To highlight this page of Albanian history, where Albanian families became an “oasis of hope” for Jews, there was opened today an exhibition in the presence of a group of history teachers from Albania and Kosovo.

The exhibition was held within the framework of a seminar organized by the History Teachers Association, in collaboration with the Institute for Studies on the Crimes and Consequences of Communism (ISKK) and “The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights” (TOLI).

Through documents and photographs, the participants got acquainted with the efforts of the state authorities of the time to ensure the smooth stay of Jews in Albania, as well as the stories of solidarity and hospitality of Albanian families.

During the visit, the history teachers also stopped at the work premises of the General Directorate of Archives (DPA), where they got acquainted with the activities and services that the institution offers to citizens and researchers.

The history of the protection and hospitality of Jews in Albania during the years of World War II remains one of the most significant testimonies of the solidarity and humanism of Albanians, conveying even today the universal values ​​of respect for life and human dignity.

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The film, shot in 2024, was initiated by educator Murad Awdallah, who promotes religious coexistence among young people.

The documentary, which focuses on Awdallah, who serves as the head of the Arabic division at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, follows a journey aimed at teaching young Jewish and Arab audiences how Albanians saved at least 2,000 Jews during World War Two.

According to the Albanian Embassy in Israel, the film centres on a group of Israeli youths from different religious backgrounds seeking to understand the Albanian concept of “besa” – a traditional code of honour credited with helping save thousands of lives during the Holocaust.

“In a world that often feels divided and unsettled, there is a greater need than ever to return to core human values: respect, tolerance and love for others,” the Embassy said. “We must teach these values not only in words, but through example. Albanians carry within them a rare heritage – ‘besa’ – and in every Albanian bound by honour lies a spark of light for the world.”

The documentary also features Albanian Ambassador to Israel Meri Kumbe, members of Albanian families who sheltered Jews during the war, and Felicita Jakoel, a representative of the Albanian-Jewish community in Israel.

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Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Elisa Spiropali stated that, “During an historic session held in the Knesset yesterday, Prime Minister Edi Rama highlighted the Albanian enduring light that shone, even in the depths of the systematic extermination of Jews, the Holocaust.

‘You can take the gold, but not the Jews’ was the defiant answer of Albanian people and authorities to the 1943 Nazi ultimatum’, said Spiropali.

The minister underlined that Albania was the only country in Europe that ended the Second World War with 15 times more Jews than it started.

“Albania found the strength to protect diversity and to honor life precisely in its  honor code of Besa, the oath to protect guests ”, she said.

“We take pride in having upheld the highest moral principles that deserves to be witnessed everywhere, but which is not the only one in our history of sheltering and protecting foreigners and people in need”, added the minister.

Spiropali emphasized that Albania decided to join President Trump’s Peace Board Charter, through the participation of PM Rama, as a country that has risen from the ashes of a dictatorship, with an exemplary religious brotherhood and without ethnic divisions.

“Albania has something to prove and offer to the world even in this format, with noble goals for resolving old and new conflicts”, she emphasized. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

The exhibition, featuring photographs and stories curated by journalist Carlo Bollino and photographer Norman Gershman, presents Albania as a rare example in Europe where the Jewish population increased during the war rather than diminished.

Rama praised the heroism of Albanian families who refused to comply with Nazi orders, emphasizing that their actions were not political strategy but moral choices.

“When the Nazis demanded lists of Jews, Albanians destroyed them. When others handed over neighbors, Albanians offered protection. When obedience became a silent ally, Albania chose the risky path of responsibility,” he said.

The Premier described the exhibition as “not just a showcase of history, but a compass we must follow,” noting that simple acts of kindness – sharing bread, hiding a child, or sheltering entire families – preserved humanity in a time when totalitarianism sought to erase it.

Rama said Albania’s moral stance during the Holocaust stands as a guiding example for today.

Rama described Albania’s stance during the Holocaust as a testament to the country’s enduring tradition of “besa” – the pledge of honor and hospitality – and said it offers a model of moral courage for the present.

“Albania refused moral compromise and emerged from World War II as the only country in Europe with more Jews than before the war,” he stated.

The exhibition features both the faces of Jewish families who found refuge in Albania and the Albanian families who hosted them, reflecting the country’s tradition of besa – the pledge of honor and hospitality, as well as acts of bravery and human solidarity in one of Europe’s darkest periods.

“May the memory of those who were saved and those who saved them be a blessing for all. God bless those who rescued Jews and kept Albania from shame,” Rama added.

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The Albanian Jewish Museum, which recalls precious values ​​such as the hospitality and humanism of the people of Vlora throughout the centuries, is being built on the former Jewish quarter and is located in the city’s main square.

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today in the social media views from the construction site of the Albanian Jewish Museum in Vlora, a building that, according to him, “will testify to generations the rare history of Albanian coexistence with Jews, in the dark years of the Holocaust”.

