Judaism: Philosophy & Practice, Croatia

Rabbi Kotel Da-Don, L.L.B., is the first chief rabbi of Croatia since the Holocaust. Appointed to this position in 1998, he found that the country’s 3,000 remaining Jews have great enthusiasm for and eagerness to learn about their traditions. However, his attempts to foster Jewish education have been severely hampered by a lack of materials available in the Croatian language. Since the time of the Holocaust, there has been no Jewish educational literature published in Croatian.

To remedy the situation, he began work on Judaism: Philosophy & Practice, a comprehensive book about Jewish issues. “One of my primary duties is to give some basic information and instructions for everyday life to my congregation in their spoken language,” he said. The book covers topics such as the Jewish home, Jewish law, and the Jewish circle of life. In addition to its function as a guide for everyday Jewish life, it is also a reference source on Jewish thought and philosophy. Targum Shlishi’s support has funded the forthcoming publication and distribution of the book, scheduled for 2002, including preparation, translation, and printing.

“The importance of this book is simply enormous,” noted Rabbi Da-Don. “It is intended not only for the Jews of Croatia but for all Jews from the rest of what was formerly Yugoslavia, who speak nearly the same language.” Rabbi Da-Don also hopes the book will serve as a source of information for Christians, Moslems, and theology students and that it will foster open dialogue between the area’s different religious movements. www.communities.moreshet.net/zagreb

Handbook of Jewish Thought, translation into Serbo-Croatian, Belgrade

Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan’s Handbook of Jewish Thought is a comprehensive work that clearly explains traditional Jewish practices, principles, and ideas. Targum Shlishi funded the translation of this work into Serbo-Croatian in Belgrade under the aegis of the Chief Rabbi of Serbia, Rabbi Isak Asiel. The text will serve as a valuable resource for the small community of Jews in Serbia, many of whom have little knowledge of the Jewish tradition. There is currently a marked lack of Jewish educational materials available in Serbo-Croatian; this text helps address a pressing need.

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