Macedonia
Overview
While Macedonia’s own separation from Yugoslavia was accomplished peacefully, the country was destabilized by the 1999 war in neighboring Kosovo, when more than 300,000 ethnic Albanians sought refuge inside its borders.
Unlike elsewhere in Eastern Europe, Macedonia’s Jewish population, which is of Sephardic heritage, is composed mostly of middle-aged and younger Jews, with only a small number of elderly. The Jewish community is concentrated almost exclusively in the capital, Skopje.
Need
Despite years of unrest due to the Kosovo War and the country’s weak economy, the Jews of Macedonia have developed a fully self-sufficient community thanks to government restitution of communal property. The community is responsible for its own welfare services, Jewish educational activities, and religious programming. JDC concentrates primarily on leadership training and promoting regional cooperation.
Response
JDC supports this small but strong Jewish community with technical assistance and help with community development. JDC’s efforts include:
- Supporting regular visits from the Belgrade-based Chief Rabbi for Serbia and Macedonia
- Enhancing Jewish life through support for a communal Passover seder, a Macedonian translation/transliteration of the siddur (prayer book), and training and educational materials for Hebrew classes and cultural programs
Impact
JDC’s focus on leadership training and regional cooperation creates opportunities for an emerging Jewish leadership in Macedonia. Because of JDC’s efforts:
- 300 youngsters from the region participated in a Gesher regional meeting in Ohrid, Macedonia
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