Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Ryan Geertsma.
Voice 2
And I’m Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 3
“Albanians would die rather than break besa.”
Voice 4
“An Albanian can sacrifice his own son for besa.”
Voice 2
You may recognize that besa is not an English word. It is an Albanian word, and it has much meaning and a long cultural history. Besa is often translated into English as faith, trust or word of honour. However, the best translation of besa is “to keep the promise.” The promise is to serve family, community and nation. And the promise is even for people coming into the community in need.
Voice 1
Today’s Spotlight program will be on two great stories of besa during the terrible events of World War II.
Voice 2
During Word War II, the Nazi government of Germany killed millions of Jews, and other minority groups, from all across Europe. Today, this event is called the Holocaust. In 1943, Germany invaded the country of Albania. Albania came under the control of Germany. And the people of Albania had to turn over Jews to the Nazi government. However, the people knew that this often meant death for the Jews.
Voice 1
The Albanian people knew the Nazi rules, but they still had a strong sense of besa. So, many Christian and Muslim Albanians refused to turn their Jewish neighbours over to the Germans. Instead, they “kept the promise.” Many Albanians put their own lives at risk by hiding and caring for the Jews around them. Jews even came from other countries because Albanians offered protection and help.
Voice 2
Shortly after the Nazis invaded Albania, an orthodox Christian priest asked a man named Mefail Bicaku for help. He hoped to protect the Jewish people of the area. Mefail, a Muslim, was known by many to be a brave and honest man. He was a person who strongly represented the Albanian way of besa. This is why the priest asked Mefail to help him.
Voice 1
Mefail agreed to help protect the Jews. And his wife and seventeen [17] year old son, Njazi, agreed too. In fact, the Bicaku family hid and cared for twenty–six [26] Jews.
Voice 2
At one time, a group of dishonest men suggested to Njazi that he turn the Jews over to the government. They said that if he did this, he could claim all the Jews’ money. However, Njazi refused. Like his father, Njazi lived by besa.
Voice 1
The Bicaku family cared for the twenty–six Jews for over six months. And in the end, all twenty–six Jews were saved.
Voice 2
The way of besa, however, was not easy. Years after the war, the new communist government of Albania arrested Mefail. He was arrested for protecting and working with Jews. And sadly, he died in 1969, still in prison.
Voice 1
Mefail’s family was targeted by the government for many years. And besa continued to be difficult for Mefail’s family even after he was dead. They had risked their lives to hide the Jews during the war. And they lived under a hostile government for years after the war.
Voice 2
However, after more than fifty [50] years, the great bravery of the family was finally recognized. Mefail and Njazi Bicaku died before they were recognized for their great act of besa. But, their family has been honoured with many awards for them. And their great example of besa has become known to many.
Voice 1
Our second story of besa is also about Jews and Muslims in Albania during WWII. However, it is not a story of those who gave their besa. Instead, it is a story of a family who was blessed by the besa of others.
Voice 2
Anna Kohen is the daughter of Nina and David Kohen. Her parents were both Jews that lived through the holocaust. One day, when Anna was young, she experienced a strange event. A woman shouting “Bule, Bule!” ran down the street toward Anna and her mother. Anna was very confused, because her mother’s name was Nina. However, the woman cried as she kissed and held Anna’s mother close.
Voice 1
Anna’s mother later explained this strange event to Anna. Anna’s mother and father were living in Albania when the Nazis invaded. To get away from the Nazis, her parents ran to the mountains. They hid in a small village with a Muslim family. Her parents took the Muslim names “Bule” and “Daut” for safety.
Voice 2
The woman who was running down the street that day, shouting “Bule, Bule!” was the woman whose besa had saved her mother years before.
Voice 1
Anna gave a speech about this experience to honour Albanians who saved Jews during the holocaust. In the speech she said,
Voice 6
“As you can see, the Albanian people risked their lives for the Jews. I would not be here today giving this speech if it were not for the courage and kindness of those Albanians.”
Voice 2
Many people today think of Muslims and Jews as enemies. However, these stories of besa show that goodness crosses all borders – national, ethnic and religious.
Voice 1
Christians have a story that shares the idea of besa. Jesus Christ first told this story, the story of the “Good Samaritan”. At the time Jesus told the story, Samaritans and Jews were terrible enemies. Jews thought very badly of Samaritans.
Voice 2
This story takes place in ancient Palestine. It begins with a Jewish man walking along a dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Thieves attacked the Jew and took everything he had. They beat him and left him almost dead on the road.
Voice 1
Now, a Jewish priest happened to walk down the same road. He saw the man, but walked past him on the other side of the road. In the same way, a Jewish temple worker, a Levite, came along the road. He too looked at the man, and also walked past him on the other side of the road.
Voice 2
Next, a Samaritan man came walking down the road. Like the Jewish priest and Levite, the Samaritan man came upon the beaten Jew. But, when he saw the man, he felt bad for him. He went over to the man and cared for his wounds. He then put the man on his animal and took him to a hotel. The Samaritan paid the man who owned the hotel. He also asked the owner to care for the man. And he said he would pay for whatever it cost to care for the Jew.
Voice 1
Besa and “the way of the good Samaritan” show us that goodness crosses all borders. It does not depend on nation, ethnic group, or religion. It is willing to sacrifice. And sometimes, the greatest goodness can be found in a surprising place.
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