Focusing on the project, Rama said that it combines traditional and contemporary architecture.

“The project preserves the original walls of the building, the supporting structure and typical architectural elements, while the entire process will be enriched with modern approaches to design and contemporary exhibition technologies”, the prime minister wrote.

The Albanian Jewish Museum will be part of the cultural complex of Vlora, as it is located near three other museums, the National Museum of Independence, the Historical Museum and the Ethnographic Museum.

The building where this museum is being built is a late 19th century construction and is located in the Historical Center of Vlora.

Designed by the renowned Israeli studio “Kimmel Eshkolot Architects”, the Jewish Museum is being built with a fund of 280 million lekë.

This museum will tell a centuries-old history of coexistence between Albanians and the Jewish population, but will also become a center that generates dialogue on tolerance and understanding between peoples.

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The exhibition offered attendees the opportunity to learn about the measures taken by Albanian state institutions for the smooth running of the stay of Jews in Albania.

Attending the event was the First Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia Izet Mexhiti, numerous parliamentarians, Ambassador Denion Meidani and other representatives of the diplomatic corps.

Aiming to promote the unique history of the stay of Jews in Albania during World War II, the General Directorate of Archives signed years ago a cooperation agreement with the Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Memorial Authority, “Yad Vashem”. /j.p/p.s./

“It is the day to turn our eyes towards one of the most tragic chapters of human history to remember and honor the innocent victims and praise the courageous acts of those who chose humanity in the face of darkness,” Gonxhja said.

“On this day of reflection, we also honor the Albanian people, who, driven by the ancient tradition of hospitality and the Albanian code of honor known as ‘Besa’, literally ‘to keep the promise’, saved hundreds of Jews from persecution by opening the doors of their homes during World War II,” Gonxhja added.

He went on saying that Albanians’ heroism is a rare example of solidarity and humanity, will soon be immortalized in the “Besa” museum being built in the heart of Tirana. The new cultural museum will preserve and showcase a golden age of Albania, that of saving Jews during the World War II, and the facility will also provide a space for opinions, debates, artistic and cultural expressions about tolerance, solidarity and humanism.

Besa Museum will be closely linked with the Hebrew Museum in Vlora. The project will see the restoration and upgrade of the historic building near the Tirana Castle complex.

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“On ​​this day of reflection, we honor, among other things, the Albanian people, who, guided by the ancient tradition of hospitality and the code of faith, saved hundreds of Jews from heartless persecution during World War II by opening their doors to them,” said Gonxhja.

The heroism of the Albanians, a rare example of solidarity and humanity, will soon be immortalized in the “Besa” museum, which will be built in the heart of Tirana. This museum will be more than a space of memory; it will be a bridge between the past and the present, a tribute to courage and nobility, a place where the tradition of peace, tolerance and respect for human life will inspire future generations.

The minister recalled that in cooperation with the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF), there has begun building of the Jewish Museum in Vlora, which will shed light on the traditions of solidarity and humanism deeply rooted in Albanians, presenting the extraordinary connection between Albanians and the Jewish community here and around the world. /p.s./

The “Wall of Honour” statue bearing the names of 23 Kosovo Albanians was unveiled by Pristina Mayor Përparim Rama in a ceremony attended by the US Congressman Joseph DioGuardi, his spouse Shirley, representatives of the Albanian-American Civic League, the ambassadors of the United States and Germany and some of the rescuers’ descendants.

“At the heart of Pristina, we unveiled the Wall of Honour, a testament to courage, compassion and commitment to humanity, values ​​that shape our shared history. Let this Wall of Honor be a bridge of friendship for the Jewish people, both in Israel and around the world, and may it stand as an eternal symbol of our love for humanity,” the Mayor of Pristina Përparim Rama said in his remarks at the event.

Pristina Mayor awarded the Key to the City to the former US Congressman and his wife in gratitude for their commitment and activities to advance and defend Kosovo cause.

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Minister of Culture Elva Margariti made a public invitation through social networks to participate in this presentation for the establishment of the newest museum in Tirana.

The public presentation of the 5 projects will take place on June 26, 2023, at the hall of the National Theater of Opera and Ballet.

The five finalist teams are: EAA (Emre Arolat Architecture), Oppenheim Architecture, Schneider & Schumacher, Cook Haffner Architecture Platform AS & Archispace as well as MVRDV & IRi & OVE Arup&Partners Ireland Ltd & Martha Schwartz Partners.

The museum will be built at the Libohovas’ House, Cultural Monument, located next to the Castle of Tirana and Toptani Palace.

The museum will be a new destination in the city for all those who want to get to know that glorious page of the history of the Albanians, such as the protection they gave to the Jews during the WWTwo.

This becomes the second museum after the one in Vlora dedicated to the role of Albanians in protection Jews during the Holocaust./p.s./