Besa: Muslims Who Saved Jews WW II - Hardcover

Gershman, Norman H.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0815609345 ISBN 13: 9780815609346

Publisher: Syracuse University Press, 2008

Synopsis

Besa is a code of honor deeply rooted in Albanian culture and incorporated in the faith of Albanian Muslims. It dictates a moral behavior so absolute that nonadherence brings shame and dishonor on oneself and one’s family. Simply stated, it demands that one take responsibility for the lives of others in their time of need. In Albania and Kosovo, Muslims sheltered, at grave risk to themselves and their families, not only the Jews of their cities and villages, but thousands of Jews fleeing the Nazis from other European countries.

Over a five-year period, photographer Norman H. Gershman sought out, photographed, and collected these powerful and moving stories of heroism in Besa: Muslims Who Saved Jews in World War II. The book reveals a hidden period in history, slowly emerging after the fall of an isolationist communist regime, and shows the compassionate side of ordinary people in saving Jews. They acted within their true Muslim faith.

About this title

About the Author:

Norman H. Gershman is a fine arts photographer whose work is represented in museums throughout the world. His photographs have been featured in exhibits by Yad Vashem in Israel and the United Na-tions in New York. Gershman’s photographic journey in Albania and Kosovo will be the subject of a full-length documentary, God’s House.

From Publishers Weekly:

Long-time fine art photographer Gershman spent five years collecting the stories of Albanian Muslims who harbored Jewish refugees during WWII as part of the Islamic tradition of Besa, or sanctuary, and his record provides a clear and powerful push back against a popular image more recently shaped by violent extremists. Each new page offers a portrait and a brief anecdote on the origins of the family, the people they helped, and the bonds that formed between the Albanian and Jewish families. Gershman's portraits are skillful and expressive, capturing warmth and pride but also the weight of the 60 years that have passed since the War. The subjects' resonant voices-"I did nothing special. All Hebrews are our brothers"-share tales of kindnesses and unexpected lives conceived in the midst of catastrophe and destruction. A haunting look at the power of love, compassion and generosity to unite faiths and deliver genuine salvation, this illustrated oral history will fascinate. 66 b&w photos.
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About this edition

• Publisher: Syracuse University Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0815609345
• ISBN 13: 9780815609346
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 148