Ivica Ceresnjes

Ivan Ceresnjes was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia and migrated to Israel in 1995.

He holds two degrees: B.A and M.A, Arhitektonsko - Urbanisticki Fakultet (Faculty of Architecture - Urbanism), University of Sarajevo and Israel.

In 1997 Ceresnjes joined the Center for Jewish Art, Hebrew University of Jerusalem as an architect-researcher and is permanently engaged in documenting of the Jewish architectural cultural heritage in the countries of former Yugoslavia, Germany, Uzbekistan and other countries.

Before immigrating to Israel Ceresnjes worked as a practicing Architect - designer, Project Manager and Manager of Building Department and was responsible for building of app. 500000 m2 of various buildings in the Sarajevo area. In his work are also included designing, building, restoration and conservation of sacral buildings of various religious denominations present in Bosnia and Herzegovina (churches and mosques).

A significant part of his professional activity was devoted to Jewish buildings and sites. Among other he was engaged in initiating, supporting, organizing the funding and actively working on revitalization, reconstruction and conservation of the Old Sephardic cemetery (l6th century) in Sarajevo. Project was prepared for public presentation literally 24 hours before war in Bosnia and Herzegovina started, March 1992. Among his works are also surveys and making the actual plans of the Ashkenazi synagogue in Sarajevo (built 1902), the second Sephardic synagogue (Il Kal Nuevu) from the l7th century, the Cemetery Chapel on the Jewish cemetery (1926), preparing the project, heading the restoration and conservation of the complex of the burial site of Tzaddik Rabbi Moshe Danon, a significant historic person from the Bosnian Jewish community, (1832, The Sarajevo Megilla), in Stolac, Herzegovina, 1990-1991, and planning and heading the reconstruction of the Jewish summer camp in Pirovac, Croatia, which served as central meeting place for the entire Jewish community of the former Yugoslavia, 1989-1990.

Ceresnjes is a member of two professional associations:
* Society of Architects, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1974 -
* Society of Architects, Israel, 1996 -

For the merits during the war in Bosnia, named Chevalier de l' Ordre de la Legion d'Honneur of the French Republic, decorated by the French Prime Minister Mr. F. Balladour, Paris, France, 1994 (for preserving the multi-cultural, multi-confessional spirit of the country, for helping victims of war in a totally non-sectarian way, and for preserving an island of peace among warring parts of the country).

Also for his social, humanitarian, cultural and political work he received recognitions of the World Jewish Congress, American Joint Distribution Committee, Hadassah Women's Zionist Organization of America, World Zionist Organization, Jewish Agency of Israel, Keren Hayesod, Israel and Keren Kayemet of Israel and Inscription in its Golden Book of Keren Kayemet le-Israel, 1995

See olso

* List of South-East European Jews