Albanian Culture Ministry has announced the establishment of the “Besa” Museum, a new cultural space in the heart of Tirana, which will celebrate the heroic actions of Albanians who rescued Jews during the Holocaust. According to “The Jerusalem Post”, the museum will be housed in a historic building that embodies the best of 19th-century Albanian architecture and has been designated a Cultural Heritage and Cultural Monument.
Earlier in October 2022 Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the establishment of the new museum at a gala event honoring Albanian “Righteous Among the Nations” during his visit to Jerusalem.
А design competition for architecture design proposals, funded by Euro-Asian Jewish Congress Honorary President Alexander Machkevitch, will be opened by Albania’s Culture Ministry with the goal of finding the best design solution for the museum’s construction.
“I am humbled to be a part of this important project that will memorialize the bravery of Albanians who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust,” Machkevitch said.
He added that the Albanian people, “and particularly Rama, have shown great commitment to preserving the memory of these heroic acts, and it is an honor to work alongside them. This project is a testament to the power of solidarity and compassion in the face of darkness, and I hope it will inspire future generations to continue this legacy of kindness.”
JPost also mentioned that “Besa” Museum will serve as a meeting point, a dialogue center for cultural exchanges, and beyond. It aims to be an added tourist attraction in Tirana, as well as a center for education and community engagement.
Albanian Prime Minister also pointed on inportance of this moment for “Tirana’s history, urban development, and architecture”: “I believe that we will finally be able to breathe a sigh of relief from a long-standing burden of obligation in relation to our children and visitors to our country, which is related to perhaps the most glorious page of Albanian history, the rescue of Jews during WWII”, he said.
Albania is one of the few European countries in which the number of Jews increased after the end of World War II. Due to the influx of refugees, the Jewish population turned out to be more than at the beginning of the war in 1939.
EAJC values the close historical ties between the Albanian and Jewish peoples: during the 2nd World War, many Albanias were saving Jews, often risking their own lives. In this regard, the Jewish people and the State of Israel express their gratitude to the people of Albania.
In addition, an important episode in the partnership between the Albanian authorities and the EAJC was the joint evacuation of refugees from Afghanistan to Albania and then to Canada back in 2021. Emergency assistance was provided to 40 men and women by several organizations and individuals, including EAJС Honorary President Alexander Mashkevich and EAJC Chairman of the Board Aharon G. Frenkel.
