OSIJEK JEWISH COMMUNITY MARKS "JEWISH HERITAGE DAY"

OSIJEK, June 16 (Hina) - The opening of an exhibition of photos of Jewish cemeteries in Slavonia marked the beginning of the traditional event "Jewish Heritage Day" at the Jewish Community offices in the eastern city of Osijek on Sunday. #L# Opening the exhibition, which this year is held in some 20 European countries, Osijek Jewish Community president Darko Fischer said the purpose of the event was to preserve the heritage and tradition of Jewish communities. Apart from the central event of this year's Jewish Heritage Day - the presentation of the Jewish calendar - visitors will also be able to hear a lecture and see a documentary by Zora Dirnbach and her associates about the 60th anniversary of the suffering of the Osijek Jews in World War II. Only 200 of 2,000 Osijek Jews survived the war. The event also includes the presentation of a project of reconstruction of the Vukovar synagogue, launched by the Osijek Jewish Community in cooperation with the Dutch association Centre for Psychotrauma and Peace. The project also envisages the opening of a multicultural centre in Vukovar. (hina) rml