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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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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