Zagreb, (IKA) – The new synagogue of the Bet Israel Jewish Community at 6 Mažuranić Square in Zagreb was formally opened on Sunday, March 16. The opening ceremonies were attended by the President of the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Stjepan Mesić; the representative of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, Vice Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor; Mayor Milan Bandić of Zagreb, the Minister of Culture and Head of the Commission for Relations with Religious Communities, Mr. Božo Biškupić; the Minister of Science, Education and Sports, Dr. Dragan Primorac, other senior government officials; the Ambassador of Israel to Croatia, Mr. Shmuel Meirom; representatives of the Jewish communities from Split, Rijeka, Dubrovnik, Sarajevo and Belgrade; Auxiliary Bishop Vlado Košić of the Catholic Church in Zagreb, the Rev. Marinko Juretić of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Zagreb; the representative of Chief Mufti Ševko ef. Omerbašić of the Islamic Community of Croatia, Deputy Chief Mufti Aziz ef. Hasanović; representatives of other religious communities in Croatia; and a number of distinguished rabbis including the representative of the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Shlomo Kassin; Rabbi Avraham Yaffe Schlesinger of Geneva, a member of the presidium of the Rabbinical Center of Europe; Rabbi Yitzchok Schochet, Vice Chairman of the Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogue – London; Rabbi Yosef Kurnik of Brussels; Rabbi Levi Matusof of Milan, Chief Rabbi Yitshak Asiel of Belgrade, Chief Rabbi David Margalit of Trieste, Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser of New York and Rabbi Pinchas Zaklos of Chabad Croatia.
According to Rabbi Kotel Da-Don, the Chief Rabbi of the Bet Israel Jewish Community in Zagreb, “This is the largest delegation of rabbis in Zagreb since WWII. They came from Jerusalem, Europe and New York, which confirms the reputation of our community and its acceptance and recognition by major rabbinical organizations and rabbis.”

The premises on Mažuranić Square have been provided for the Bet Israel Jewish Community by the City of Zagreb as a temporary solution until the rebuilding of the synagogue on Praška Street, which was destroyed in 1942. Mr. Ronald Aviv of Israel was the main sponsor for the remodeling of the premises, which was carried out by Mr. Safet Burzić. The stunning artwork, decor and furnishings are by the academic painter Mr. Toni Franović. “The new synagogue represents a new page in the religious life of Croatian Jews,” said the President of the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Stjepan Mesić, noting that its construction was supported in a milieu with a Christian majority and the premises were remodeled by a member of the Islamic faith. “This is the society that we want to build,” said President Mesić. Vice Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, the representative of Prime Minister Ivo Sanadar, pointed out that Croatia affirms and wants to affirm the differences among its citizens and the spirit of tolerance.