Press Release For UN Opening...come this month

http://www.prlog.org/10047652-united-nations-inspires-visitors-with-besa-muslims-who-saved-jews-during-the-holocaust-exhibit.html


Source: PRLog.Org - Global Press Release Distribution
United Nations inspires visitors with "Besa: Muslims Who Saved Jews During the Holocaust"
Exhibit
By Randi Winter / The Eye Contact Foundation
Dated: Jan 27, 2008
United Nations Hosts The Eye Contact Foundation's Exhibition of Norman Gershman's "Besa: A Code of
Honor. Albanian Muslims Who Saved Jews During the Holocaust― curated by Yad Vashem as part of the
world holocaust remembrance ceremonies.
Norman Gershman
The Eye Contact Foundation
0529 Emma Road
Basalt, Colorado 81621
(970) 927-1742 (970) 927-2282
http://www.eyecontactfoundation.org
For a review copy, media info:
Randi Winter (425) 283-7690
randi@passionatetravel.com
UNITED NATIONS TO HOST THE EYE CONTACT FOUNDATION’S EXHIBITION OF NORMAN
GERSHMAN’S “BESA A CODE OF HONOR ALBANIAN MUSLIMS WHO SAVED JEWS DURING
THE HOLOCAUST” CURATED BY YAD VASHEM AS PART OF WORLD HOLOCAUST
REMEMBRANCE CEREMONIES
Basalt, Colorado How many countries’ principles are aligned between what they preach and what they
practice? Few would guess the irony of these answers would develop from a little known secret hidden
behind the shroud of the iron curtain for over fifty years and from a most unlikely source.
A show of photographs by Norman Gershman, depicting Albanian Muslims who rescued Jews during
World War II opens at the United Nations Visitor’s Lobby in New York City the evening of January 29,
2008, and runs until early March. http://www.un.org/holocaustremembrance/remembranceday08.shtml
This is the first travelling exhibition sponsored by Yad Vashem, the Museum of the Holocaust in
Jerusalem, which has United Nations NGO status. It first opened November 1, 2007 at Yad Vashem in
Israel. The subjects are Albanian Muslim families who have been designated as Righteous Among Nations
by Yad Vashem. Each photograph is accompanied by a defining quote and insight from Gershman’s visits
with each family telling their story.
http://www1.yadvashem.org/about_yad/what_new/gershman/temp_index_whats_new_Gershman.html
Albania, an Atheist country, and one of the poorest,is the only Nazi occupied country that sheltered all the
Jews within their borders and actively accepted all who came from other countries. Albania's population
mix is 70% Muslim, 20% Orthodox and 10% Catholic. Albanians take great pride in their religious
tolerance. They credit three things as the source of their good deeds, the Albanian tradition of Besa, the
Kanun, a codified body of laws and the Koran. The power of besa is epitomized in the spirit of Albania’s
Mother Teresa.
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Source: PRLog.Org - Global Press Release Distribution
Norman Gershman traveled extensively through the fledgling democracy of Albania for more than 4 years,
searching for families who opened their doors to strangers in desperate times, and what he found was a
culture dedicated to helping those in dire need. Yet, saving Jewish families and others from almost certain
death, to them was an integral part of their daily life. “Any Albanian would do this,” they would say. He
found that to be true. While Yad Vashem has designated some thirty Albanian families (63 people) as
Righteous Among Nations, Gershman has already found evidence of over 150 families who sheltered Jews
during the Nazi occupation, with many more accounts to be corroborated. Records from Albania now show
over 2000 lives were saved.
Five years ago, Gershman, who is Jewish, and has studied the Sufi tradition of Islam, traveled to Yad
Vashem in Jerusalem to gather information on the Righteous who are getting older, and little known about
them after their original recognition. Mordicai Paldial, then director of the Righteous Program at Yad
Vashem, opened his records for Gershman and piqued his interest in this small group from Albania and
Kosovo, Muslims Who Saved Jews. The Israeli – Albanian Friendship Association, founded by Jews
rescued in Albania guided him to The Albanian – Israeli Friendship Association who became his hosts and
living experience of the principles of Besa during his travels. Led by Professor Petrit Zorba, and using the
documentation and personal experiences of Professor Apostal Kotani, a noted scholar and partisan during
the war, Gershman has been able to visit and photograph over seventy Albanian families who rescued Jews
during World War II. Mustafa Rezniqi founder of the Kosovo-Israel Friendship society and one of the first
Kosovars actively being considered by Yad Vashem for Righteous status will be in attendance at opening
night at the UN as well as others who have either saved or been saved.
The UN show, sponsored by Yad Vashem shows Muslim families that have been designated as Righteous
Among Nations. This designation only comes about when initiated by a saved Jew, and indisputable proof
of rescue is presented. As Albania came under a strict and repressive communist dictatorship immediately
after the war, which continued for over 50 years, contact between rescuer and rescued was almost
impossible. There are many stories Gershman collected that end with “…and then all contact was lost. We
never heard from them again.” Followed by, “please help us find them so we can return items they left in
our trust”.
A more extensive show of the project and their stories (many of the 40 profiles came to light in the course
of Gershman’s research and not all designated as Righteous by Yad Vashem at this time) will open at
Hebrew Union College in New York in February of 2008, with a special opening February 28, 2008 and
will be exhibited for approximately 6 months. On April 14th, the 92nd Street Y will host Gershman and
Jason Williams of JWM Productions, the producer of the upcoming film, "God's House", scheduled to be
released in 2009, based on the work done by Gershman and The Eye Contact Foundation. A book about
the project is nearing completion and will be published in 2008 by Syracuse University Press. A preview
from the movie will be shown at the opening ceremonies and is available online at
http://www.eyecontactfoundation.org .
Gershman was assisted by photographer Stuart Huck. Both trained in the Ansel Adams tradition of fine
photography. Huck concentrated on the technical end while Gershman concentrated on creative portraiture.
Huck crafted a 25 minute movie about the project, utilizing only the still photographs they made in Albania.
Steve Kaufman, a videographer and television producer, also based in Basalt, recorded an interview with
Gershman (Gershman, Huck and Kaufman are the principals of The Eye Contact Foundation.) When
Gershman heard the story of the Weitzman family being rescued by King Zog from her daughter who lives
in Aspen, he flew to New York to interview and photograph Fritzy Owen (nee Weitzman), who, as a young
girl lived for 2 years sheltered under the umbrella of Besa. Elan Bogarin of JWM Productions videoed that
interview. Those three video pieces and the film introduction will be show at The 92nd Street Y. All of
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Source: PRLog.Org - Global Press Release Distribution
these videos, photographs and more information are available on the Eye Contact Foundation website,
http://www.eyecontactfoundation.org .
These exhibitions, which are designed to travel the world, were shot in black and white, fittingly chosen as
each of the subjects and their families understood that when it comes to saving a life, there can be no shades
of grey.
Contact : The Eye Contact Foundation
Norman Gershman (970) 927-1742 (970) 948-2282
Category Religion, Photography, Non Profit
Email Click to email author
Website http://www.eyecontactfoundation.org
Phone (970) 927-1742
Address 0529 Emma Road
City/Town Basalt
State/Province Colorado
Zip 81621
Country United States
Page 3/3

