DUBROVNIK SEMINAR ON SOCIAL, CULTURAL HISTORY OF JEWS ENDS

DUBROVNIK, Aug 30 (Hina) - The third international seminar on the social and cultural history of Jews on the eastern Adriatic coast in the 17th century ended at the Inter-University Centre in Dubrovnik on Wednesday. The event, which was organised by Zagreb University and the Dubrovnik Centre for Mediterranean Studies, was attended by some 50 experts from several countries, including representatives from Germany, Turkey and Tunisia, who participated for the first time. The programme of study of the history and contribution of Jews on the eastern Adriatic coast, as well as the current status of the Jewish community in the area, was launched in 1996. This year's seminar presented rich archive materials from Italy and Spain, focusing on those parts which shed more light on the attitude of the Republic of Dubrovnik toward Jews. Every other year, when the seminar takes place, one period in the history of Jews is studied. This year's seminar focused on the 17th century, including a 17th century manuscript, which is preserved in London and which was not known to the public until now. The seminar also tackled the life of Jewish communities in other areas. David Kamhi from Sarajevo University spoke about the arrival and life of Sephardic Jews in Sarajevo and their links with Jewish communities on the Adriatic coast in the 17th century. Poet Luko Paljetak spoke about the Jewish characters in Dubrovnik comedies from the 17th century. The seminar included also a lecture by Sanja Primorac-Feer on the Washington Holocaust Memorial Museum and two video-films. (hina) rml ,