When planning a vacation in Sarajevo, one encounters a unique cultural layering in Europe, where the breath of the East and the West intertwine in every corner.
In this mosaic of civilizations, the history of the Jewish community, particularly the Sephardic one, shines with an intense and fascinating light. For over four and a half centuries, Jews have called Sarajevo home, indelibly enriching its social, economic, and cultural fabric. Their legacy, made up of synagogues, cemeteries, manuscripts, and stories of resilience, is today an essential element for fully understanding the soul of this city, and offers the visitor a journey into tolerance and coexistence that has been, and is, a beacon in the Balkans.
The Roots of Jewish Presence: The Sephardim of Sarajevo
The history of the Jewish community in Sarajevo begins with an act of welcome. At the end of the 15th century, Sephardic Jews, expelled from Spain and Portugal by the Alhambra Decree of 1492, found refuge in the Ottoman Empire. They arrived in Sarajevo, passing through Thessaloniki, and as early as 1557 an official document, a sidžil, attests to their active presence as merchants and artisans .
The community grew rapidly, so much so that in 1565 it is considered the year of the official founding of the community organization . They obtained permission to build their own neighborhood, called "El Cortijo" (the courtyard), an area that was not a ghetto, but a place where they could live and practice their faith .
Places of Worship: Synagogues between History and Memory
The architecture of the synagogues in Sarajevo is a visual chronicle of the community's history, made up of periods of prosperity and tragic interruptions. During your walks through the city, you will encounter buildings that encapsulate centuries of faith and transformations.
The Old Temple (The Great Kal) and the Jewish Museum
In the heart of Baščaršija, stands the Old Temple, also known as The Great Kal or The Old Synagogue, the oldest Jewish place of worship in Sarajevo. Built at the end of the 16th century, around 1580, with the support of the vizier Sijavuš Pasha, this building is the largest and most important monument to the Sephardic presence in the city .
Its history is marked by dramatic events: it was burned and rebuilt several times, in 1697 during the Austrian occupation and in 1778 . Today, after a long restoration, the building is no longer an active synagogue. Since 1966, it has become the Jewish Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a section of the Sarajevo Museum . Inside, there are valuable collections of ritual objects, manuscripts, and documents in Ladino that tell the richness of pre-war Jewish life . Notable is also the proximity of the Novi Hram (New Temple), an ancient synagogue now used as a community art gallery .
The Synagogue of The Great Kal: The Lost Splendor
Another architectural gem, tragically mutilated, is the Great Kal, the Great Synagogue. Designed by architect Rudolf Lubinski in Moorish Revival style, it was built between 1926 and 1930 and was considered the largest and most ornate synagogue in the Balkans, with a dome 36 meters high and a capacity of 1,000 worshippers . Its construction reflected the prosperity of the community, which at the time numbered about 12,500 people, 16% of the city's population .
This splendor was tragically interrupted on April 16, 1941, when the Nazis and Ustaša militias devastated and looted the interior of the synagogue . Most of the community was exterminated in the Holocaust. Today, the building has survived but in a very different form; after the war, it was donated to the city and repurposed, and currently houses the Bosniak Cultural Center, having lost its characteristic dome .
The Ashkenazi Synagogue: A Living Place of Worship
With the Austro-Hungarian occupation of 1878, a new wave of migration brought Ashkenazi Jews to Sarajevo as well. For them, in 1902, the current Ashkenazi Synagogue was built, designed by architect Karel Pařík . Located on the banks of the Miljacka River, it is a Moorish Revival style building and today is the only synagogue still active and functioning in Sarajevo .
For the visitor, entering this synagogue means discovering a living place of worship. Its interior, with Moorish arches, stained glass windows, and a richly decorated ceiling, is an oasis of peace and spirituality in a city that has suffered . It is also the headquarters of the community center, which organizes cultural and social events for the small community of about 700-1000 Jews residing in the city today .
The Jewish Cemetery and Memory
Another site of extraordinary importance is the Old Jewish Cemetery, located on the slopes of Mount Trebević, in the Kovačići neighborhood. Established by the Sephardic Jews in the 17th century, with the tombstone of Rabbi Samuel Baruh considered the oldest dating back to 1630, this is one of the largest and most important Jewish cemeteries in Southeastern Europe . It hosts over 3,850 tombstones, some of which have ancient inscriptions in Ladino, and is a place of great suggestion. During the war of the 1990s, the cemetery was sadly used as an artillery position and severely damaged. Today, cleaned and restored, it represents a powerful monument to the memory of the community .
A Treasure of Inestimable Value: The Sarajevo Haggadah
No history of the Jewish community of Sarajevo would be complete without mentioning its most precious treasure: the Sarajevo Haggadah. This medieval manuscript, an illustrated code of the Jewish Passover narrative, dates back to 14th century Spain . Its history in Sarajevo begins in 1894, when a poor girl sold it to the city museum. Since then, it has become a symbol of salvation and coexistence, having been hidden and protected both during World War II and during the siege of the 1990s by Muslim curators . Its preservation is an extraordinary testimony of how the citizens of Sarajevo, beyond religious divisions, have managed to safeguard culture and humanity.
FAQ - Synagogues and Jewish Community in Sarajevo
Which synagogues in Sarajevo are still active?
The only currently functioning synagogue in Sarajevo is the Ashkenazi Synagogue. Built in 1902, it serves the local Jewish community for religious functions and as a community center .
When did the Sephardic Jews arrive in Sarajevo?
The first Sephardic Jews arrived in Sarajevo in the 16th century, after being expelled from Spain and Portugal. A document from 1557 already attests to their presence, and the community formally organized itself starting in 1565 .
What can be seen in the Jewish Museum of Sarajevo?
The Jewish Museum, located in the Old Synagogue (The Great Kal) in Baščaršija, displays a collection of ritual objects, manuscripts, books in Ladino, and documents that reconstruct the rich history, traditions, and sufferings of the Jewish community of Sarajevo, including the pre-war period and the Holocaust .
How many Jews lived in Sarajevo before World War II?
Before World War II, the Jewish community of Sarajevo numbered between 8,000 and 12,500 members, representing about 16% of the city's total population. Unfortunately, about 85% of them perished in the Holocaust .
What is the Sarajevo Haggadah and where is it located?
It is a valuable illustrated Hebrew manuscript from the 14th century, originating from Spain. It tells the story of the Jewish Exodus from Egypt. It is preserved in the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is famous for being saved from the Nazis and the siege of the city .
Where is the Jewish cemetery in Sarajevo?
The Old Jewish Cemetery is located on the slopes of Mount Trebević, in the Kovačići neighborhood. It is a site of immense historical value, in use since the 17th century, and one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in Europe .
The Synagogues and the Sephardic Jewish Community
The history of the Sephardic Jewish community and its synagogues in Sarajevo is one of the most fascinating and moving chapters of this city. Visiting the still-active Ashkenazi synagogue, the museum in the old synagogue, and the majestic Jewish cemetery offers a unique perspective on a world of coexistence that has endured centuries and tragedies, leaving an invaluable cultural legacy. The architectural testimonies and places of memory, such as the saved Haggadah, tell not only a story of suffering but, above all, of resilience and of a city that has known (and knows) how to cherish diversity as wealth. A vacation in Sarajevo that ignores this heritage would miss one of the deepest and most identity-defining aspects of the Bosnian capital, a journey into the heart of its plural soul.
To explore all aspects of this extraordinary city, consult our complete guide: Discover the Jewish heritage during your vacation in Sarajevo.
Revision date: May 2026