The symposium was opened by the head of the Jewish Studies Department, Ivo Goldstein, and the director of the Moses Mendelssohn Centre at Potsdam University, Julius H. Schoeps. This centre founded in Zagreb its first branch for Jewish history and culture in Southeast Europe.
Also in attendance were German Ambassador Hans Peter Annen, Israeli Ambassador Josef Amrani, representatives of the Science and Education Ministry and the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry, Zagreb University Rector Aleksa Bjelis, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean Damir Boras, and Potsdam University Vice Rector Ria de Bleser.
"Also with us are the Jewish studies freshmen, which is the best indicator that this idea is not a wish but a reality," said Goldstein, recalling that in 2006 the former head rabbi of Croatia and the rabbi of the Jewish Community Zagreb, Kotel Da Don, started teaching an optional Judaism course at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences which has been attended by 1,000 students, nearly one in five at this school.