Albanians honored for role during Holocaust

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Albanians, both Muslims and Christians, were honored for their role as “Righteous Among the Nations” at the annual Yom Hashoah Commemoration on Sunday at the Arden Heights Boulevard Jewish Center.
Albanian ambassador to the United Nations Ferit Hoxha received standing ovations before and after his speech at the event, where members of the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center in Tompkinsville played key roles.
Hoxha was introduced by Beth Lilach, senior director of education and community affairs at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County in Glen Cove, L.I.
The ambassador stressed that Albania was the only nation in Europe where there were more Jews after WW II than before, their numbers rising from about 200 to more than 2,000. The growth included refugees from countries such as Greece, Austria and Italy, said Manny Saks, co-chair with George Laufer of the Staten Island Holocaust Commemoration Committee.
“Every Albanian Jew survived the Holocaust,” the ambassador said proudly, adding that “there was no instance when an Albanian accepted compensation for hiding Jews.”
Albanians are listed in the “Righteous Among the Nations” data at Yad Vashem, the central Holocaust Memorial institution in Jerusalem, which recognizes more than 23,000 Gentiles in 45 counties who assisted Jews.
The ambassador stressed that Albania has a history of religious tolerance.
In saving the Jews, the Albanians lived the concept of Besa, which is similar to Gemilut Hasidim, acts of loving kindness.
“We saved the Jews in accordance with our faith, rules and traditions, because we thought that was the right thing to do,” said the ambassador.