Wednesday, December 04, 2013

3rd largest Synagogue in Europe

So, in discussing the various religions that meet here, I did not mention the Jewish faith.  Because it isn't bound so much geographically.

But this is the Ashkenazi Syangogue.  It is the 3rd largest in Europe.  It was built in 1902 in the Moorish style - partially because that was "hip" in 1902, and partly as a tribute to the history of the jews in Bosnia.

The history of the large Jewish population dates back to the Ottoman Empire.  During the Spanish Inquisition, the Ottoman Empire opened its country to take in the Sephardic Jews, who settled in Sarajevo, Mostar and Travnik (I read that, can you tell)... anyway, the communities thrived here under the Ottoman's and the Austrians - until WWII.

Below - has nothing to do with the Jewish people. 

This is a  "Bosnia Plate" of meat and vegtables.  Only a true meat lover could call those "vegtables".  IN fact it is bell pepper, grape leaves or tomato wrapped around a meat / rice core (more meat that rice).  The meatball looking things are just that - meatballs or veal and lamb.  

Note, in Bosnia, "Veal" is just young free range beef, not confined cattle.

And ye, pumpkin, I already had my meatsicles (cevapi)