. As
Sr -trm rsst t upt tsi t r rs
the nineteenth century, both peoples were subject to Turkish reprisals. The
Serbian-initiated and Serbian-led insurrections that ultimately brought independence received noteworthy Jewish support on a variety of levels.
As an independent state, Serbia experienced the continuity of Jewish contributions to daily life, especially through engagement in trade and vitally
prsss, s s ttu utur . t tgration into Serbian life and acceptance into certain professions and Serbian society in general varied under different monarchial governments, Jewish
mmuts tu t p lurs. As vus s ,
they were major participants in the modernization of Serbia, especially in the
late-nineteenth century and the subsequent interwar period.
This volume addresses the Jewish experience in Serbia in articles focused
str, pts, trr rs, ptr, t rts, rttur.
Serbian Studies: Journal of the North American Society for Serbian Studies 27: 12, 2013.

a noTe from The ediTors

ts ssu rprsts t irst ttmpt t pru mprsv, -ring examination of the Jewish presence and experience in and contributions to
Serbia, it is a project built on the journals record of publishing articles specifically focused on the Jews of Serbia. Since 1984 Serbian Studies has featured
articles on Jewish writers in Serbian literature, literary works by Jewish writers, and scholarly analyses of the works of major internationally recognized
Js trr iurs Sr.
The editors are dedicated to expanding on this project with the publication
s vum t , t prst, srs t US r r
submitting articles and literary works on a variety of topics. As we look forward to the next volume, we extend sincere thanks to the colleagues who have
joined in this challenging and lengthy endeavor to produce an exceptional
t sr rs. s t r prss ur rttu
t Drs. Mr Rvv Mtr Rut Rs r tr r,
ts t t r sts ts prt. r mst pprtv tr tributions and participation.
Throughout the production of this volume we have received invaluable assst rm Rsmr C, Asst Etr, Sv Pusrs.
thank her for her advice and guidance.

The Jewish Heritage of Novi Pazar:

A Case of Decaying Memory
Marina Mihaljevic
State University of Novi Pazar

The modern city of Novi Pazar is still a diverse multicultural community,

which has been shaped by a long history stretching back to medieval times.
The city is situated in the southern part of Serbia in the historic area of Ras,
today known as Raka (Rascia). It was once the heart of the Serbian medieval state. Because of its advantageous geographic position, developed road
network, and economic potential, the area maintained its importance in the
post-medieval period as well.1 H, t rmt t t Nv Pr
itself, which came to be an important regional center, and the subsequent advt Js r t sst t Ottm tms. rm str
umts tt t Ottm Gr Is- Isv sts t t
sometime during the 1460s, in the vicinity of the older medieval marketplace
Trgovite (later known as Eski Bazar), and accordingly named it Yeni Bazar
(Novi Pazar).2 Soon, the city included 10 mahalas (neighborhoods), iv
tm t Musms, t tr iv t Sr Crstians.3 Due to its location on important routes that connected the Adriatic littoral and Bosnia with important citiesBelgrade to the north, Thessaloniki to
t sut, Si Istu t t stt t rp vp. At ts
peak in the second half of the 17th century, it was a prosperous economic cen-

Eup Muv, Sr v, Novi Pazar i okolina, . Bt Mm t . (Belgrade:

Kv v, 1969), 10616.
1

Vu Vvr, Pr turs vv (VVIII v), Mm t ., Novi Pazar i

okolina, 15965, t stsmt t t Nv Pr. O t pr-Ottm str
t st, s Jv Nv, Str rij u Novom Pru (Br: v ttu
spomenika kulture Kraljevo, 1988), 1314, with older bibliography.
2

S M Rvv, Nvprs m, Novopazarski zbornik 16 (1992): 4553,

on statistics regarding the inhabitation and number of Novi Pazar mahalas.

Serbian Studies: Journal of the North American Society for Serbian Studies 27: 10312,
2013.

