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The Albanian people’s bravery and humanity during World War II should serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for all of us. (Photo: Twitter.)
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Amidst the atrocities of World War II, the Albanian people stood out for their incredible bravery and humanity. Despite being a small mountainous country on the southeast coast of the Balkan peninsula with a population of only 803,000, Albania managed to save almost all of its Jewish population during the German occupation of 1943.
At the time of Hitler’s rise to power in 1933, Albania was home to only 200 Jews. However, as the Nazi regime spread across Europe, many Jews sought refuge in Albania, with an estimated 600-1,800 Jewish refugees entering the country from Germany, Austria, Serbia, Greece, and Yugoslavia. These refugees hoped to continue on to the Land of Israel or other places of refuge.
When the Germans occupied Albania in 1943, they issued orders for the population to turn over lists of Jews residing within the country’s borders. However, in an extraordinary act of bravery, the Albanian population refused to comply with these orders. The various governmental agencies provided many Jewish families with fake documentation that allowed them to blend in with the rest of the population.
The Albanians not only protected their Jewish citizens, but also provided sanctuary to Jewish refugees who had arrived in Albania when it was still under Italian rule. These refugees found themselves faced with the danger of deportation to concentration camps, but the Albanians went out of their way to provide assistance, competing with each other for the privilege of saving Jews.
This remarkable assistance was grounded in BESA, a code of honor that still serves as the highest ethical code in the country. BESA literally means “to keep the promise,” and those who act according to BESA are those who keep their word and can be trusted with the lives of others. The Albanians acted with compassion, loving-kindness, and a desire to help those in need, even those of another faith or origin.
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Despite being the only European country with a Muslim majority, Albania succeeded where other European nations failed. Almost all Jews living within Albanian borders during the German occupation, those of Albanian origin and refugees alike, were saved, except members of one single family. Impressively, there were more Jews in Albania at the end of the war than beforehand.
The Albanian people’s bravery and humanity during World War II should serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for all of us. Despite the horrors and violence of war, it is possible for people to come together and show kindness, compassion, and solidarity.
The Albanians’ extraordinary act of saving almost all of their Jewish population is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the resilience of the human heart. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, we can find light and hope if we work together and stay true to our highest ethical principles.
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Thank you for choosing TheJ.Ca as your source for Canadian Jewish News.
We do news differently!
Our positioning as a Zionist News Media platform sets us apart from the rest. While other Canadian Jewish media are advocating increasingly biased progressive political and social agendas, TheJ.Ca is providing more and more readers with a welcome alternative and an ideological home.
We revealed the incursion of anti-Israel progressive elements such as IfNotNow into our communities. We have exposed the distorted hateful agenda of the “progressive” left political radicals who brought Linda Sarsour to our cities, and we were first to report on many disturbing incidents of Nazi-based hate towards Jews across Canada.
But we can’t do it alone. We need your HELP!
Our ability to thrive and grow in 2020 and beyond depends on the generosity of committed readers and supporters like you.
Monthly support is a great way to help us sustain our operations. We greatly appreciate any contributions you can make to support Jewish Journalism.
We thank you for your ongoing support.
Happy reading!
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