Muslims Who Saved Jews During the Holocaust Exhibit Opens at SBPL

BESA: Muslims Who Saved Jews during the Holocaust, featuring 31 photographs by renowned photographer Norman Gershman, opened May 6, at the South Brunswick Library and will be open to the public through the month.

The photographs feature Albanian Muslim families who had sheltered and saved Jews during the Holocaust. During the period of 1943-1945, it is believed that the people of Greater Albania saved between 2,000 and 3,000 Jews.

BESA, the ancient code of honor, requires an Albanian to endanger his own life if necessary to save the life of anyone seeking asylum. BESA is, to this day, the highest moral law of the region.

The exhibition follows the by-invitation-only screening of the award-winning documentary, Besa: The Promise, on which the exhibit is based. Besa has been shown around the world to sold-out crowds and has taken first place at numerous film festivals.

Brought to South Brunswick by the Sisterhood of Salaam/Shalom, this is the first time the film is being shown and sponsored by a joint group of Muslims and Jews. The Sisterhood of Salaam/Shalom was founded by Sheryl Olitzky and Atiya Aftab in the summer of 2010 in an effort to develop a circle of friendship between women of the Jewish and Muslim faiths.

In addition to Sheryl and Atiya the circle of friendship includes: Nadia Ansary, Nausheena Bhayat, Suzanne Brahmia, Amaney Jamal, Arline Kane, Elaine Livingston, Joan Mitnick, Lynn Sherman, Linda Tondow and Heba Macksoud.

The South Brunswick Public Library is located at 110 Kingston Lane, Monmouth Junction, New Jersey. Call 732-329-4000, ext. 7290 for exhibit hours or visit the Library website at http://www.sbpl.info.