As early as the 10th century, there were Jews living in Yugoslavia. During the early 1700’s, when Serbia was under Austrian rule, the Jews faired pretty well. A century later during the Serbian wars of independence, that all changed. Jews fled from Belgrade and although some Jews provided arms for the revolutionary army, the independence movement attacked the Jews. In the 1830’s and 40’s, the Serbian government created laws that excluded Jews from certain trades. Jews were forbidden to live in provincial towns in 1856 so many moved to Belgrade and other areas. Finally in 1889, the Serbian government proclaimed all citizens to be equal and therefore parliament removed the restrictive decrees from the past.

In 1919, although it was not easy to unify the varied Jewish communities of the Yugoslav kingdom, the Federation of Jewish Communities was founded receiving government recognition. Four years later, the chief rabbinate was created. In some cities, there were Jewish elementary schools while in others Jews attended the local schools in which two hours were allotted for Jewish religious studies.

The Holocaust
In 1941, Yugoslavia was occupied by troops from Germany, Hungary, Italy and Bulgaria, and the country was divided up into four parts. Life for the Jews drastically changed as they were forced to register, were removed from public service, drafted into forced labor, made to wear a yellow badge and Jewish shops were attacked. By September 1941, all Jewish males above the age of 16 were sent to a concentration camp in a suburb of Belgrade and daily were shot. In total, 4,500 were killed in this manner.

Once Yugoslavia was liberated in 1944, approximately 14,000 Jews returned. On October 22, the Federation of Jewish Communities resumed its activities and 56 Jewish communities were reconstructed. JDC helped the Yugoslav Federation with welfare projects that included providing material needs for those who were returning to their homes and with rebuilding communal institutions.

After the establishment of the state of Israel, around 8,000 Jews made aliyah.

JDC During the Communist Regime
The Federation of Jewish Communities functioned more as a national body and focused less on communal religious needs. Jewish education was a big focus. Summer camps and choirs were established for Jewish youth.

JDC During the Civil War
Before the fighting began, JDC sent in reserve funds to enable the communities to buy food and medicine.

Today
Despite emigration due to the pressures of war and economic sanctions, the communities have actually grown in recent years as previously unaffiliated Jews have connected with their Jewish identity. JDC continues to monitor the condition of Jewish communities throughout this region and to support the well-being of the few Jews who remain in Kosovo, most of whom live in Prizen. JDC and World Jewish Relief (WJR) have been working with SAVEZ, the Federation of Jewish Communities in Yugoslavia, since the fall of 1999 to render aid to the Jews of Yugoslavia in the face of the country’s severe economic difficulties. JDC also supports outreach efforts and Jewish renewal programs in some of the smaller Jewish communities such as Pancevo, Zrenjanin, Zemun and Kikinda.