SpotlessMind
June 28th, 2004, 02:18 AM
Last time I was visiting Sarajevo(Bosnia and Herzegovina) I had the chance to see the Sarajevan Haggadah and I thought itself and the whole story behind it was something special.
I dug this up:
BBC Web 2-Dec-2002
By Nick Hawton In Sarajevo
One of Europe's most important Jewish relics has gone on public display in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo.
http://www.makabijada.com/images/slike/haggadah.jpg
The 14th Century book, known as the Sarajevo Haggadah, depicts scenes from the Old Testament and has intrigued scholars for generations.
Not only does it break tradition by depicting the human form, but it also portrays the world as round, an heretical concept during the middle ages.
But, the newly restored Haggadah is also seen as an enduring symbol of hope and reconciliation between the peoples of the Balkans.
A choir from a local school marked the ceremony, the first time the Sarajevo Haggadah has ever been put on permanent public display.
http://www.makabijada.com/images/slike/haggadah_police.jpg
Survival story
Originating in Barcelona, the 109-page book is made of calf skin and illustrated with gold and copper pictures.
It arrived in Sarajevo via Italy and Croatia.
During World War II, the Nazis tried to find it but it was spirited away.
Some say it was hidden under the floorboards of a mosque.
During the Bosnian war in the 1990s, it was rescued from the National Library in Sarajevo just days before it was bombed.
The head of the Jewish community in Sarajevo, Jakob Finci, says it is a symbol of hope.
"In the same room we will have not only Haggadah, but also some other objects belonging to other respected religions in our country and this is proof that in this country that not only we can live together, but we used to live together for centuries and let's hope this will continue in the centuries in front of us," he said.
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Anyway, Sarajevo and it's people are very proud of the fact they own it and during it's history the people have done everything possible to prevent it from destruction. Especially during WW2 and the Bosnian war, where both times sadly it seemed to be a target. People risked their lives for it. As the article said it was firstly saved from the National Library days before the bombing(the Library was one of the first buildings that were a target for destruction) and the installed in the National Museum. Later on in the war severe bombing of the Museum began. During the bombing itself two devoted staff members saved it(again). Since then the location of the book was kept as a secret, untill after the war.
Another article......
http://www.zipple.com/newsandpolitics/internationalnews/20010502_sarajevo_haggadah.shtml
Anyway, I was wondering how many of you knew about this?
I dug this up:
BBC Web 2-Dec-2002
By Nick Hawton In Sarajevo
One of Europe's most important Jewish relics has gone on public display in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo.
http://www.makabijada.com/images/slike/haggadah.jpg
The 14th Century book, known as the Sarajevo Haggadah, depicts scenes from the Old Testament and has intrigued scholars for generations.
Not only does it break tradition by depicting the human form, but it also portrays the world as round, an heretical concept during the middle ages.
But, the newly restored Haggadah is also seen as an enduring symbol of hope and reconciliation between the peoples of the Balkans.
A choir from a local school marked the ceremony, the first time the Sarajevo Haggadah has ever been put on permanent public display.
http://www.makabijada.com/images/slike/haggadah_police.jpg
Survival story
Originating in Barcelona, the 109-page book is made of calf skin and illustrated with gold and copper pictures.
It arrived in Sarajevo via Italy and Croatia.
During World War II, the Nazis tried to find it but it was spirited away.
Some say it was hidden under the floorboards of a mosque.
During the Bosnian war in the 1990s, it was rescued from the National Library in Sarajevo just days before it was bombed.
The head of the Jewish community in Sarajevo, Jakob Finci, says it is a symbol of hope.
"In the same room we will have not only Haggadah, but also some other objects belonging to other respected religions in our country and this is proof that in this country that not only we can live together, but we used to live together for centuries and let's hope this will continue in the centuries in front of us," he said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway, Sarajevo and it's people are very proud of the fact they own it and during it's history the people have done everything possible to prevent it from destruction. Especially during WW2 and the Bosnian war, where both times sadly it seemed to be a target. People risked their lives for it. As the article said it was firstly saved from the National Library days before the bombing(the Library was one of the first buildings that were a target for destruction) and the installed in the National Museum. Later on in the war severe bombing of the Museum began. During the bombing itself two devoted staff members saved it(again). Since then the location of the book was kept as a secret, untill after the war.
Another article......
http://www.zipple.com/newsandpolitics/internationalnews/20010502_sarajevo_haggadah.shtml
Anyway, I was wondering how many of you knew about this?