Muslims helping Jews is the theme of a new photo exhibit that opens this week at Simon Fraser University.
BESA, Muslims Who Saved Jews in the Second World War will feature photos taken and gathered by photographer Norman H. Gershman. The project took place over a five-year period between 2003-2008.
Each Gershman portrait will illuminate the story of how Albanians, most of them Muslims, rescued virtually all the Jews living in their country during Nazi occupation during the Second World War.
Bill Jefferies, director and curator of SFU’s galleries, said the images provide a magical example of people being tolerant and supportive of people who are not like themselves.
“The behaviours discussed, if extended globally, would make this an amazingly pleasant planet.”
The exhibit runs June 24 through Oct. 29 at the Teck Gallery, Harbour Centre campus.
