Righteous Among the Nations: Discovering Jewish Heroism and Humanity in the Balkans

In the rugged landscapes of the Balkans, where mountains, rivers, and cultures converge, a quieter yet profound story of heroism lives on—etched not in monuments, but in memory. During the darkest days of the Holocaust, as much of Europe was engulfed in terror, brave men and women in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia chose defiance over despair. Muslim and Christian alike, they risked everything to shelter their Jewish neighbors—offering refuge, forging new identities, and upholding the dignity of life itself.

Today, their stories resonate powerfully for the Jewish heritage traveler, reminding us that compassion and courage know no religious or national boundaries.

A Region of Remembrance

As of January 1, 2022, Yad Vashem has honored more than 28,000 individuals around the world as Righteous Among the Nations—non-Jews who bravely risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. While Poland tops the list with over 7,200 honorees, the Balkans—especially Bosnia and Herzegovina with 49 and Croatia with 130—present compelling yet often overlooked stories of courage, resistance, and human solidarity. These stories are not just historical footnotes; they are a call to memory, morality, and gratitude.

Historic photo of Zejneba Hardaga (far right) using her veil to conceal Rifka’s yellow star during World War II in Sarajevo, standing alongside Bahrija Hardaga (far left). – Courtesy

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Muslim-Jewish Solidarity in Sarajevo and Beyond

In the heart of Sarajevo, a city shaped by centuries of coexistence, shines the extraordinary story of Derviš Korkut, a Muslim scholar and curator at the National Museum. Korkut saved the Sarajevo Haggadah, a treasured 14th-century illuminated manuscript, from Nazi looters by hiding it at great personal risk. But his bravery went beyond artifacts—he and his wife, Servet, also sheltered a young Jewish girl, Mira Papo, disguising her as a Muslim servant.

Another Sarajevo resident, Zejneba Hardaga, became the first Muslim woman honored as Righteous Among the Nations for hiding a Jewish family during the Nazi occupation. Decades later, during the 1990s Bosnian War, that same Jewish family returned the kindness—helping rescue Zejneba’s descendants and bringing them to safety in Israel. Their story is one of remarkable full-circle redemption and enduring friendship between Jews and Muslims.

Other Bosnian heroes include

Nurija and Devleta Pozderac—sheltering Jews fleeing persecution.
Roza Sober-Dragoje and Zekira Besrević—courageous rescuers during the Nazi regime.
Ahmed Sadik and multiple generations of the Hardaga family, who worked together to protect Jewish lives.

Bosnia’s righteous are commemorated today in Holocaust education programs and museum exhibits that promote interfaith understanding. The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo, where the Sarajevo Haggadah now rests safely, is a place of pilgrimage for Jewish heritage travelers seeking stories of hope amid heartbreak.

Photo courtesy of Yad Vashem

Croatia: Courage Amid Complication

Croatia’s wartime history is complex, shaped in part by the Ustaše regime’s collaboration with Nazi Germany. Yet amid the brutality, hundreds of Croatian individuals chose resistance over complicity—saving lives in secret and at great risk.

One especially moving story is that of Sister Amadeja Pavlović, a Catholic nun in Đakovo, who hid Zdenka Grunbaum, a ten-year-old Jewish girl whose entire family had been murdered. For this act of faith and bravery, she was posthumously recognized by Yad Vashem in 2008.

Other inspiring Croatian honorees include

Zlatan and Milica Uglješić, who saved a Jewish girl, Vera Papó, later became her adoptive family.
Mate Ujević, a lexicographer who used his influence to help Jews escape.
Žarko and Boris Dolinar, brothers who forged documents and arranged escapes.
Tihomil and Zina-Gertruda Beritić, Jakša Kalogjera, Ivan Vranetić, Rudimir Rudolf Roter, and the Bauer brothers, all of whom acted decisively to protect Jewish lives under constant threat.

Croatia’s Memorial Center of the Righteous Among the Nations in Vukovar stands as a testament to this bravery and offers a meaningful stop for travelers exploring Jewish heritage routes in the country.

The Sarajevo Jewish Museum, in the Old Synagogue, honors those who saved Jews during the Holocaust. — New York Jewish Travel Guide

A Shared Legacy: Muslim and Christian Rescuers

Perhaps one of the most striking aspects of these stories is the interfaith solidarity they represent. In Sarajevo, the Hardaga family’s recognition as the first Muslim family honored by Yad Vashem speaks volumes in today’s world, where religious tensions often overshadow shared humanity. Similarly, Catholic figures in Croatia, like Sister Pavlović, underscore how deeply moral conviction transcended political alignment or religious identity.

Their legacies are not simply acts of rescue; they are declarations of human dignity that resonate today.

Why These Stories Matter to Today’s Traveler

For today’s Jewish heritage traveler, these stories of courage, compassion, and solidarity are more than historical anecdotes—they are living testimonies to the shared humanity that transcended religion, ethnicity, and nationality during one of history’s darkest chapters. Travelers exploring Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia can engage with this powerful legacy at its source, visiting preserved Jewish quarters, museums, and memorials, and walking the very streets where these acts of bravery took place.

These stories serve as powerful counterpoints to Holocaust horror. They are reminders that in every generation, there are those who rise to the occasion and preserve life and hope. For the modern Jewish traveler, they inspire reflection not only on the past but also on the potential of our shared future.

To explore the region’s rich Jewish heritage, Fortuna Tours—a top Balkan DMC based in Mostar—offers expert-led, custom itineraries focused on Jewish history, sites, and communities, connecting travelers with local communities and stories like the Hardaga family and the Sarajevo Haggadah.

The Sarajevo Haggadah is on display at the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo — a treasured symbol of Jewish heritage and resilience. New York Jewish Travel Guide

Where to Go

Sarajevo Jewish Museum: Home to the Sarajevo Haggadah and many stories of wartime courage.
Memorial Center in Vukovar: Honors Croatian Righteous Among the Nations.
Jewish cemeteries and synagogues in Zagreb, Osijek, and Split offer further context.
Community centers and Holocaust memorials across the region host exhibitions, testimonials, and remembrance ceremonies.

The Jewish heritage of the Balkans is often overshadowed by better-known European destinations, yet the region offers a profoundly rich and moving experience. In Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, stories of the Righteous Among the Nations—Muslims and Christians who risked their lives to save Jewish neighbors—stand as powerful testaments to moral courage and interfaith solidarity. In a world still grappling with division, these narratives provide not only historical perspective but lasting inspiration.

By retracing these acts of heroism and visiting the very places where they unfolded, travelers do more than observe history—they actively participate in its remembrance. With the guidance of trusted partners like Fortuna Tours, visitors to the Balkans leave with more than memories; they return with a deeper understanding of our shared humanity and a renewed commitment to the values that unite us all.

Plan Your Journey to Bosnia & Herzegovina and Croatia
Story by Meyer Harroch, New York Jewish Travel Guide

Discover the rich Jewish heritage and vibrant cultural landscapes of the Balkans on a one-of-a-kind journey through Bosnia and Croatia.

🕍 Explore Jewish Legacy Sites
From Sarajevo’s historic synagogues to the hidden gems of Mostar and the coastal beauty of Dubrovnik, uncover centuries of Jewish history, resilience, and culture.

🎒 Travel With Experts
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.