Expert Analysis
B’nai B’rith sponsors Hebrew young readers’ book on rescue in Albania
“’Run to the basement!’ grandma yelled, as she yanked me forcefully and led me outside the apartment. Aunt Giza ran after us and father picked up Bebe in his arms and ran after us. Mother was the last one to leave the apartment, closing the door behind her. We ran in a frenzy down the stairs to the building’s basement. On our way down we saw our neighbors descending as well. When all of them entered the crowded basement, one of the neighbors closed the heavy door behind us.”
That is how the Second World War began for five-year-old Gavra Mandil and altered life as he knew it in his native city of Novi Sad, Yugoslavia. Together with his father and mother—accomplished photographers—and little sister, Gavra escaped the Nazi occupation of Belgrade while visiting family to remote areas in Yugoslavia, Kosovo and Albania to get as far away as possible from the Germans.
During their flight, the family had to alternately pretend they were Christian and Muslim, repeatedly changing their names and identities; they were incarcerated and wandered from one place to another. Besides a long streak of good luck, two main things saved the family: father Moshe’s camera and the Besa Code—an Albanian oath of honor that compels adherents to protect a guest, even at the cost of one’s own life.
The engaging true story, written by Maya Klinger-Cohen in the voice of Gavra, conveys how, even in a world where evil reigns—kindness, courage and friendship were lights in the darkness.
Some of the Albanians who participated in the rescue of the Mandil family, who now reside in Israel, were subsequently recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem—Israel’s World Holocaust Remembrance Center, including five members of the Veseli family who were the first Albanians to receive this significant citation, in 1990.
Author Maya Klinger-Cohen was born and raised in Jerusalem. Over the years she led tours there and in other Israeli sites, including Yad Vashem. She has a BA and MA (cum laude) in Bible research from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She worked for many years as a librarian at a school in Modi’in, where she instilled the love of reading to students, and dreamed of being a children’s author. A resident of Canada today, this is her first children’s book.
“The Photo that Saved Us” was published with the support of B’nai B’rith International and directs readers to further reading on the Holocaust in Albania published by Israel’s Ministry of Education.
Alan Schneider is the director of B’nai B’rith World Center in Jerusalem, which serves as the hub of B’nai B’rith International activities in Israel. The World Center is the key link between Israel and B’nai B’rith members and supporters around the world. To view some of his additional content, click here.