104

marina mihaljevi

ter, exporting its products: wool, leather, fur, and wax.4 At that time Novi Pazar had as many as 40 mahalas, with a number of public buildingsmosques,
hamams (baths), caravanserais (inns), and bezistans (covered markets).5 The
city was populated by some 30,000 inhabitants, mostly Muslim and Serbian,
but it also had a colony of about twenty merchants from Ragusa (Dubrovnik)
that were engaged in the citys trading affairs. Being a part of the so-called
Pashalic (plk) of Bosnia, Novi Pazar was its major center, second only to
Srv. Hvr, t ust pt ts t t t 17t
throughout the 18th century deeply affected the city, which dwindled to half of
ts prvus s. Gr surt rurr tss t Rus
traders and domestic authorities caused most of the Ragusan merchants to
leave the city before the end of 17th century.6
This change in trading activities left Novi Pazar as an open, potentially
lucrative, market, which probably encouraged the arrival of the domesticized
Ottm Js mrts. Atu t Js prs t t m
ssum t t rm mu rr tms, t r irst mt 1776
rprt stt tt t ss Rus mrt Lu Mv t tr
bezistan in Novi Pazar to Jewish merchants.7 Despite the political instability
and the weakening economy which characterized the period of the 18th century, Novi Pazar maintained its status as an important center in the Central
Balkans.8 The citys persistent commercial activity apparently further enticed
the arrival of Jews, who were traditionally engaged in trade.9 Already in 1807,
the city was inhabited by a community of 100 Jews. Allegedly, Novi Pazar
Jews were of Sephardic origins, speaking Ladino as their native tongue.10 It
4

Vvr, Pr turs vv, 16895.

Ar Arv, Spm sms umtst, Mm t ., Novi Pazar i okolina, 195214.

Vvr, Pr turs vv, 17783.

Vuk Vinaver, Dubrovnik i Turska u XVIII veku (Belgrade: Srpska akademija nauka, 1976),
4659.

Vvr, Pr turs vv, 18095. Aprt rm m mprt, t t

strt mprt r t Ottm Empr s rr t.

S H I, The Ottoman Empire: The Classical Age 13001600 (London: Phoenix

Prss, 2001), 12164, t m tr t Ottm Empr. O t pst -Musm mmuts t t Ottm Empr tr r s ts
in commercial, economic, and cultural revival, see Benjamin Braude and Bernard Lewis,
Christians and Jews in the Ottoman Empire: The Functioning of a Plural Society (Teaneck,
NJ: Hms Mr Pusrs, 1982).
9

Eup Muv, Nvprs Jvr, Novopazarski zbornik 3 (1979): 23. Massive immigration of Sephardic Jews began after a formal invitation to Jews expelled from Spain and

10

The jewish heriTage of novi paZar: a Case of deCaying memory

105

seems that most of them came from Sarajevo, which, as a major center within
t Ottm Empr, str Js mmut s t m-16t
century.
Jews in Novi Pazar shared the citys changeable destiny. The liberation
rs st t Ottm upt t t t 19t tur
brought a period of turmoil to the city and its inhabitants, forcing repeated
evacuations and migrations from the city. Consequently, a number of Jews left
Nv Pr. Atr 1809 tr s v 5 Js ms t t
city of 4,000 houses. Yet, the Jewish community did not permanently abandon
the city. The evidence shows that in 1866 Novi Pazar had around 200 Jewish
tts, tr umr 1896 s 156. T t 20t
tur t B rs rut t rt Nv Pr rm Ottoman rule.11 T utr I, vr, u urtr stt. I
1915 t t s up t Austr-Hur rm, rm
in the city until 1918. A good relationship with the new government brought
a period of prosperity to the citys Jewish community. Jewish merchants used
the presence of the Austrians in the city as an opportunity to expand their
trade and commerce. Many of them succeeded in establishing connections
t V tr Austr-Hur ts.12
As sr Eurp, t II t tr
t st Js Nv Pr. O 16 Apr 1941 Grms up
t t. Tr mts tr Nv Pr s t t s- Grtr
A. Susqut, t Grms st r A mup
government, which further escalated tensions in the relationship between the
citys Serbian and Muslim communities.13 Almost immediately, in an atmospr trrr r, t Grms pursu t prtur rs prscution of Jews for which they were known elsewhere: personal humiliation,
physical violence, restricted movement, and isolation from other citizens, who
were themselves deeply affected by the situation within the city. In July 1941,
a sequence of tragic events rapidly escalated, from the initial seizure of Jewish property, houses, and shops to imprisonment and deportation. The tragic
Prtu t stt t t Ottm Empr ssu Sut B II (14811512) 1492.
See Inalcik, The Ottoman Empire, 2340.
T t s rt t Sr rm Otr 1912. Eup Muv, Nv Pr
19121941, Novopazarski zbornik 29 (2006): 1120.

