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Rexhep Rifat Hoxha, with Hebrew books left behind by a Jewish family his father sheltered. The
documentary God’s House explores his determination to fulfil the Besa (obligation) agreed to by his
father in returning the books to their rightful owner.
Turkey... In addition to providing material assistance to Turkish I have photographed their spouses or their children. My portraits
Jews persecuted in France and other countries occupied by the reflect their religious and moral convictions, and their courage.”
Nazis in Western Europe, Turkey also helped East European Jews Upon his return from Albania, Gershman contacted producer
persecuted in countries such as Greece, Lithuania, Rumania, Jason Williams. The two worked together 25 years ago and have
Hungary, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. Right from the start of the a shared history - Jason was married to Norman’s daughter, and
war, the Turkish government permitted the Jewish Agency to although the marriage did not last the two men remained close.
maintain rescue offices at hotels in Istanbul.” They set about creating a documentary entitled God’s House –
Gershman’s project began as an individual quest. He first trav- a behind-the-scenes look at Gershman’s painstaking search for
elled to Albania in 2002 to photograph and document the stories Albanians who rescued Jews. Like the filmmaker himself, the
of those who were ‘righteous’ in the face of despotism. Over a entire film serves as a poignant emblem of the intersections of
five-year period he sought out, photographed, and collected indi- the Abrahamic faiths: at one point Gershman, a Jew in search of
vidual stories, which he then published in a photo book titled Muslims, prays in Arabic in a Christian Church in Tehran.
‘Besa: Muslims Who Saved Jews in World War II’. Apart from exploring the individual acts of courage, the film
“These were simple people, who never thought of themselves documents and defines Besa (meaning obligation), an ancient
as being heroes. They risked everything,” Gershman says. “It’s a tradition specific to Albania. The documentary is full of stories
wonderful story. I am delighted to be able to bring light on the of fathers and sons, of the duties and obligations passed from
deeds they did. Whenever possible I have sought out the people one generation to the next. “One of the main strands of the film,”
who sheltered the Jews. Many have since died, and in those cases Williams explains, “focuses on a Muslim son, Rexhep Hoxha,
34 emel magazine | www.emel.com
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