Montenegro Hosted 'Mahar', the Largest Jewish Conference in Southeast Europe

In early November, Budva (Montenegro) hosted the annual "Mahar" conference. The largest Jewish conference in Southeast Europe was organized by the Jewish Community of Montenegro, with the support of the World Jewish Congress, the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), and the Government of Montenegro. In 2017, "Mahar" marked its fifth anniversary, featuring a specially curated festive program and distinguished speakers from various countries. Over the course of four days, the conference addressed various topics, all central to the core question raised in all lectures and panel discussions: "What is the future of the Jewish diaspora?"

Over five hundred participants, representing the Jewish communities of their respective countries, gathered in Budva from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro. The EAJC delegation was led by Mikhail Chlenov, Chairman of the Strategic Council of the Congress and one of its founders. At the opening of the conference, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin welcomed the participants via video link.

One of the most pressing issues for European Jews is security. Due to the unstable situation in many European nations, representatives of the Jewish diaspora are increasingly considering repatriation to Israel. This specific topic was examined in the lecture "If Jews Leave Europe... Are We Safe in Israel?" The lecture and discussion were led by retired Major General Eitan Ben-Eliyahu, former Commander of the Israeli Air Force, a leading developer and manufacturer of Aeronautics unmanned aerial vehicles, and a lecturer at the Open University of Israel in Tel Aviv.

The lecture by Israeli historian Naomi Izhar, a specialist in the history of the Jewish people during World War II, focused on the 1942 Nazi Wannsee Conference, where the framework for the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question" was established.

An entire day was dedicated to the case of Adolf Eichmann. Dr. Avner Avraham, an artist, art curator, radio host, and internationally recognized expert on the Adolf Eichmann trial, delivered a presentation on the capture of the Nazi criminal by the Mossad in May 1960.

The theme of "The Eichmann Trial" was further explored by Holocaust survivor Miki Goldman. Goldman, who survived Auschwitz and fought against the fascists in the ranks of the Red Army, is a senior officer in the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Police. As one of the officers who interrogated Adolf Eichmann, he was later present at the Nazi's execution and was responsible for scattering Eichmann's ashes in international waters outside Israel's maritime borders. In 1947, Goldman attempted to emigrate to Palestine aboard the ship "Atikva" but was deported to Cyprus, where he spent 18 months in a refugee camp. Miki Goldman is one of the founders of the Yad Vashem museum complex. In 2011, he lit a torch at the state ceremony dedicated to Israel's Independence Day on Mount Herzl.

According to the most prominent historical account, Jews first arrived in the Balkans with Roman troops following the destruction of the Second Temple. The descendants of these Jews are known as Romaniotes. Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews began arriving in the region much later. Today, while the Jewish diaspora in the Balkans is relatively small, it remains highly significant.

The "Mahar" conference featured several photography exhibitions, as well as a screening of the documentary film "Ben-Gurion. Epilogue," which depicts the life of David Ben-Gurion, one of the greatest political leaders of modern history. Popular Israeli singer Ofri Eliaz, who performs in the Ladino style, performed accompanied by Yasmin Levy's orchestra. The "Moise Hason" choir, established in 2000 by the Jewish community of the Republic of Macedonia, also performed for the guests. The choir views its primary mission as the preservation and promotion of traditional spiritual and secular Sephardic music. At the "Mahar" conference, the musicians performed their classical repertoire, several popular Israeli musical pieces, and well-known opera arias.

Summarizing the event, Haim Ben-Yakov, Acting Director General of the EAJC, stated: "The 'Mahar' conference is of great significance. Primarily, it serves as a platform for fostering connections among Jews living in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. These communities are small and occasionally feel isolated from the wider Jewish world. The annual conference enables these communities to feel connected to the global Jewish community and strengthens them. Furthermore, the 'Mahar' conference offers a unique opportunity to enjoy a diverse cultural program."

NEWRU.co.il​