11

Mr A, Tr su Nvprs Jvr, Novopazarski zbornik 26 (2002):

253.
12

S M Rv, Nv Pr u rvu, Mm t ., Novi Pazar i okolina, 303

61, esp. 31331, for a detailed account concerning the Albanian government of the city. See
s Muv, Nvprs Jvr, 2329.
13

106

marina mihaljevi

conclusion came in March 1942, on the morning of Purim, when all of the
208 Novi Pazar Jews, including children, women, and elders, were arrested
mprs Grm mtr mp stut t t Ottm
rtit. A rup t Js rm Du P r s rut t
t prsrs. Tr s tr t r prt, irst t Ksvs Mtrovica, and later to Belgrade, where they were put to death at the Nazi camp
Str Smt. N tm survvII mst mpt rt
the Jewish community in Novi Pazar.14 The two remaining families with some
ten members left the city during the 1960s.
T Grms s m sur t t tr t Js prsence in Novi Pazar. In a short time, all Jewish possessions were sold or simply
st Grm srs tr rtrs, tus mpt
liquidated.15 The search for hidden Jewish belongings continued for the durat t r. T Grms s ur t rv t Js Rus
Community and a number of private Jewish archives sheltered there, leaving
practically no record of the existence of Jews within the entire area.16
Consequentially, our knowledge of the Novi Pazar Jews is far from compt. tt t r tr Js Rus Cmmut t
mid-18th century.17 The organization also attracted Jews from the neighboring
ts vs R, S, Du P, Tut. rr
activities of the Jewish community remain almost completely obscured, the
20th-century history of the Jews in Novi Pazar can be reconstructed from
random references in other sources and the personal recollections of the citys
inhabitants.18
Br II, Nv Pr mr t 50 Js ms. T r
mainly engaged in trade and commerce, and apparently had a substantial economic impact on the life of the city.19 Jewish houses were located in the city
center, especially in the area known as Podhamam. Their shops and other
commercial buildings were located in prominent places, and some of them

A, Tr su, 26071, prvs t st t vtms survvrs

names of the Jewish Religious Community from the entire area of Novi Pazar.
14

15

A, Tr su, 26567, t qut Js prprt.

Mr Rv, Jvrs pt u Nvm Pru, Novopazarski zbornik 29 (2006):

176.

16

17

Rv, Jvrs pt, 16977.

Mt Mtv, N vt vprs Jvr, Novopazarski zbornik 30

(2007): 17380.
18

19

Muv, Nvprs Jvr, 2425.

The jewish heriTage of novi paZar: a Case of deCaying memory

107

were among the citys most luxurious properties.20 Du t t sit prsperity of its members, it seems that the Jewish community had a well-organized communal life. The center of Jewish life was certainly the synagogue
(known as havra),21 ut 1857, s t t t tr t
right bank of the Raka river.22 Jews had their cemetery in the area of the
so-called Potok Mahala (modern Donji Aleksinac Street). The Jewish community also established their own school (meldar), attended by Jewish children
from the entire area. They even had a coffee shop as a place for meeting and
relaxation.
Urtut, t ps rms m ts us v most completely vanished. The synagogue was badly damaged in the 1944
m, tu t survv II. Ltr t s rpr trsrm
t t ur. T t u s mpt rs rt l
that struck Novi Pazar in 1979, and afterwards a garage for a nearby house ocup ts st. Lu, t i s umt r ts mpt mlition (see Figure 1 in the gallery of illustrations after this article).23 Thus, we
know that the synagogue was a simple rectangular building raised on a plinth
ut st; ts s rm tmr rm i t s s mm Ottm rttur. T trr t su s rm
r srpt v Js t survv II.24 As we learn

Mr Rv, Jvrs u u u Nvm Pru, Novopazarski zbornik 23

(1999): 30917, umrts sm 36 prvt Js uss 35 Js sps t t t
prpr. Muv, Nvprs Jvr, 24, mts t t 1961 rr
75 uss, 32 sps, 25 rutur pts t vt t t tt t
Novi Pazar Jews. Most of the registered buildings changed their primary functions and underwent serious reconstruction, which completely obliterated their original character.
20

21

In accordance with the Islamic tradition of distinguishing between mesjids (tr. mescid) and
Friday Mosques, familiar to the local population of Novi Pazar, the word havra is even today
used as a reference to a small-congregation worship place, although such a distinction does not
pr Js prt. S, rsptv, Ms, The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art
and Architecture, . J. M. Bm S. S. Br (Or: Or Uvrst Prss, 2009),
6971, 54852; Su, , The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions, ed. John
Br (Or: Or Uvrst Prss, 2003), 708.

