PESACH CELEBRATION
At the celebration of Pasha on March 22, 2018, held in the
premises of the Jewish Community of Pančevo, a large number of members gathered,
not only from Pančevo, but also from other places of South Banat and Belgrade.
The story of the Exodus of the Jews from the Egyptian bondage, the customs of
Seder and the symbolism of the holidays were told by Dragana Stojanović and Mina
Stojanović, with the help of Matilda Albahari and the musical accompaniment of
Nikola Salaćanin. The Women's section ensured that the feast was given a solemn
tone, starting from laying tables to the selection of dishes. At all tables a
brochure about Pesach was placed. As many times so far, people have enjoyed
Jewish and popular music, chatting and getting acquainted with new members of
the Community. Although they were few of
them, the children carefully watched everything that was happening, took part in
some parts of the story, and were excited to find a hidden afikoman. With great
joy the youngest present girl Puzić Martina was lucky to find it.
In the Jewish Community of
Pančevo premises on March 5, a workshop on the topic of Purim was held, led by
Sonja Viličić and Mina Pašajlić. In a very interesting, interactive approach to
learning the basic facts about the holiday, a good number of those interested in
this workshop learned much more than the story of Queen Esther. Through the
analysis of the text, in which all the participants were active, the historical
background, the characters of the main actors and the message carried by this
story on the joyful Jewish holiday Purim were explained.
In order to have a pleasant evening in a pleasant
atmosphere, the Women's Section endeavored to work with refreshing beverages for
salty pastries and for this holiday unavoidable cookies of Haman's ears and
roskitas.
Tu Bishvat 2018
With the abundance of fruits that grow in the Holy Land, members of the
Jewish Community of Pančevo celebrated the holiday Tu Bishvat. Listening to
Jewish music and tasting the refreshments prepared by Ruth Lihtental, President
of the Women's Section, the holiday was marked in a pleasant and cheerful mood.
Hanukkah celebration
This year The
Jewish Community of Pančevo celebrated Hanukkah, the festival of light, at the
Army Hall in Pančevo, rejoicing with about 250 of its friends, members of the
Jewish Communities in Serbia and guests. Among the guests were Ms. Noa Levi, the
Consul of the State of Israel in Serbia, Joshua Kaminetzky, Rabbi of Chabad
Center in Belgrade, Mr. Robert Sabadoš, the president of the Federation of
Jewish Communities in Serbia, representatives of the city authorities, city
cultural institutions, the Czech national minority, representatives of the towns
Bela Crkva and Vršac, the "HIP-Petrohemija" labor syndicate, numerous associates
and friends.
The first candle on the
Hanukkah candlestick was lit by Rabbi Kaminetzky, the second by Ms. Noa Levi,
and the other four (the celebration was held on the 6th day of the holiday,
December 17, 2017) by longtime friends and associates of the Community, Mr.
Tigran Kiš, the President of the Pančevo Assembly, Mr. Miroslav Žužić, our dear
friend and actor, director of Historical Archive in Pancevo Mr. Milan Jaksic,
and Mr. Robert Sabadoš, the president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in
Serbia. After saying the blessings Maoz
Tcur and several other Jewish traditional songs were singing.
A cheerful, breathtaking
atmosphere was greatly contributed by the artistic cabaret program "A pub, my
second home", in the performance by actor Miroslav Žužić and his musicians. It
was followed by another block of Jewish songs, dinner and dance music for
everyone's taste of the band "Tođa Band".
While the adults were
socializing, dancing and having fun, the children in their own way celebrated
Hanukkah. They lit candles, learned to sing Maoz Tcur, drew and played the game
with a dreidel. In the end, they all
received appropriate presents and joined their parents for dinner. There
were not forgotten even the
grandchildren of the cemetery keeper, for which the gifts were received by their
grandfather, Vasa Novakov. As
a sign of gratitude for saving Jewish cemetery in Pančevo of not being totally
destroyed in the
recent crushing attack, The Jewish Community of Pančevo financially awarded him
and his six-member family. This gesture brought
tears to many.
With donuts and cakes, the good mood and full dance floor the celebration
continued until late evening hours.
