Early Jewish History
Modern Community
Relations with Israel
Early Jewish History.
Archaeological finds indicate Jewish presence in Slovenia since the Roman period. Little is known about Jews in Slovenia during the Second Temple Period. Many Jews, however, escaped the Crusades during the 12th century C.E. and emigrated to towns within present-day Slovenia. Jews came from the areas of Germany and Czechoslovakia to avoid the violent persecution of the Christians. Jews also came from Western European countries, such as Italy, to avoid the economic depression in those areas.
Jews in the Slovene lands lived in relative peace for a couple of centuries. By the beginning of the 15th century, however, there were clear conflicts between Jews and the Habsburg authorities and regional estates that ruled the area. The regional rulers and nobility of the Slovene provinces were resentful of Jewish wealth. They refused to pay back the Jewish moneylenders, and Jews were considered a nuisance among the wealthy nobility. In 1495, the first Jews were expelled from the areas of Carinthia and Styria. The expulsion of Jews from individual territories continued until the last Jews were expelled in 1718.
In 1709, Emperor Charles VI allowed Jews to resettle in parts of Inner Austria. His decree was short-lived, however, and was countered by Emperor Francis I in 1817, when Jews were again prevented from resettling in Carniola, the central region of present-day Slovenia. In 1910, only 146 Jews were estimated to be living in the country. In 1919, the Jews joined the Jewish community in Zagreb because there were too few Jews in Slovenia. Anti-Semitic sentiments continued to be rampant throughout the Slovenian population. These sentiments and the Holocaust both contributed to the tiny Jewish population in Slovenia at present.
Modern Day Community
Currently, there are approximately 75 Jews living in Slovenia. The majority of the Jewish population resides in the capital of Ljubljana. The community comes from a mixture of Sephardic and Ashkenazi background. In general, the Jewish community in Slovenia has been very inactive since before World War II.
In 1991, civil war broke out in Yugoslavia, among to five major republics. Thousands of Yugoslav citizens, including many Jews, were forced to leave their homes because of the violence. The civil war in Yugoslavia destroyed many Jewish landmarks including famous synagogues and memorials to the Holocaust.
After the civil wars of 1991, the Slovenian Jews rebuilt a Jewish community center. The center's reconstruction has motivated more than one hundred other citizens to again affiliate themselves with other Slovenian Jews. In addition, the community has become large enough that Rabbi Ariel Haddad was appointed as the first Chief Rabbi in Slovenian history. In 2003, Ljubljana opened its new synagogue. Until then, it had been the only European capital without a synagogue.
Today, the Jews living in Slovenia are distanced from the Jewish communities in the former Yugoslavia. There is, unfortunately, no orgranization to connect the communities of Slovenia, Macedonia, Serbia-Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Croatia.
Relations with Israel
Israel was among the first countries in the world to recognize Slovenia’s independence following the breakup of Yugoslavia, and relations between Israel and Slovenia were established on April 28, 1992. In 1994, Slovenia opened an embassy in Israel.
According to the Slovenian government website, relations between the two countries are good and traditionally friendly, and have developed in a spirit of constructive cooperation. The two countries have developed a wide range of cooperation, particularly in the fields of economiy, science and culture. These relations provide the basis for developing a long-term partnership.
On June 4, 2024, the Slovenian government approved a decision to recognize an independent Palestinian state. On the same day, the Slovenian Parliament approved the recognition with a majority vote of 52-0 in the 90-member body. This was done following the steps of Spain, Ireland, and Norway from late last month. According to the Slovenian government, this move is part of a broader effort to achieve a cessation of hostilities in the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza, ensure the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, and work towards a two-state solution.
In response to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants issued on November 21, 2024, against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Slovenia stated it would comply with the warrants.
On December 21, 2024, it was reported that RTV SLO, Slovenia’s national public broadcaster, has called on the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to disqualify Israel from the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, citing the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. While the resolution is largely symbolic, it could inspire similar actions from other broadcasters. RTV SLO’s council considered but rejected harsher measures, such as blacking out Israel’s performance.
On July 17, 2025, following a cabinet session, Slovenia declared Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich persona non gratae. The move targeted the two far-right ministers and barred them from entering Slovenia.
Later that month, Slovenia imposed an embargo on arms exports, imports, and transit to Israel, becoming the first European country to take such action.
In September 2025, Slovenia imposed a travel ban on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing war crimes charges. Slovenian officials framed the ban as a reaffirmation of their commitment to international law, human rights, and consistent foreign policy. They also underscored their calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and more humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
In May 2026, Slovenia’s parliament voted to return former nationalist prime minister Janez Jansa to power, signaling a likely pro-Israel shift after Robert Golob’s government recognized Palestine, imposed measures against Israel, and backed a strongly critical line on Gaza. Jansa has said he would move Slovenia’s embassy to Jerusalem and rescind recognition of Palestine.
The following month, Slovenia reportedly denied an Israir passenger plane permission to land in Ljubljana, forcing it to divert to Zagreb, in what Israeli officials and Israir CEO Uri Sirkis described as a politically motivated move and a “blatant violation” of EU aviation agreements; Israel’s Foreign Ministry called the decision “completely unacceptable,” and Transportation Minister Miri Regev warned that aviation boycotts would have consequences. Slovenian airport operator Fraport confirmed that four Tel Aviv-Ljubljana flights were canceled over two days. However, Slovenia’s infrastructure ministry and air traffic control said they had no record of a diverted Israir plane or a filed flight plan. Amid Slovenia’s transition to a new government, incoming Prime Minister Janez Janša reposted incoming Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec’s statement that the matter would be addressed Friday morning and that the Director of Aviation should “prepare the letter,” signaling immediate action once the new government takes control.
Until 2026, Israel has operated in Slovenia through a non-resident ambassador and has not had an Israeli embassy on Slovenian soil. In June, Israel announced it would open its first embassy in Ljubljana, Slovenia, following the approval of a new Slovenian government led by Janez Janša. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar instructed Foreign Ministry Director General Eden Bar-Tal to move quickly to establish the embassy and begin selecting an ambassador. Sa’ar said Janša is “a clear friend of Israel” and that his election creates a unique opportunity to advance bilateral relations, which he said had reached a low point in recent years due to the hostility of the previous government in Ljubljana.
Later that month, Slovenia’s new government revoked a series of anti-Israel measures adopted by the previous Robert Golob government, including decisions declaring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir persona non grata, restrictions on goods from Israeli settlements, and an arms export, import and transit embargo involving Israel. The Foreign Ministry said the measures had never been implemented. It argued that their cancellation restores the conditions for normal political dialogue with Israel, while stressing that Slovenia remains committed to international law, civilian protection, and a negotiated Israeli-Palestinian solution. The Defense Ministry said the arms-ban decision was unnecessary because arms-export licensing is already regulated under Slovenian law and EU criteria. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomed the move on X, praising Janša as “a bold leader and a true friend of Israel.”
Sources: American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Centropa Quarterly.
ISJM Jewish Heritage Report, Vol. II, nos 3-4.
Slovenia News, (March 4, 2003).
The Encylopaedia Judaica.
The Jewish Encyclopedia “Israel,” Republic of Slovenia.
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