Jakov Bienenfeld

Jakov Bienenfeld (28 July 1948 – 8 February 2016) was a Croatian entrepreneur and developer.

Life and career

Bienenfeld was born in Zagreb on July 28, 1948 to a Jewish family. Most members of his family have perished during the Holocaust. His father, Zlatko Bienenfeld, was Major general of the Croatian Army and personal adviser to late Croatian defence minister Gojko Šušak. Bienenfeld was a prominent entrepreneur who owned several successful businesses, including a travel agency and a developing company. In the 1990s Bienenfeld brought an exclusive German fashion brand Escada to Croatia. Bienenfeld was also a council member of the Zagreb Jewish community.

During the Croatian War of Independence, in 1991, he co-organized aid convoy on ferryboat "Ilirija" to bring the humanitarian aid to bounded Dubrovnik. With the help and cooperation from Slobodan Praljak, Bienenfeld also co-organized rescue of more than 1,200 Jews from Sarajevo during Bosnian War. Bienenfeld testified in Praljak's favor during his trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

Jakov

Jakov is a Croatian and Serbian masculine given name, a variant of the biblical name Jacob. It may refer to:

Jakov, Archbishop of Serbs

Jakov (Serbian: Јаков I) was the Archbishop of Serbs from 1286 to 1292. He is venerated as a saint, Saint Jakov.

Information on Jakov is scarce, it is known that he renovated and founded churches, and that he likely transferred the episcopal see from Žiča to the Peć metochion. He had special love for the Studenica, which he provided liturgical books and church accessories. He had special care for Serbian ascetics.

He received his aureola with his saintly purity and Christian love, he was gentle, humble and charitable. The Serbian Orthodox Church venerates him on February 3, in the Church calendar, while February 16, on the Gregorian calendar.

Sources