Sukkot celebration
In the sukkah, built from wattle and decorated with various fruits, the members of the community celebrated the Sukkot holiday on October 8. All of them were especially joyful seeing on the table the prepared arba minim, four types - which together make up a symbol of the holiday – a palm branch and the branches of willow and myrtle, bound together in a small bundle and a lemon fruit. Along with the blessings over lulav and etrog, a mitzvah was thus fulfilled. The aim of arba minim is to present the unity of the Jewish nation, regardless of the differences in the knowledge and respect of the Torah laws and the mutual external differences. After that, the evening went on in the cheerful mood of all those present, and especially young people were in a good mood.
New Year's Celebration in the Jewish Community of Pančevo
For Erev Rosh
Hashanah, on September 20, some of the members of the community went to
Belgrade’s synagogue "Sukkat Shalom". After the
service, they attended a festive evening led by Rabbi Isak Asiel.
The next day, on September 21, a large number of members gathered with their
friends in the community premises to celebrate the start of the new 5778 year.
After an interesting introduction about tradition,
significance and customs associated with Rosh Hashanah,
each guest received a plate with a date, pomegranate seeds, a piece of leek, a
piece of gourd, a piece of carrot and a slice of apple on a plate, along with
honey, wine and a challah. After reading the blessings for the challah and wine,
blessings were read for each of these foods that symbolize the new beginning and
benefits of the coming year. In the end, all the members sang together the
Israeli hymn and received a copy of the calendar for year 5778.
A particularly interesting moment was when a gala dinner was served,
explaining why the head of the lamb or the head of the fish is to be placed on
the table. One should try to be the first, the best, an example to others,
"head, not tail," as Torah says.
In the evening, the happy atmosphere was complemented by music and a
birthday cake with the firework of our Vedrana Montijas.
Cheerful
celebration of Tu B'Shvat
Children's club,
led by Biljana Weil, Tamara Cvitak and Valentina Detki, organized the
celebration of Tu B'Shvat for children up to fifteen years. After the story
about the origin and a way how this "birthday" of trees and plant life had been
told, in the fun atmosphere the children did the spring transplanting of
houseplants, made a symbolic tree with fruits that grow in Israel and "planted"
a forest which they called "Magic Forest". On a large platter the children were
served the fresh and dried fruits, biscuits and snacks, typical of this holiday.
Hanukkah
Celebration
Numerous members of the Jewish Community of Pančevo gathered on December 13, 2015 in community facilities to celebrate Hanukkah. The last candle had been lit, after which the song Maoz Tzur was sang. In a festive atmosphere the youngest also eagerly participated. All fifteen of them got the gifts with candies. After reminding them of the history and tradition of the holiday, they continued celebration and ate doughnuts. The elders had wonderful time enjoying music performed by guitarist Nikola Salaćanin and a special holiday meal.
Passover
celebration
In the evening of April 3, The
Jewish Community of Pančevo celebrated the Passover Seder. The celebration was
attended by
members from Pančevo, Kačarevo and Vršac with their
guests. As the candels for Shabbat were lit and the prayers recited, a lecture
was given on the importance of the holiday for Jewish people. After that the
Haggadah was read, with stress on the order of the Seder and what symbolic food
do we eat on that occasion. Before the festive dinner a short film about Exodus
was shown.
Youth and children from the
Children's club
also participated making a relief depiction of the
ten plaques and crossing the Red Sea under the leadership of Moses.
Jewish Community
of Pančevo celebrated Tu B’shvat, the first spring holiday in the Jewish
calendar, on February 4. The holiday marks the beginning of a new life cycle of
the plants and is known as the New Year of Trees. Some also call it the
“birthday” of threes and plants. Accordingly, the children and teenagers planted
many pots of decorative plants, on which they themselves will take care to
progress and grow. I the afternoon the older members gathered in the Community
premises and with the traditional fresh and dry fruits, story of Tu B’shvat and
chat, celebrated this holiday. Guest actor Miroslav Žužić, as usual, with his
refine humour has contributed to socializing and entertainment.
Hanukkah celebration
On December 20, 2014 Jewish Community of Pancevo has
celebrated Hanukkah, The Holiday of Light. A great number of the members of all
generations gathered in the community premises and jolly spent some time
together, enjoying in Jewish music and traditional Jewish food, prepared by the
Women League. The children enjoyed in special program, which was funny and
educational. Every child got a present for Hannukah and a nice publication about
Jewish holidays. The publication was illustrated with their own photos that had
been taken at previous holiday celebrations. Seeing themselves in the booklet
was a special joy.
The Community is particularly pleased that the celebration
was attended by our members who live outside of Pančevo, in Vršac, Debeljača,
Kačarevo and Belgrade.
