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Commemoration of Treblinka Deportations

15.03.2016

On 11 March, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia commemorated 7,144 Jews who were deported to the extermination camp Treblinka in 1943.

Numerous events and activities were carried out in Skopje, Bitola and Shtip between 9-11 March. The main commemorative ceremony was held in the 'Holocaust Memorial Center of the Jews from Macedonia' with  addresses by the President of the Jewish Community, Ms. Berta Romano-Nikolik and the Ambassador of the State of Israel, D. Oryan. A musical programme took place as well as the opening of the exhibition “Haunted Memories – eyes on the future” by Maty Grunberg a well-know Israeli artist born in what is now the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on 4 March 1943, only a few days prior to the deportations.

A Government delegation consisting of three ministers, representatives of the Cabinet of the President and of the Assembly, local authorities, representatives of the local Jewish community and other neighbouring countries, representatives of the diplomatic core and others laid wreaths in front of the monument in the former “Monopol” tobacco factory, as well as at the Skopje City Cemetery. The official delegation of the Jewish community was received by the Mayor of Skopje. Similar commemorative events took place in Bitola and Shitp including; visits to Jewish cemeteries, laying wreaths in front of the monuments to the deported Jews, the opening of the exhibitions ‟Dealing with the past: Civil Courage in Dangerous Times” in Shtip and “Anne Frank – History for Today” in Bitola, receptions in the Mayors' offices, a presentation of the installation of Maty Grunberg as part of the renovation project of the Jewish cemetery in Bitola, and a commemorative lecture by Professor Yitzchak Kerem.