Today, Albania has one of the smallest Jewish communities in Europe. But this wasn't always the case. In the course of World War II, the number of Jews in the country increased dramatically. Meet a non-Jewish tour guide who believes that much can be gained from telling the story of the country's Jewish community and embracing diversity.
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00:00Elton Chiaushy is not a typical Albanian tour guide.
00:04He specializes in the Jewish history of his country.
00:07The only one in Europe where the size of the Jewish community
00:10increased dramatically during World War II.
00:13Today, this chapter in Albania's history is largely forgotten,
00:17something Elton would like to change.
00:30We have built a museum in Berat, the Solomon Museum,
00:33for those who remember and remember
00:37what happened during World War II.
00:40We have an engagement in Tehran,
00:42which we are also doing in Vlorë, to build a museum.
00:46Today, Elton is visiting the Chiusia family in Tehran.
00:49The family was given the title Righteous Among the Nations
00:52by the World Holocaust Remembrance Center Yad Vashem in Israel,
00:55a title that honors non-Jewish people who protected Jews from the Nazis.
00:59Fatos Chiusia's father hid a Jewish man during the war
01:02and helped him escape when things in Tirana got tense.
01:30My father took my mother, who was four years old, and my brother.
01:36When they called my mother, the Germans came and told her
01:42that my father was innocent.
01:45They said that he was a liar, a liar.
01:48Before the war, only 300 to 400 Jews lived in Albania.
01:52By the end of the war, this number had risen to about 3,750
01:56because many Jews from southeastern Europe found shelter there.
01:59With the fall of communism and due to economic hardship,
02:02many left Albania, with most Jews relocating to Israel.
02:07Today, there are less than 100 Jewish people in Albania.
02:10One of them is Amos Stojaka, president of the Jewish community.
02:14Amos says that although anti-Semitic stereotypes prevail,
02:17he himself has never felt discriminated against.
02:20Amos Stojaka, president of the Jewish community
02:23We have something special about us.
02:26We are all born and raised in Albania.
02:29I was born and raised in Tirana.
02:32I have something special about me.
02:35I was born and raised in Tirana.
02:38Since 1990, there have been about 400 people in Albania.
02:42Since 1990, there have been about 400 people in Albania.
02:46After the war in 1991, after the liberation of Cyprus,
02:50the majority of the community emigrated to Israel and the United States.
02:54the majority of the community emigrated to Israel and the United States.
02:57the majority of the community emigrated to Israel and the United States.
03:00Today, there are about 60 people in this community.
03:04Elton is not Jewish, but he is convinced that the strength of predominantly Muslim Albania
03:08lies in its religious and ethnic diversity.
03:11Many Israelis come to Albania as tourists,
03:14Elton also wants non-Jewish people to know
03:17how Albania opened its doors to fellow humans in the hour of their greatest need.
03:20Elton also wants non-Jewish people to know
03:23how Albania opened its doors to fellow humans in the hour of their greatest need.
03:26Albania has had a successful history since the time of the Sheptars.
03:30We have been united by faith,
03:33have been connected through several different faithly philosophies,
03:36and we have started with this canonical tradition
03:39of being united with the local community
03:42I am not only a supporter of the Albanian community, but I am also a volunteer for the Albanian community in Skopje,
03:48in Thessaloniki, in Belgrade, in Vienna, in Germany, in Italy, in many places,
03:53and I work not only a little, but a lot.
03:56Elton hopes that this unique chapter in Albania's history can set an example,
04:00especially for young people in Southeastern Europe.
04:03He is convinced that much can be gained from embracing diversity and respectful coexistence.
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