Written by Solomon Bali...
A small group of members of the Lodge and friends spent a memorable day in Skopje, the Macedonian capital that still looks like a typical Balkan city while this fast growing city also shows a new modern sky line.
One of the most impressive buildings is the new Museum of the Holocaust,
which was the main reason for this visit, an elegant architectural
masterpiece of marble and glass and among the most remarkable museums in
the world after the ones in New York, Washington and Jerusalem. Merit
for the concept and construction of the Museum in Skopje goes to the
long term head of Washington's Museum of the Holocaust, Michael
Barenbaum.
It is hard to describe the feelings experienced when seeing the exhibits
of photos, authentic artwork and original exhibits from the once
prosperous Jewish community of Skopje, Nish and Bitolja before World War
II, and the documents regarding the almost complete extermination of
the population (98%) in Nazi concentration camps. Some recognised
relatives, others looked for signs of members of their families that had
not survived the Holocaust like their brothers within the old borders
of Bulgaria. The sad irony of these pictures is due to the maniacal
orderliness of the Nazis, who had taken photos of every Jewish family
and made a meticulous inventory of all their belongings only to be able
to confiscate it all. -
Our guide Rachel drew our attention to the fact there were no photos of
children. Was there a possibility that the Nazis were ashamed to keep
documentary evidence of the assassination of defenceless infants? There
is something very symbolic in the concept of placing mirrors among the
pictures of all those men and women. You could see your own reflection
and suddenly imagine that you might have been the victim.
Our hosts kindly answered all our questions. We were very pleased to
have the opportunity to meet the motor and inspiration of the huge
research work achieved for each Jewish family, Liljana Mizrachy, a truly
warm and devoted person whom we called "the Macedonian Wiesenthal"
dedicated and determined to keep the memory of the Macedonian Jewish
community alive.
The young executive of the Holocaust Foundation, Goran Sadicario told us
of his ambitious plans for the future for a travelling exhibition of
the Museum that would visit many countries around the world.
The B'nai B'rith group from Sofia was kindly invited to visit the Jewish
House where we all felt at home with very close friends. We all shared
the firm decision to strengthen and develop our friendship and ended
this unique day with a drink together as it is done among the Balkan
people.
