Jews of Bosnia-Herzegovina: A Sephardic Genealogy Guide

Introduction

The Sephardic Jewish community of Bosnia-Herzegovina has a rich history dating back to the early 16th century. This guide provides an overview of their history, genealogical resources, and cultural significance in the region.

Timeline of Sephardic Jewish History in Bosnia (up to 1945)

1492: Expulsion of Jews from Spain
Early 16th Century: Sephardic Jews begin arriving in Ottoman-ruled Bosnia
1551: Earliest indication of Jewish settlement (gravestone)
1565: Formal Jewish community established in Sarajevo
16th Century: 68 Jewish heads of family listed as paying taxes to the Sultan
1690/1691: Jewish population grows to 1,500
1839: Tanzimat reforms allow Jewish participation in public life
1873: Estimated 10,000 Jews in Bosnia-Herzegovina
1878: Bosnia-Herzegovina comes under Austro-Hungarian administration
1908: Formal annexation by Austro-Hungarian Empire
1914-1918: World War I
1918: Bosnia-Herzegovina becomes part of Yugoslavia
1941: Germany invades Yugoslavia, Holocaust begins

Click for a more detailed chronology of the Jewish community of Sarajevo, created by Professor Predrag Finci.

Historical Background

Sephardic Jews arrived in Ottoman-ruled Bosnia in the early 16th century, with the earliest evidence of Jewish settlement being a gravestone from 1551. A formal community was established in Sarajevo in 1565. These early settlers came from various parts of the Ottoman Empire, including Constantinople, Salonika, Skopje, and smaller cities in present-day Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Albania.

In the 16th century, 68 Jewish heads of family were recorded as paying taxes (“harac”) to the Sultan, suggesting a total population of 340-380. Interestingly, most were reported as being tall and blond, which is not the typical Sephardic stereotype. By 1690/1691, the Jewish population had grown to 1,500.

In 1873, Emile Isambert wrote in “Itineraire de l’Orient – Grece et Turquie d’Europe” that out of a total population of 1.1 million, Bosnia-Herzegovina may have had around 10,000 Jews.

Economic Activities and Political Changes:
Jews were primarily engaged in trade and handicrafts, including silk and wool work, goldsmithing, watchmaking, and herbalism. The Tanzimat reforms of 1839 allowed for increased Jewish participation in public life.

In 1878, Bosnia-Herzegovina came under Austro-Hungarian administration, shifting cultural and economic ties from Constantinople to Vienna. The territory was formally annexed in 1908. After World War I, it became part of Yugoslavia.

The Holocaust and Its Aftermath:
The German invasion in 1941 led to the Holocaust, which devastated the Jewish population. In 1992, Bosnia declared independence from Yugoslavia, followed by a civil war.

Cultural Artifacts

The Sarajevo Haggadah, believed to have been written in Barcelona around 1350, is a significant cultural artifact. It was likely brought from Spain during the 1492 expulsion, spent time in Italy in the 16th century, and was eventually sold to the Sarajevo museum in 1894.

Notable Figures and Families

Leon Josef Finzi: Chief Rabbi of Sarajevo (1886-1889)
Moritz Levy: Author of “Die Sephardim in Bosnien” (1911) and later Chief Rabbi
Dr. Solomon Gaon: Born in Bosnia-Herzegovina, became Haham of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews of London
The Kajon family: Established a printing press, bookshop, and photographic studio
The Tuvi family: Reported to have arrived in Sarajevo from Serbia. They may be related to the Tubi/Tobi family who appear to have arrived in the Netherlands (and then London) from Venice.

Genealogical Resources

Jewish Community Organizations

Publications and Periodicals:

“Die Sephardim in Bosnien” by Moritz Levy (1911)
Jevrejski Almanah (Jewish Almanac, 1971-1996)
La Alborada (Jewish newspaper published in Sarajevo) in the collection of the National Library of Israel
An overview of Jewish periodicals in Serbia (from 1888 to 2019) by Biljana Albahari (in Serbian)

Resources for Researching in Bosnia

Leon Josef Finzi, Chief Rabbi of Sarajevo (1886-1889)

Article on the Jewish cemetery of Sarajevo and preservation plans. See some pictures and a YouTube clip with dramatic Ashkenazi fiddling in the background.
Article on Jewish Sarajevo
Adnan Kadrić: Wrote an article on “Jews in the State Agencies and Offices of the Bosnian Vilayat from 1868 to 1878“
Archives of the Federation. Precious documents of the B&A Archives were burnt by vandals in 2014.
Sarajevo Historical Archives
National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Video Resources

Research Tips

Genealogical records may be scattered between Sarajevo, Belgrade, Vienna, and Istanbul, with some Jewish records even further afield.
The National Library of Israel holds some editions of La Alborada, a valuable resource for Sarajevo Jewish history.
When researching family names, consider variations. For example, the Tuvi family in Sarajevo may be related to the Tubi/Tobi family in the Netherlands and London.
Note that some documents of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Archives were burnt by vandals in 2014.

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