Zagreb, August 13, 1999 (IKA) — In an interview appearing in most recent issue of the Catholic weekly newspaper Glas Koncila, August 15, concerning preparations for the Great Jubilee 2000 and pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Prof. Adalbert Rebicc discussed current relations between the Republic of Croatia and Israel, and the phenomenon of anti-Semitism.
Dr. Adalbert Rebicc, a biblical scholar at the School of Theology, University of Zagreb, and head of the publishing house Krsccanska Sadasnjost, has visited Israel 65 times in the past 33 years and conducted many pilgrimages there. Many Jews of Croatian background in Israel still speak Croatian and feel allegiance to their former country. However, as Dr. Rebicc points out, repercussions of the World War II persecution of the Jews are still evident. “These are wounds that have left deep scars upon the Jews. There are many Jews from Croatia who bear witness to the persecutions but also to exceptional undertakings by Croats to save Jewish lives in Croatia during World War II.”
Prof. Adalbert Rebicc asserts that there is no anti-Semitism in Croatia. “However, it is increasingly present, unfortunately, in other parts of Europe — in Germany, Poland and Russia …” Nonetheless, he cautions, “this is not an excuse for us. It does not mean that it would not be possible for groups of deluded persons to appear here and there who might attack Jews.” Therefore, he emphasizes, “we as a nation must be very alert. We must protest and condemn any such eventual attacks immediately. In a democratic society, in a society with freedom of thought, expression and speech, an individual is permitted to express his opinions, including anti-Semitic ones, that do not correspond with those of the majority of the nation.”
Dr. Rebicc believes that young people should be made aware of the strong and deep bonds between the Catholic part of the Croatian nation and the Jewish people. He feels that “the exceptionally large contribution made by the Jews to Croatian culture and civilization” should be emphasized. He stated that the Jews in Zagreb were “integrated in the nation and were great patriots; they included famous physicians, architects, writers and athletes!” Therefore, Dr. Rebicc said that it would be necessary, “in the name of the entire nation and at the expense of the government of Croatia, to rebuild the demolished synagogue on Praška Street. It is high time to do this, and thereby at least partially remedy the terrible injustice inflicted upon the Jews in Zagreb, in Croatia.” He feels that “the crimes during the Second World War in Zagreb must be condemned most decisively, regardless of wherever and by whomever they were committed.” Nevertheless, it is necessary to differentiate between historical facts and those that were falsified, colored by ideology and exaggerated as, for example, the manipulation of the numbers of vicitms and allegations of collective responsibility. “There were so many victims that each individual victim and all of them together must be respected. The killing of a single innocent person is an immense crime, whether he was a Croat, Jew or the member of any other nation!” stated Dr. Rebicc.
Prof. Adalbert Rebicc also emphasized that Croatian-Israeli relations are “good and increasingly better.” They have grown in the economic aspect, particularly in the areas of tourism and the military, as well as in cultural relations — exchanges of artists, musicians and painters. A growing number of Croatian professionals have participated at international symposia and congresses held in Israel.