“…As elsewhere during World War II, Jews in Albania were especially targeted for destruction - PowerPoint Presentation

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“…As elsewhere during World War II, Jews in Albania were especially targeted for destruction by the ruling Germans. But their fate there was altered by an ancient and sacrosanct Albanian principle known as Besa—one’s word of honor. In Albania, when a person gives you his Besa

to act in a certain way, then he is committed to abide by it whatever the circumstances...”

Mordecai

Paldiel

Foreword to Norman

Gershman’s

book, January 2008

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Per information provided by the BBC, the Albanian language is not related to other languages. Like a rare winter plum, Albanian is the sole surviving member on its branch of the Indo-European family tree.

It is spoken by 6,000,000 people and is the official language of Albania and Kosovo. It is also spoken in Serbia, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Bulgaria and Macedonia.

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“There is no trace of any discrimination against Jews in Albania, because Albania happens to be one of the rare lands in Europe today where religious prejudice and hate do not exist, even though Albanians themselves are divided into three faiths.”Herman Bernstein, the United States Ambassador

to Albania, 1934

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Beqir

Qoqja

Kasem

Jakup

Kocerri

Besim

and

Aishe

Kadiu

Ali

Sheqer

Pashkaj

Mefail

Biçaku

and his son,

Niazi

Biçaku

Hamid and

Xhemal

Veseli

Bessim

and

Higmet

Zyma

Eshref

Shpuza

Nuro

Hoxha

Destan

and Lime

Balla

Zyrha

Kasapi

and her son,

Hamdi

Kasapi

Vesel

and

Fatime

Veseli

;

Refik

Veseli

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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