Mtv, N vt, 174. T t t rt t su s mt

1937 rprt t Asst Js Cmmuts usv (SJOJ).
22

Nv, Str rij, 1617, 7980, i. 116, pus t ru p t su

as documented in 1971. Because of the historic importance of the building, he proposed a partial reconstruction of the vanished building (reprinted herein) according to the recorded data.

23

24

Mtv, N vt, 174.

108

marina mihaljevi

rm ts rr, t trr t su s s -s.25

The prayer hall was accessible from the south entrance. As customary, Aron
Hakodesh, a cabinet for the Tora, was on the east wall of the synagogue. A
Teva (Tevah, the pulpit) was placed in the middle of the room. Below its steps
there was a Geniza (Genizah), a depository for worn-out religious books and
documents. The women prayed separately in the gallery, secluded by an iron
fence along the northern wall of the synagogue. They commonly entered there
directly from the courtyard or through the school, which was apparently attached to the synagogue or was within the same building.26
A plot of land in the nearby vicinity of the synagogue (modern Svetozara
Mrv Strt) prsrvs us tt s v t s t Js
us. T u s ut r t Js mrt r,
Samuel Konforti-Sumbuliko, sometime between the two world wars. New liv strs su s ts vs t r msr t ru-lr
certainly testify to the privileged circumstances of its owner. Today, however,
the previous glory of the house is not easily perceptible. The combination of
time, poor maintenance, inadequate renovations, and the perishable nature
of its upper traditional structure has led to the houses poor state of preservation.27 Moreover, its original architecture has recently also been obliterated by
t t mr t ts r lr, rv urness of its historic and aesthetic values.
O, t s sm u t trr rm rtrst
t Ottm rttur urm sr tts t t t
(see Figures 23).28 Urtut, u t t mr rut t rvr25

Mst , t t 1930s t u s sr qut r ts ut. H

the Jewish community prepared plans for the erection of a new synagogue. It is know that the
plans were purchased from the engineer Mihail Balashov, and the preparatory construction
work began in 1938. Due to the ensuing unfortunate events, the construction has never been
tu. Rv, Jvrs pt, 173.
26

Apart from this note, none of the authors mentions the location of the Jewish school.

27

The fallen coat of plaster on the exterior of the central projected erker reveals the cob-andtmr-rm . S Jv Nv, I rtts prst Nv Pru
stv, Zbornik Istorijskog muzeja Srbije 1314 (1977): 4041, for a particularly valid
summr t iuts prsrv Ottm uss ur mr ts.

Fr rt r suss t mr us t trm Ottm r Ort us

rst rttur t Bs, rv r trtur, s J Bv,
O t Arttur t Ks Sr (18041830s), Serbian Studies: Journal of the
North American Society for Serbian Studies 21, . 2 (2007): 16263. O t rttur
t Ottm ur uss Sr, s S M. Nv, Grs u rt st, Ilustrovni renik ir u nrodnoj rhitekturi (Belgrade: Prosveta, 2002),
274300; Vmr Mur, r rs tr u Sr I prv pv v
28

The jewish heriTage of novi paZar: a Case of deCaying memory

109

bank and changes in the street network, the original organization of the courtr t rstrut. m ssum tt t us t
strt mst rt r tru rr r. t, t uppr lr
an open design with a number of windows on the front and side faades (now
blocked by smaller windows). This represents a departure from the common
sm t Ottm us, s tp pu rm t strt
in order to ensure the privacy of its occupants.29 The plan of the house belongs
to a distinct type recognizable in other houses in Novi Pazar.30 The ground
lr, u r trr strs, mst srv s
the commercial part of the house (see Figure 4). The function of the second
lr t tr t t vr t tr mst
be related to the similarly placed divanhana (divanhaneconversation room)
common in other houses in the city.31 The hall was originally surrounded by
four rooms, the largest of which presumably served as a guest room. As it was
an obvious emblem of the familys prestige, this room, the so-called alaturka,
was commonly furnished with special care.32 It is interesting that both Muslim
and Serbian families often had almost identically furnished alaturka rooms,
rtt mr t sit rtv ts rv t
owners religious and cultural background. Regrettably, the interior features
of the Konfortis house have been completely altered by modern reconstructions. As a result, we are not able to approximate the private sphere of its Jewish occupants, nor can we make any comparison with the citys Muslim and

(N: Gr 1984); Jv Kru,O rttur str u (tp pr) urm spu

r P, Saoptenja 13 (1981): 77104; Dv ur-m, Beograd kao orijentalna
varo pod Turcima 15211867 (Br: Mu r, 1977); Mr Kr, Grv
rvr Sr 1790 1839, Zbornik muzeja prvog srpskog ustanka, vol. 1 (Belr: Mu r, 1959), 528.
29

Traditional Muslim houses had a frontal economic space, and thus a more public courtr, v rm prvt urt r. Rvv, Nvprs
m, 52, i. 1.
30

Nv, I rtts prst, 3346. As Nv, Str rij, 3844.

