The exhibition entitled "Forgive Us, Forgive Us, Oh You, the Dead" is dedicated to Jewish soldiers in the Austro-Hungarian army who fell on the Isonzo Front (Soska Fronta) of World War I in the territory of present day Slovenia. A total of about 300,000 Jewish soldiers participated in the war and estimates put the number of Jewish soldiers who lost their lives during World War I at around 40,000.
The exhibition is based on historical research of the documents, photos and existing literature and also interviews with people who knew about Jews who fought on the side of the Austrian army in World War I.The exhibition was provided by the Maribor synagogue which serves as a cultural center of Jewish heritage in Slovenia.
Presented in cooperation with the Embassy of Slovenia in Washington, Consulate General of Slovenia in Cleveland and Professor Luka Zibelnik.
Members of the Slovenian and Jewish communities gathered with City leaders and others for a presentation on November 17, 2015. Israeli Deputy Consul General Moran Birman is based in Philadelphia and this was his first trip to Cleveland. Slovenian Consul General Andrej Gregor Rode has only been at his new post in Cleveland for 3 weeks.
Michael Fleming, St Clair Superior Development Corporation Executive Director, began the presentation and spoke about the history and diversity of the neighborhood and how it is a fitting place for such a cross-cultural exhibition.
Michael Fleming
Michael Cantor, President of the Cleveland Chapter of the AJC (American Jewish Community), welcomed the two new Consuls (Slovenian Consul General Andrej Gregor Rode and Israeli Deputy Consul General Moran Birman) to Cleveland. He also recognized Cleveland Councilmen Jeff Johnson, Joe Cimperman and Mike Polensek. He called for a moment of silence for the French and other victims of recent terror.
Michael Cantor
Luka Zibelnik, Lecturer at the Center for Slovenian Studies at
Cleveland State University, introduced the new Slovenian Consul General Andrej Gregor Rode.
 Luka Zibelnik Slovenian Consul General Andrej Gregor Rode spoke about the exposition "Forgive Us, Oh You, the Dead."
Slovenian Consul General Andrej Gregor Rode
 Cheryl Davis
Israeli Deputy Consul General Moran Birman said that events like this are how we build relationships between communities.
 Israeli Deputy Consul General Moran Birman
Luka Zibelnik, Lecturer at the Center for Slovenian Studies at
Cleveland State University, was the driving force in getting the exhibition to Cleveland. He told about the Slovenian Museum and Archives and then told about the exposition it was hosting "Forgive Us, Oh You, the Dead."
 Luka Zibelnik
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The audience asked questions. The first was 'How did the exhibit come about and how did it get to Cleveland?'
 Luka Zibelnik
Councilman Joe Cimperman asked a question about Jews in Slovenia, both historically and now.
Amy Budish asked if schools are teaching about what happened.
Scott Garson asked why Luka got into this. Luka is not Jewish but he uncovered items in his scholarly research of Slovenian writers that inspired him.
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Israeli Deputy Consul Moran Birman and
Slovenian Consul General Andrej Gregor Rode
Cleveland Councilmen Joe Cimperman, Mike Polensek and Jeff Johnson flank Israeli Deputy Consul Moran Birman and Slovenian Consul General Andrej Gregor Rode
Israeli Deputy Consul Moran Birman, Cheryl Davis,
Michael Cantor and Slovenian Consul General Andrej Gregor Rode
Luka Zibelnik, Jessica Cohen, Cheryl Davis, Deputy Consul Moran Birman, Consul General Andrej Gregor Rode, Michael Cantor, Lee C Shapiro and Michael Fleming
Joe Cimperman and Jessica Cohen
Councilmen Cimperman, Johnson and Polensek with Consuls Birman and Rode and Michael Cantor, Lee C Shapiro, Cheryl Davis and Jessica Cohen
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