Professor Gideon Greif, PhD, historian, was a special guest at the Foundation’s stand at the 67th International Book Fair in Belgrade.
The visitors to the stand could meet him and also get a signed copy of the special edition of “Napredak” dedicated to Jasenovac, including Professor Greif’s article “Jasenovac – the Camp and its Historical and Moral Meaning.
Professor Greif also spoke to historian Aleksandar Rastović, PhD, director of the Institute of History in Belgrade, and Professor Žika Bujuklić, PhD.
Young historians from Belgrade and Novi Sad were quite interested in the work of Professor Greif, who selflessly shared his knowledge and experience, pointing out that working with young people gives him even more strength and will. There were many visitors who stopped by the stand to thank him and ask him to sign his books, one of which is “We Wept Without Tears”.
Professor Gideon Greif, PhD, commented as to how to improve the knowledge about the existence of Jasenovac. According to him, “it was one of the most terrible concentration camps in the world”, and he emphasized that education was the most important.
“Teachers should teach as much as possible about crimes committed in Jasenovac, and there should be as many visits to this camp as possible. You simply have to know details about it, and when you know details, you have almost the whole picture. We owe this knowledge to the thousands of innocent victims, Serbs, Jews and members of the Roma population, who were cruelly killed in Jasenovac and other camps. Therefore, education is the key issue. I think that it is teachers’ duty to educate more about the crimes committed by the Ustasha during the Second World War. Teachers have a great influence on young people who will be adults one day and lead us”, Professor Greif pointed out.
This historian from Israel also added that he was particularly looking forward to the panels to be held in Subotica and Belgrade, with Jasenovac as the main topic, while the students and young people will make the largest part of the audience. “I would like to thank the Foundation “For the Serbian People and State” for inviting me to Serbia and giving me the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience with young people. When I am invited to panels or conferences, I always ask who will be sitting in the audience. When I hear that those will be young people and students, I am always glad to accept the invitation”.
