Kratak pregled istorije i kulture beogradskih Jevreja do 1888. godine: seminarski rad

Abstract

Jevreji u Beogradu već dosta vekova dele sudbinu sa Srbima. Tokom burne istorije putevi su im se često ukrštali ali i razilazili. Na Balkanu, kao podanici Turske carevine, Jevreji su dug period vremena bili u naizgled povlašćenom položaju u odnosu na Srbe, dok su pod austrijskom vlašću zajedno s njima podnosili posledice teškog tretmana, nametanog od strane katoličkog klera. Većina Jevreja iz Beograda potomci su Sefarda, tj. španskih Jevreja. Njihovo gorko iskustvo prisilnih pokrštavanja, inkvizicije i konačno, proterivanja s Pirinejskog poluostrva, učinilo ih je veoma obazrivim u traženju novih zemalja, gde će moći neometano da žive i rade. Jedna od takvih zemalja je bila i Turska imperija, koja im je, zbog njihovog umeća vođenja trgovine širom otvorila vrata. Tako je naseljavanje Jevreja na Balkan otpočelo u većem broju. Tokom srpskih ustanaka, oni su veoma bliski sa svojim sugrađanima Srbima i pružaju im pomoć u snabdevanju, posebno iz Zemuna, gde je jevrejska zajednica veoma razvijena. Nakon izvojevane nezavisnosti, Jevreji se u Beogradu razvijaju uporedo se boreći za svoja prava. Njihovo gorko istorijsko iskustvo naučilo ih je da povremeno moraju, u gotovo svakoj sredini, da doživljavaju razne netrpeljivosti, pa čak i nasilje. Zato je njihova beogradska istorija protkana istovremenom ljubavlju prema otadžbini i borbom za, često osnovna ljudska prava da slobodno žive i neometano rade. U ovom radu prikazan je kratak pregled istorije i kulture beogradskih Jevreja do Ustava iz 1888. po kome Jevreji i zakonski postaju jednaki sa ostalim građanima.

The Jews in Belgrade have been sharing their fate with the Serbs for many centuries. During their turbulent history, their paths often crossed but also diverged. In the Balkans, as citizens of the Turkish Empire, the Jews were for a long time in a privileged position compared to the Serbs, while under the Austrian rule, together with them, they suffered the consequences of the harsh treatment imposed by the Catholic clergy. Most of the Jews from Belgrade are descendants of Sephardi, i.e. Spanish Jews. Their bitter experience of forced conversions, inquisitions, and finally, expulsion from the Iberian Peninsula, made them very cautious in looking for new countries, where they could live and work undisturbed. One such country was the Turkish Empire, which, due to Jewish trade skills, opened its doors wide to them. Thus, the settlement of Jews in the Balkans began in greater numbers. During the Serbian uprisings, they were very close to their fellow Serbs and helped them with supplies, especially from Zemun, where the Jewish community was very developed. After the independence was won, the Jews in Belgrade were developing at the same time, fighting for their rights. Their bitter historical experience has taught them that from time to time, in almost every environment, they have to experience various intolerances and even violence. That is why their Belgrade history is interwoven with the simultaneous love for the homeland and the fight for the often basic human rights to live freely and work undisturbed. This paper presents a brief overview of the history and culture of Belgrade Jews up to the Constitution of 1888, according to which Jews legally become equal with other citizens.