S Mr Krv, Uutr ur u u Nvm Pru r u I ptm v, Novopazarski zbornik 33 (2010): 13956, t trr rt Nv
Pazar houses.
31

The term alaturka ( Turs st) m t us t t irst t 20t tur

to denote t ust rm. S Mur Krv, S tur u Muu Rs u Nvm
Pru, Glasnik Etnografskog muzeja u Beogradu 75 (2011): 7386. Alaturka also refers to
Ottm-st t. Au , Turcizmi u srpskohrvatskom jeziku (Sarajevo: Svjetlost, 1973), 86.
32

110

marina mihaljevi

Serbian houses of a similar rank.33 I r, tr II, t ts prvt

Jewish residences were used by non-Jewish occupants; this combined with
the loss of other Jewish personal possessions prevents us from assembling an
image of the distinctly Jewish appropriation of the local micro-culture, which
certainly existed and was shaped by the culturally diverse urban community.
Yet, the exterior of the house still reveals an interesting distinction presumably mirroring the cultural inclinations of the houses original owner.
Notwithstanding the houses essentially traditional primary forms, the design
ts sur sm t turs tp Ottm rst rchitecture. Instead of the customary smooth external surfaces characteristic
Ottm tmr-rm rttur, t tr pstr s m t
resemble elements characteristic of masonry architecture previously almost
completely unknown in the residential architecture of Novi Pazar (see Figure
5). T uss s tus rt lut pstr strps surmut
by capitals, molded cornices, even with an upper frieze with leaves. In accordance with the all-pervading efforts to modernize the liberated state and catch
up t tr Eurp ts tr t I, t rs mt s t
create a more European appearance to his house.34 This was, however, a seem ut ts r prv ur t st irst-
of European architecturethe capitals came to be little more than a naive
urvr pttr rsm t s rpr, t luts t
pilasters are molded as vertical egg-and-dart strips, and the band of leaves
pprs t tt ups- pst. O sput
33

Due to the complete destruction of the Jewish possessions, the Museum Ras in Novi Pazar
shelters only a few objects related to the history of Jews in Novi Pazar. Jewish houses customarily had a mezuza (mezuzah, the container with a parchment scroll inscribed with two
paragraphs from The Fifth Book of Moses) attached to the doorposts of the main entrance; the
home decor included candlesticks and hanukija (chanukah, eight-branched candelabra), which
in the Sephardic tradition stood beside the entrance door. See Cadik Danon, Zbirka pojmova
iz Judaizma (Belgrade: Savez Jevrejskih optina Jugoslavije, 1996), 19699.
T Eurpt t ts tr t rt rm Ottm ru s r
t, srv truut t Bs. Ot, sp rst rttur,
this inclination was reduced to the change in building material from cob-and-timber frame
to brick masonry (apparently the intended effect in Konfortis house) and the introduction of
Eurp rtv mts t trr t us. S Dv ur m,
Graditelji Beograda 18151914 (Br: Mu r Br, 1981), sp. 714; Kr,
Grv rvr, 528; r Mv, Prmv srps rtt u
19. vu, Saoptenja IAUS 2 (1969): 5663. O t pprprt Eurp rttur
Sr, s Asr Kv, P mm u srps rttur (sr
I v), Estetika arhitekture akademizma (XIXXX vek) (Br: Grvs
, 2005), 291418; Asr Kv, Jedn vek trenj nionlnog stil u srpskoj
arhitekturi: Sredina XIXsredina XX veka (Br: Grvs , 1997).
34

