Perast, Montenegro. Photo: wiki commons.

Prime Minister Igor Lukšić has officially recognized the Jewish community in Montenegro as a minority, reported Yedioth Ahronot. There are currently about 1000 Jews in the small Balkan country.

The Montenegro Jewish community held an official ceremony in honor of the gesture. In attendance was the president of the community, Yasha Alfandri and Albania’s Chief Rabbi Yoel Kaplan.

Recently, a delegation from the Rabbinical Center of Europe (RCE) and Chief Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger met with the prime minister  to discuss the issue. Rabbi Aryeh Goldberg, deputy director of the RCE and a member of the delegation, expressed his gratitude that the prime minister kept his promise on the issue. “There is no doubt that this is an historic day and an important milestone for the future of Montenegro Jewry,” Prime Minister Lukšić said.