Contact: Cristal Logan
Community Outreach Director, The Aspen Institute
(970) 544-7929 | cristal.logan@aspeninstitute.org
Besa – Muslims Who Saved Jews in WWII
Washington, DC, June 16, 2010 –– The Aspen Institute presents a discussion with local resident Norman Gershman entitled Besa – Muslims Who Saved Jews in WWII. The event takes place Friday, June 18 from 5pm to 6pm in the Koch Building at the Aspen Institute. The event is open to the public. To register, call 970-544-7914 or visit www.aspeninstitute.org/aspenevents.
Norman H. Gershman traveled to Muslim Albania and Kosovo for 5 years photographing Righteous Muslims who saved Jews in World War II from their German persecutors. The photographic book: Besa: Muslims Who Saved Jews in World War II, as well as the International photographic exhibitions are a tribute to these courageous families and individuals who were simply honoring their code of Besa.
Besa is an unspoken moral code of honor which states that ‘one is his brother’s keeper’ and if asked for helped one would lay down their life to protect another – regardless of race, religion, color, or creed. This strict moral code serves as an outstanding worldwide humanitarian example of what is possible when humans act at their highest potential.
Mr. Gershman will be sharing his photographs and a trailer from the upcoming documentary film God’s House at the event, which focuses on the remarkable and humble actions of one small Muslim country over 70 years ago and the enormous implications that Besa could have if applied to our world at this time.
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