Book on the Righteous - Jevrejska opština Zemun

Righteous Among The Nations - Serbia
Historical Background
enjoyed by Jewish/foreign subjects protected by capitulation
- Turkish international contracts - which Serbia
as its subjugated princedom was obliged to observe.
By 1844, the scope of Jewish business dealings was restricted;
ownership of real estate beyond Belgrade was
prohibited. Many were forced to either wind-up their
business or relocate from Belgrade or the country itself.
Mid 1845 saw a total of 1.476 Jews living in Belgrade
of whom 129 owned houses and stores while 235 had no
property of their own. Permanent residence of newly arrived
Jews into Serbia was hindered although such limitation
was not strictly abided by. This was confirmed by
the new Act passed in 1856.
Immediately on his return to power in 1859, Prince
Miloš abolished all anti-Jewish laws by decree. However,
they were reinstated during the reign of his successor,
Prince Mihailo. By an Act of Parliament passed
in 1861, settlement of Jews in interior Serbia was again
prohibited. The major part of those barred settlement
moved to Belgrade while others left Serbia. However,
after a number of interventions made by representatives
of European countries and the request of the “General
Jewish Alliance”, the Serbian government again by decree
endorsed settlement of Jews in Serbia and the return
of those ousted. Residence and employment restriction
in Serbia did not apply to Jewish physicians who played
a major role in the organization of its medical (military
and civil) services.
Everyday life brought Serbs and Jews together impelling
them to maintain interaction. The shared threat of the
Turkish army and the liberation wars fought by Serbia
against the Ottoman Empire contributed to closer relationships
and cohesion between Serbs and Jews within
the Princedom. In Serbian towns Jews were equally
exposed to all forms of violence from the Ottoman authority,
which, in the end, erupted in a major conflict
at the beginning of June 1862. The Turkish bombardment
of Belgrade made Jews temporarily relocate from
the country by moving to Zemun. They were forced to
such action since their houses were in the vicinity of
the walls of Belgrade tower and were exposed to the
brunt of Turkish artillery. Concurrently, Serbian troops
took over the Jewish quarter and used it as a fortification
point during battles. Jews had no option but to migrate,
taking bare essentials with them.
The process of Turkish emigration, i.e., namely of the
Muslim population, that commenced in the aftermath
of the 1862 bombardment of Belgrade and ended
when the cities were handed over to the Serbs in 1867
brought a major change to their ethnic structure. Towns
soon became prominently Serbian. Already in 1862
the Serbian and Greek-Tzintzar Orthodox population
of Belgrade added up to 89% of all Christians. Of the
total city populace, 10,4% were Jews. The handing over
of the remaining towns in the Princedom into Serbian
hands was an important milestone and happy occasion
in which Belgrade Jews partook in equal measure with
the rest of the citizens.
There were no organized anti-Semitic groups within
the political life of Serbia nor was anti-Semitism bred
within its population. Despite the anti-Jewish measures
undertaken by Prince Mihailo, there were no anti-
Semitic prejudices within the Obrenović dynasty and
meritorious Jews were held in favour. During Mihailo’s
reign, two state Jewish schools were opened in 1864,
one for boys and the other for girls. Cordial relations
with the Jewish Community and its representatives were
maintained also by their successors the Karadjordjević
dynasty. The Constitution of 1869 guaranteed freedom
to all Serbian citizens and the right to property; all were
made equal before the Law. The official religion was the
Orthodox faith but all other recognized religions were
allowed and protected by law, among them the Jewish
faith as well. Recognition of Jewish faith and tradition
was not a bare formality; it was respected even in the
case of Jewish convicts.
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