Sephardic Jews in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Contribution to Cultural and Literacy Development

Abstract

Sephardic Jews come from deep European west, from Pyrenees where they lived by then and where their spiritual life was in full development. Jews escaped and scattered to all parts of the world with appearance of Inquisition in christian times and so, in the 16th century, they arrived in Bosnia. In Sarajevo, they settled in so called ˝Velika avlija˝ (Great courtyard) and with growing the number of their community members, temples were being built and schools were founded. Pinkas, Jewish remedy books (ljekaruše), Sarajevo΄s Haggadah, Sarajevo's Megillah are the most famous works of Jewish cultural heritage. More importanat social development and cultural changes followed in the 19th century when cultural and artistic groups were founded and when the first periodicals were edited. Sephardic Jews succedded living here to preserve customs and particularity, but at the same time they adapted themselves to customs and way of life of the society where they lived.