The southern Macedonian town of Bitola was at the center of Jewish culture for the region prior to World War II. Most of its Jews were descended from exiles who came from Spain and Portugal more than 400 years earlier. In 1943, the Nazi-appointed Bulgarian rulers of the area deported 98 percent of Macedonia’s Jewish population to the Treblinka death camp.

Commission Member Michael Menis worked with the Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments and Museums of Bitola to restore the entrance to the Bitola Jewish cemetery. The structure at the entrance has been completely restored.

The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia and Menis co-funded the project.

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