ZAGREB JEWS MARK JEWISH HERITAGE DAY

ZAGREB, June 16 (Hina) - The Zagreb Jewish Community staged "Jewish Culture and Heritage Day" in Zagreb on Sunday. #L# The visitors were able to see an exhibition of photos showing the celebration of Jewish holidays, as well as some artefacts from the community's collection, and see a calendar of Jewish holidays, drawn by children. The event included the showing of two documentaries on the Zagreb synagogue (1867 - 1942) and rare and valuable artefacts from the Jewish sacral heritage. Teodor Gruener held a lecture on the Zagreb synagogue, which he said had been a link between the Christian and Jewish population of Zagreb until its destruction in 1942. The visitors were also able to taste Israeli specialities and buy books. Jewish Community president Ognjen Kraus said that Jewish communities in Croatia today numbered 2,500 members. European Jewish Heritage Day, which was marked for the first time three years ago, is marked in 23 European countries this year. Croatian Jews have been participating in the project since its beginning. Jewish Heritage and Culture Day has been organised twice by the Osijek Jewish Community, which has been joined this year by the Zagreb Community. Europe Jewish Heritage and Culture Day is organised by B'nai B'rith Europe and the European Council of Jewish Communities. B'nai B'rith is an international non-government association which works on unifying all Jews in the preservation of their cultural heritage and national identity. (hina) rml