When art and faith merge, a space opens up where God’s presence can be felt both physically and spiritually, and the Library Living Room transforms into a gallery, a dance floor, and a tent—a home that unites faiths.
Such was last night’s event held in our Veleučilište Library as part of the Month of Jewish Culture. In front of a full audience, through dance, music, and visuals, young girls from the Osijek group Koreos, led by professor Igor Grubišić, showcased the joy, creativity, work, as well as the suffering and hope of Otilija Berger, a renowned Croatian designer and professor at the Bauhaus School in Dessau, Germany, who was murdered in 1944 during the Holocaust along with the rest of her family.
After their performance, our professor Julijana Tesija spoke about two other women from the Old Testament. “Like Otilija, Esther and Ruth are heroines who managed to overcome the positions imposed upon them by society, culture, politics, and tradition. That was by no means easy! They could have easily faced condemnation and lost their own lives. Yet, by trusting in God and His mission—and above all, by fighting for others who were marginalized—they became instruments of salvation for their people.”
We thank the Jewish Community of Osijek for allowing us to be part of these events this year, and we look forward to continuing the collaboration next year!
