The Bohorete Women’s Association of Sarajevo is a pioneering organization that has been an anchor of community, resilience, and cultural preservation for Jewish women in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Affiliated with ICJW since 1994, they have championed female leadership, interfaith peacebuilding, and historic activism.
The group draws its inspiration and namesake from Laura Papo Bohoreta (1891–1942), an extraordinary Bosnian Jewish educator, writer, and the region’s first recorded feminist. Through decades of change, including the harrowing siege of Sarajevo from 1992 to 1996, the Bohorete have been instrumental in keeping the spirit of the Bosnian Jewish community alive.
A Legacy of Trailblazing Feminism
To understand the Bohorete is to understand Laura Papo Bohoreta. She emerged as a prominent literary and cultural figure in interwar Sarajevo, writing plays and essays in Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) to preserve Sephardic heritage. More importantly, she challenged traditional boundaries, advocating that women receive formal education, achieve financial self-sufficiency, and step beyond purely domestic roles.
Empowering Women Through Education
Guided by the vision of their namesake, the Bohorete are steadfast in their commitment to education. Under the leadership of Rahela Džidić, who serves as President of the Jewish Community in Sarajevo and the ICJW representative, the group hosts annual educational seminars for Jewish women across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Supported in part by the JDC, these gatherings, such as the regional seminar hosted in the small community of Doboj from October 31 to November 2, 2025, provide vital spaces for networking, learning, and mutual support. Members also dive deep into historical research, recently uncovering the legacy of the 1904 workers’ protests, which were organized by young Jewish women working in a historic local carpet factory.
Global Peacebuilding and Interfaith Dialogue
The Bohorete’s impact extends far beyond the Jewish community, positioning its leaders as formidable voices for global peace. In March 2026, Rahela Džidić represented ICJW at a UNESCO Directorate conference in Paris. Speaking at a roundtable focused on “The Role of Women in Building Peace,” Džidić shared her insights on the Network of Women of Faith of the Interreligious Council, championing interfaith mediation and civic education.
Locally, the Bohorete remain active in the Sarajevo Committee of the Interreligious Council, breaking down barriers and fostering dialogue in a diverse, post-conflict society.
Defending Heritage While Combating Antisemitism
Like many communities globally, the Sarajevo Jewish community has recently experienced rising antisemitism, exacerbated by complex geopolitical sentiments regarding the Middle East and the local trauma stemming from the siege of Sarajevo. In response, the Bohorete and the broader Jewish community have taken proactive measures:
- Implemented stricter security protocols for community spaces.
- Formed a task force to log antisemitic incidents and coordinate responses with local police.
- Participated actively in online campaigns to block hate speech and promote unity.
The Bohorete women are at the heart of nearly every significant gathering in the Sarajevo Jewish community. They are involved in preparing traditional food for the community’s major holidays, organizing the annual pilgrimage to the grave of former Chief Rabbi Rav Moshe Danon, and visiting unwell members. Their dedication to preserving cherished customs remains unwavering.
Although the founding generation is aging, the organization has successfully integrated younger members. By bridging the past with the present, the Bohorete continue to be a beacon of strength, sisterhood, and cultural pride in the Balkans.
You can read a fascinating description of both organizations here, including the active role they played during the terrible war in the region from 1992-1996: https://ferschool.org/en/union-of-jewish-women-in-bosnia-and-herzegovina-and-the-womens-section-of-the-sarajevo-jewish-community-bohorete-2024/