New York, New York

While coming to New York in the winter, always has me thinking twice before I buy my ticket, there was no hesitation to come this time. New York is my home, and family always plays a large part in my time here, and I love seeing everyone, but this time, the excitement really is over the top as Norman Gershman's photographic exhibition, curated by Yehudit Shendar of Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, the Holocaust Remembrance Organization, is going to open Tuesday, January 29th at the United Nations!

Going back to Israel for the exhibition opening has really been a flash point in my life and the direction it is going. It was emotional, as it has been a long time since I was there, and being in Jerusalem where I lived when I went to Hebrew University and seeing how so much had stayed the same, yet so much had changed was inspirational. Massada, where my daughter was bat mitzvahed, brought back so many memories. Millenium were still etched in time and yet, like the wall, there was much new construction and an energy that was palpable.

Norman started The Eye Contact Foundation to ensure the legacy and continuation of his mission-finding, photographing and chronicling Muslims from Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro who saved countless lives at great personal danger. He looked through his lens into their eyes and was able to capture the essence of their souls.

After years of being turned down, Yad Vashem became ready, with a very generous endowment of Mr Sheldon Adelman's Foundation (of comdex and now the Mirage and Bellagio hotels fame) for a travelling show. With the door open, the trickle of interest started to flow and now suddenly, I was in Israel, meeting some of the most humble, ordinary, yet extraordinary individuals took on added dimensions. We find it hard to imagine that a secret so big, could survive for so long. It is my honor and privilege to know these people, and an even bigger honor to be chosen to share the powerful meaning of besa. I thought I understood, but not until these last few days when besa stepped out of the pages of emails and paragraphs into real life.

“A happy life is just a string of happy moments. But most people don't allow the happy moment, because they're so busy trying to get a happy life.” ~ Abraham-Hicks

Welcome to The World of Passionate Travel

Finally! They say that the road to heaven is paved with good intentions (I always look at the bright side of things and infinite possibilities), and thanks to the inspirational examples of my fellow writers and the absolutely incredible and amazing people and things that are part of in my life, I know the time has come to share in a more meangingful way. (It also beats sending out lots of emails).

If you know me, you know that Passion is my life, whether it is as a person filled with NY energy tempered by Vancouver karma, a travel specialist in inspired pursuits, a photo journalist, a volunteer for community and world betterment, a devoted friend, family member and with a personal goal to make a difference in the world every day!

"Let Your Passions Be Your Guide" and the world becomes a better place for each and every one of us. This blog will hopefully help to give you, along with me, the vocabulary to learn how to ask those most important questions to ourselves and others. How do we make our world a better place and give our lives the meaning and experiences that will enrich us beyond our wildest imagination?

To those of you who inspire me daily and offer me opportunities to fulfill my destiny, thank you, and in turn I hope to share my connections with some of the most incredible people and worthy causes, in turn hoping to inspire others. To those of you who will perhaps find inspiration in some of the opportunities to combine your interests and passions with travel and create life experiences...let the journey begin.