JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

inspiring commitment to religious equality is made apparent in the suit he launched against the Bosnian government in efforts to allow all constituents, including minorities, to run for president of the country.

Jakob Finci is a notable leader in Sarajevo’s Jewish community. He was the first of four religious figureheads with whom we discussed Bosnia’s most pressing questions – the others included the Grand Mufti of Bosnia, Dr. Mustafah Ceric; Cardinal Pulic of the Catholic Church; and Mladen’s long-time friend, Dragan, of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Jakob shared the history of Jews in Sarajevo, explaining that they had long been integrated in the social fabric of the pluralistic city. He spoke to the difficulties Jews faced during WWII and in the 1990’s, relaying a story of strong community and perseverance. In recent years, Mr. Finci has continued to support unity amongst Bosnians, having formerly served as president of the Inter-Religious Council. His

open political opportunities to the country’s “others” population, ethnic reconciliation would be more likely to flourish. This narrative was repeated on multiple occasions throughout the trip.

CONSTITUTIONAL COMMITTEE

OFFICE OF THE HIGH REPRESENTATIVE (OHR)

TUNNEL OF LIFE

The map above shows Sarajevo when it is was under siege – it was almost completely landlocked less a narrow choke point (located along the UN monitored airplane landing strip). This passage served as the vein through which Sarajevo’s Bosniaks procured food, medical supplies, and firearms. To avoid the sniper fire of Serbian troops patrolling the airstrip, they built an 800 meter long tunnel as a mode of transit. The so –called “Tunnel of Life” (or Light, or Hope) was a necessity for Bosniak survival during the war given the politically-imposed geographic division.

SARAJEVO FILM FESTIVALEvery summer, Sarajevo holds a nine day film festival that attracts crowds from around the world. This year there was a huge buzz throughout the city fueled by discussion of the best prospective films (based on descrip-tions provided in the expansive catalogue) and predictions about which Hollywood celebrities might appear. This year saw the repeat appearance of humanitarian activist Angelina Jolie. The excitement provided an oppor-tunity to approach Bosnian politics from a different angle. While visiting

SREBRENICA MEMORIAL PROCESSION

For the past seventeen years Sarajevo has commemorated the Srebrenica massacre of July 11th-15th, 1995. On July 9th, Sarajevo’s citizens gathered on the sidewalks in front of the Presidential Palace awaiting a procession of trucks that was transporting a contingent of more than five hundred Bosniak victims. Their remains had been genetically identified by the International Commission on Missing Persons in the past year. I was surprised to feel the weight of those mourning; the atmosphere was charged. Compassion and grief united the crowd.

SREBRENICA MEMORIAL PROCESSION