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Rama for the 'Jerusalem Post': Saving the Jews an important part of our national DNA

2023-07-03 14:14:59Politikë SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Rama for the 'Jerusalem Post': Saving the Jews an important part of
Edi Rama

Albania, a country in Southeast Europe that fascinates with its rich history, stunning landscapes and vibrant culture, also has a very small Jewish community of about 45, writes Zvika Klein for The Jerusalem Post.

And yet, Albania invests time and funds in telling the unique story of its Jewish history and in strengthening ties with Israel.

"I really believe that this episode of our history, when Albania saved the Jews, is an important part of our DNA as a nation," said Prime Minister Edi Rama during a visit to Israel last week.

“Kjo periudhë duhet të çmohet dhe të vlerësohet shumë. Unë dua që brezi ynë i ardhshëm të dijë të kaluarën e tyre, sepse gjyshërit tanë bënë diçka absolutisht mahnitëse duke e vënë veten në radhë për të mbrojtur hebrenjtë”, shpjegoi Rama.

Kryeministri Rama e ka vizituar Izraelin dy herë si kryeministër, por edhe shumë herë privatisht për pushime familjare, siç ishte javën e kaluar.

“Hebrenjtë mbërritën në Shqipëri në katër periudha të ndryshme, që nga shekulli II. Ata madje krijuan një qytet të quajtur Jeriko. Ne e quajmë Orikum dhe është themeluar nga hebrenjtë”, shtoi Rama.

Saranda, e njohur edhe ajo më parë si Orikum, besohet se ka qenë vendndodhja e sinagogës më të hershme të Shqipërisë, e ndërtuar në shekullin IV ose V.

This synagogue is thought to have been built by the descendants of Jews who settled on the southern coast of Albania around 70 AD.

However, in the 6th century, the synagogue was replaced by a church.

During the XI-XII centuries, Orikum, then called Jericho, was part of a Byzantine province that also included Kanina and Vlora.

This province, known as provincia Jericho et Caninon, is mentioned in the imperial decree given to Venice in 1198 by Alexios III Angelos.

Rama speaks with pride about the important role his country played during the Holocaust saving the Jews.

"During World War II, we became the only country with more Jews after the war than before it. "There was not a single case of a Jew who surrendered to the Nazis," he said.

Rama recently announced the opening of two new Jewish museums in Albania, one in Vlora and one in Tirana.

The museums will be dedicated to the history and culture of the Jewish community in the country as well as the Albanians who risked their lives to save the Jews during the Holocaust.

The museum in Vlora will be located in the historic synagogue of the city.

Built in the 19th century, the synagogue is one of the oldest in Albania.

The museum in Tirana will be located in the former Jewish Community Center.

"We are building the museum of Vlora in the famous Jewish quarter, where there is still a street named after their Jews. We are building the museum in an old house that is being remodeled according to modern architecture," said Rama, adding that the museum in the capital will focus on broader issues.

"It will be a combination of Jewish history, the history of Albania and there will be a space for tolerance, dialogue and interreligious relations", he said.

"The renowned Basel-based firm Oppenheim Architecture has won the design competition for the new museum," according to an announcement last week.

The competition, funded by Israeli philanthropist Alexander Machkevitch, aimed to find the best design solution for building the museum.

It will be located in the historic House of the Toptans in Tirana.

With its 19th century architecture, designated as a cultural heritage and monument, the construction of the museum presents a unique challenge of restoring a beloved building, reflecting contemporary elements.

Prime Minister Rama hopes that after these museums are officially opened, Israeli and Jewish tourists from all over the world will come to visit them.

"We have an increasing number of tourists from Israel", said Rama, thanking the Israeli airline "Arkia" for offering direct flights Tel Aviv-Tirana.

The small Jewish community in Albania

Prime Minister Rama explained that the Jewish community in Albania is very small, since most of them moved to Israel after the fall of the dictatorial regime.

According to the World Jewish Congress, 40 to 50 Jews live in Albania out of a population of 2.87 million in 2017.

Asked about the relationship between his country and Israel, Rama said that "fortunately, the relationship is excellent, but not essential in the sense that it could be much bigger, deeper and more important, because the relationship is very strong".

"Politically, we stand with Israel all the time, as well as in the UN Security Council, where we have a seat now," said Rama.

"We have been very vocal in Albania about anti-Semitism", added Rama.

"We have passed all the anti-Semitism legislation as well as promoting learning about the Holocaust in schools and so on," he said.

He added that Albania hopes to "convince more Jewish politicians to engage more in Albania, because there are many opportunities".

Prime Minister Rama also hopes that a greater number of tourists from Israel and the Jewish world will come to Albania, since the direct flight from Israel takes just over two hours.

During the interview, Rama spoke about "incredible documents" in the Albanian archives, one of which has to do with his country's approach to the "Jewish Sabbath", a holiday for Jews.

"Albania was the only country before the World War that accepted the Sabbath in law. This happened before World War II, while the law stated that it is forbidden for any public or private entity to force Jews to work on the Sabbath," he said.

He emphasized that this law would not allow employers to pay Jews less, since they were not working on the Sabbath, they had to be paid like everyone else.

According to Rama, "this was the first legislation with a positive discrimination against Jews in Europe".

In addition, he mentioned that in the 1930s, a delegation of American Jews organized a delegation to Albania where they met the king and asked if Albania was willing to give the Jews some land to establish settlements.

Prime Minister Rama said that there is a report in the Congress archive that documents the visit.

"It's amazing. There it is said that the king offered four large blocks on the shore of the sea of ​​Albania, to have four settlements for the Jews. They also talk about the generosity, kindness and speed with which the Albanian government received them", said Rama.
They wrote that after the visit to Albania, "we believe that Albania can be our reserve land until we return to our land".

In November, Tzvi Joffre of The Jerusalem Post reported that Albania had announced it was cutting ties with Iran and expelling Iranian diplomats over a cyber attack said to have been carried out by the Iranians in July in an attempt to destroy infrastructure. digital of Albania.

Rama said that after a full investigation, it was confirmed "with indisputable evidence" that the attack was carried out by Iran.

"They continue to attack and we continue to defend ourselves", Rama said about Iran, adding that "Israel is helping us to strengthen our defense".

"The reception of the Iranian opposition group Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK), was the reason why the Iranians attacked Albania", according to Rama.

"I really want Saudi Arabia to be the next country to establish official ties with Israel, paradoxically, Jews and Muslims have a common concern, which is Iran," he said.

Prime Minister Rama also explained that he always thought that Arab countries would strengthen ties around the common threat of Iran.

He added that he sees the solution of the Palestinian issue in the creation of a united front among all Arab nations, instead of focusing only on Palestine.

"By bringing all Arabs together, positive pressure can be exerted on the Palestinians to join a new era of cooperation," said Rama.
Rama, 58, has been prime minister since 2013 and is also chairman of the Socialist Party.

Before becoming Prime Minister, Rama held various positions, including Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports from 1998 to 2000 and Mayor of Tirana for more than a decade.

He is the only Albanian prime minister who has won three consecutive mandates.

Rama is also a painter, writer, former university lecturer and former basketball player.

"Before becoming the Minister of Culture, for the first time I entered the office of a ministry as a minister", said Rama, explaining that before entering politics he was an artist and a former university lecturer, not participating never in long meetings and not sitting in an office for hours

"I had to be in these very long meetings, so I would sit there with a stack of papers and draw the whole time," he said.
He pulls out his phone and shows photos of his office, covered in cut-out backgrounds he'd created from his drawings.

"It is not a typical office of a prime minister," jokes Rama.


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