Croatia

The history of the Jewish community in Croatia dates back to at least the 2nd–3rd centuries CE, although records prior to the 10th century remain fragmentary. Excavations of the Roman city of Salona, near modern-day Split, have yielded Jewish tombstones and ceramic lamps bearing the menorah.

By the outbreak of the Second World War, the community numbered approximately 20,000 members, the majority of whom perished in the Holocaust within the Independent State of Croatia. Following the war, roughly half of the survivors chose to emigrate to Israel, while approximately 2,500 continued to reside in Croatia.

Three-quarters of Croatian Jews reside in Zagreb. In total, there are nine Jewish communities across Croatia. The Jewish population is officially recognized as a national minority, and as such, Jewish institutions receive state financial support. In Zagreb, these institutions include a kindergarten, a retirement home, and various Jewish cultural initiatives.

In the early 2000s, a Holocaust Research and Documentation Center was established in Zagreb. In 2006, Croatia officially commemorated the bicentennial of the founding of the Zagreb Jewish community.

Today, eight synagogues and associated organizations operate in Croatia, located in Zagreb, Rijeka, Osijek, Split, Dubrovnik, Čakovec, Daruvar, and Slavonski Brod. The Zagreb community is the largest and most active, hosting events dedicated to preserving Jewish culture and identity, such as the annual Zagreb Jewish Film Festival.

Additionally, a Jewish Sunday school has commenced operations in Zagreb, and the Jewish community of Croatia has established a summer camp for children on the Adriatic coast.