The jewish heriTage of novi paZar: a Case of deCaying memory

111

as to whether the builder was inspired by Art Nouveau decorative motifs (see
Figure 6).35 Even so, the set of aesthetic and cultural values promoted by this
design was apparently highly appreciated, since we can identify similar detailing on several other houses in the city, presumably built by the same local
workshop.
Among the few preserved remains of the material culture of Jews in Novi
Pazar, the Jewish cemetery certainly merits attention. The date of its establishment is not known, but that its history is lengthy may be assumed.36 The
cemetery served the needs of the members of the Jewish Community both
from Novi Pazar and the entire region. As we are informed, in 1936 the Jewish
Religious Community commenced a renovation of the cemetery.37 The site
s s , ts rt sur msr .
tables and benches were provided for visitors to rest. A house for a cemetery
caretaker and his family was provided at the northern end of the site. As we
can now conclude from the remains on the site, the graveyard contains more
than a hundred tombs. As visible today, they are differently marked, most of
them with horizontal tombstones, some in the form of a sarcophagus, but also
many of them with vertical slabs (see Figures 78). Some of the tombs also
took the shape of monumental sarcophagi surmounted by obelisks. Many of
tm v prsrv ptps sr Hr, st r t
t tit t s.
O m s t mst utu mtr Nv Pr, t Js
Cemetery is today among the most endangered parts of the citys heritage. It
is now surrounded by modern houses, with illegal modern construction even
intruding into its inner space. The entire site is neglected and covered with
shrubs and dirt, and many of the tombs have even been dug out. The tombstones themselves are poorly preserved; the majority of them are broken and
overturned. Despite repeated initiatives, the citys communal services have
not managed to protect the cemetery from of acts of vandalism and the illegal
usurpation of its land.
35

O t vrst Art Nuvu st Eurp, s Jrm Hr, Art Nouveau: International and National Styles in Europe (Mstr: Mstr Uvrst Prss, 1997). Fr
t mpt Art Nuvu, sp t r Sss Sr, rt s Asr Kv, Dv t srps rtts r-uvtr ,
Nslee 5 (2004): 5370, t r rv rr trtur; s s L Bv,
Modernism in Serbia: The Elusive Margins of Belgrade Architecture 19191941 (Cambridge,
MA: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press, 2003).
Mtv, N vt, 17879, mts tt tr r tms t st t-urst rs tut urtr mt s surs.
36

37

Rv, Jvrs pt, 17273.

112

marina mihaljevi

These somber remnants are crumbling rapidly, threatening to deprive the

entire community of Novi Pazar of an important aspect of its rich history. The
city is fortunate to be able to preserve some of its precious cultural heritage
s t st Str Rs Sp ts mmt vt v st
s UNESCO r Hrt sts.38 The ambience and cultural values of the
historic city center of Novi Pazar were recognized by the National Preservt Srv. I t t tr, Str r (O r) t Ottm
fortress were both categorized as cultural monuments of exceptional importance.39 T prvus t t su t Js us r
tr prts t prtt st Str r. T Js mtr ts
s i prm utur mumt t Nv Pr Mupity in 1987, and it was listed in the Central Register of Cultural Monuments of
the Republic of Serbia in 1992.40 Yet, the deplorable condition of the sites and
buildings described above fully illustrate the wretched destiny of the Jewish
heritage in modern Novi Pazar. Its poor standing calls for immediate attention
in order not only to preserve the memory of and pay tribute to the victims of
t Hust, ut s t prsrv t mututur spts ptm
the historic experience of Novi Pazar and formed its distinct urban identity
and its diverse cultural landscape.

mmihaljevic@gmail.com

Fr srpt vut t sts Str Rs Sp u r Hritage list in 1979, see http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/96/, accessed 7 September 2013.

38

39
For a complete listing of the monuments and sites of exceptional and great importance in
Novi Pazar, their descriptions and evaluations, and a referential bibliography, see Spomeniko
nslee Srije: Nepokretn kulturn dor od iuetnog i velikog naja (Belgade: Repub v ttu spm utur, 2007), 76, 28789.
40

It is important to note that none of the recent bibliographic references provides the updated
information about the status of the Jewish cemetery.

Figure 1. Su. Hptt rstrut p

Sur: J. Nv, Str rij u Novom Pru (Br: v ttu spm
utur Krv, 1988), i. 116.

Figure 2. Novi Pazar in 1916. (old picture postcard)

Pt: M. Mv.

Figure 3. Js us. V t tr rm t rt

Sur: J. Nv, Str rij u Novom Pru (Br: v ttu spm utur Krv, 1988), i. 44.

Figure 4. Js us. St t p

Figure 5. Js us. Drt t str

(pt: S. Ks).

(Pt: M. Mv)

Figure 6. Js us. Drt t tr

(Pt: S. Ks)

Figure 7. Js mtr. Gr v t tmsts

(Pt: M. Mv)

Figure 8. Js mtr. Gr v t tmsts