Tracing Sephardic Footsteps: The Jewish Heritage of Stolac, Bosnia

Nestled in the picturesque region of Herzegovina, the town of Stolac is a hidden gem steeped in layers of history. Celebrated for its ancient Illyrian roots, medieval fortresses, and Ottoman-era charm, Stolac also harbors a poignant, lesser-known chapter in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s multicultural story: its Jewish heritage. At the heart of this narrative stands the town’s historic Jewish cemetery and the remarkable legacy of Rabbi Moshe Danon, a spiritual leader whose journey continues to echo through the region.

The Jewish Presence in Stolac

The story of Jews in Stolac begins with the Sephardic Jews who fled the Iberian Peninsula after the expulsion from Spain in 1492. Welcomed under the relatively tolerant Ottoman Empire, many settled in cities and towns across Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Stolac—a once-bustling trading hub along Ottoman caravan routes.

Though never large in number, the Jewish community in Stolac played an essential role in the town’s commercial and artisanal life. Like their fellow Sephardim in Sarajevo and Mostar, they preserved their language (Ladino), religious customs, and communal identity while contributing meaningfully to broader Ottoman society. Their cultural and economic imprint remains embedded in Stolac’s heritage.

The Stolac Jewish Cemetery is among the oldest and most significant Sephardic burial sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina. —New York Jewish Travel Guide

The Stolac Jewish Cemetery: A Testament to a Vanished Community

Overlooking the town from a tranquil hillside, the Stolac Jewish Cemetery is among the oldest and most significant Sephardic burial sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dating back to at least the 17th or 18th century, it contains dozens of tombstones, many intricately carved with Hebrew and Ladino inscriptions.

The tombstones’ artistry is remarkable—horizontal Sephardic-style slabs with symbolic engravings such as the Star of David, candlesticks for women, and priestly hands for Kohanim. Shaded by mature trees, the cemetery also includes the graves of two Jewish soldiers from the Austrian army, one bearing the name Arnold Silberstein (d. 1889). These solemn markers bear silent witness to a community extinguished during the Holocaust but never forgotten.

One notable epitaph, written in Hebrew, adorns the grave of Rabbi Moshe Danon:

This stone built here may be a sign and monument of the burial of a holy person whose deeds were miraculous and who can be considered pious and holy. He is our lord and teacher and great rabi, Rabi Moshe Danon. May his good deeds help us, Amen. He separated from this world on 20th Sivan 5590 (11th June 1830).

The tomb of Rabbi Moshe Danon, a revered Sarajevo rabbi.—New York Jewish Travel Guide

The Journey and Legacy of Rabbi Moshe Danon

A few miles outside Stolac, along the road from Mostar, lies one of the most spiritually resonant Jewish sites in the Balkans: the tomb of Rabbi Moshe Danon. A revered rabbi from Sarajevo, Danon set out in 1830 to fulfill a vow to reach the Holy Land. He never made it. Falling ill near Stolac, he died en route and was buried at the exact spot in keeping with Jewish tradition. His tomb quickly became a place of pilgrimage.

The roots of this journey stem from a harrowing chapter in Sarajevo’s Jewish history. In 1819, a Jewish convert to Islam, Moshe Haviljo, incited persecution against his former community. Following Haviljo’s sudden death, local Jews were imprisoned and threatened with execution. A courageous intervention by Sarajevo’s Muslim residents led to their release and the removal of the corrupt pasha. In gratitude, Rabbi Danon vowed to travel to Palestine.

Kenan Frejric, our tour guide and expert on the Jewish heritage of Bosnia & Herzegovina, told New York Jewish Travel Guide:

“Rabbi Moshe Danon was a unifying figure who held the Jewish community together during a time of great turmoil and hardship. In honor of his legacy, Jewish travelers passing through Bosnia and Herzegovina often visit and pray at his grave.”

He added that the tradition of pilgrimage to Rabbi Danon’s gravesite began around 1840, ten years after his passing in 1830. For many years, Jewish pilgrims—joined at times by local Muslims and Christians—visited the tomb each first Sunday of July, demonstrating its cross-cultural reverence.

Today, Rabbi Danon’s grave stands in the Jewish cemetery of Krajšina near Stolac, marked by a stone monument shaped like the tablets of the Ten Commandments and inscribed with Hebrew prayers. A menorah-shaped pathway leads to the site, emphasizing its sacred symbolism. A nearby building, the Havra, serves as a shelter for prayer and mourning, keeping the memory of Danon and his people alive.

There is an annual pilgrimage led by Chazzan Igor Bencion Kožemjakin, the spiritual leader of the Ashkenazi Synagogue in Sarajevo, to the grave of Rabbi Moshe Danon in Stolac. The event takes place on the Sunday closest to the 20th of Sivan, which is the traditional date of the pilgrimage. While many participants may not approach the event from a strictly religious perspective, they share a deep emotional and cultural connection to the tradition. For them, it is a meaningful way to honor Bosnia’s Jewish heritage and feel part of a long, resilient history.

In 2003, the Commission to Preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina declared the tomb and its surrounding area a national monument, affirming its historical and spiritual significance.

Inscription on Rabbi Danon’s plaque: “Hodočasno Mjesto Jevreja” (Pilgrimage site for Jews)—New York Jewish Travel Guide

Destruction and Preservation Efforts

Like many Jewish communities across Europe, Stolac’s Jews were decimated during the Holocaust. Under the fascist Ustaša regime, which collaborated with Nazi Germany, many were deported to concentration camps such as Jasenovac and Lobor-Grad. Few survived.

The cemetery, once neglected and overgrown, has in recent years drawn the attention of historians and preservationists who recognize its value as a cultural and historical treasure. Efforts have been made to document the tombstones and maintain the grounds, ensuring that the voices of those buried there continue to be heard.

A Living Legacy

Though no longer home to a Jewish population, Stolac remains deeply connected to its Jewish past. The cemetery—less visited than its counterparts in Sarajevo or Mostar—stands as a quiet yet powerful reminder of the Sephardic legacy in the Balkans. Its stones speak to resilience, faith, and the enduring spirit of a people who, even in exile, built lives of meaning and connection.

For the Jewish traveler, a visit to Stolac is more than a historical journey—it is an act of remembrance and continuity, bridging centuries of Jewish life in southeastern Europe.

For More Information

Story by Meyer Harroch
New York Jewish Travel Guide

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This unforgettable experience was graciously hosted by Fortuna Tours. Special thanks to Mili Bijavica Jr. and his outstanding team for curating such a meaningful and seamless itinerary.