DIGITALIZED SERBIAN-JEWISH CULTURAL HERITAGE IN BELGRADE
The world premiere of the innovative “Walk&Learn” application was held in the courtyard of the Sukat Shalom Synagogue. The platform brings to life and digitalizes the rich Serbian-Jewish cultural heritage of Belgrade, while also promoting a healthy lifestyle and urban mobility.
Addressing those present, the President of the Jewish Community of Belgrade, Aron Fuks, stated that this project holds immense significance for the Jewish community.
“This application will enable our fellow citizens, as well as all visitors to Belgrade, to discover the rich past of the capital in an interactive way and get to know the personalities who left an indelible mark on the city,” Fuks emphasized.
Aleksandar Nikolić, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Serbia in Israel, highlighted the strong ties between the two countries, based on mutual respect and genuine friendship between their peoples—ties that projects like this further strengthen.
“This project is yet another proof of the deep historical connections between Serbs and Jews, which represent a solid foundation for the future. Today, this closeness is increasingly transforming into concrete economic cooperation, especially in the fields of innovation and high technologies, where our two countries see great potential, thus contributing to public diplomacy,” Nikolić pointed out.
Davor Salom, a member of the Jewish community and a collaborator on the project, emphasized that the platform represents a bridge between the past and the present.
“Our goal was to make the rich history of Serbian-Jewish coexistence accessible and engaging for new generations. This application helps ensure that stories of mutual solidarity and of the people who built this city do not remain only in books, but continue to live on the streets of Belgrade in a format that young people understand best,” said Salom.
The ceremonial presentation of the project was attended by the Ambassador of Israel to Serbia, H.E. Avivit Bar-Ilan, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Serbia in Israel Aleksandar Nikolić, Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Community in Serbia Isak Asiel, Secretary for Culture of the City of Belgrade Jelena Medaković, Director of the Memorial Center “Staro Sajmište” Krinka Vidaković Petrov, Acting Director of the Museum of Genocide Victims Bojan Arbutina, as well as numerous members of the Jewish community.
As a new tourist attraction in Belgrade, the digital platform “Walk&Learn” uses augmented reality (AR) technology to translate important historical stories into the language of new generations. At five significant Serbian-Jewish locations—Sukat Shalom Synagogue, “Magazin 1907” Cafeteria, the Jewish Community of Belgrade, the Jewish Cultural Center, and the site where the Old Synagogue once stood—the application connects physical space with animations and multimedia content about shared Serbian-Jewish heritage, available in both Serbian and English.
In addition to digitalizing cultural heritage, the platform tracks users’ steps, encourages a healthy lifestyle, and promotes the modern concept of active and high-quality longevity.
The project was implemented by the company ViralMedia, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the State of Israel, in partnership with the Jewish Community of Belgrade.
