Norman H Gershman in Conversation about Muslims Who Saved Jews During WWII at 92 St Y 815pm April14

April 12, 2008 - PRLog -- Five years ago, photographer Norman H. Gershman's life was changed when he decided to seek out and honor in photographs people who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews. Mordechai Paladiel from Yad Vashem's Righteous Department surprised Norman with a suggestion to feature the untold story of a small group of Albanian Muslims who with their families and sometimes their entire villages saved all of the Jews within their borders and an additional two thousand Jews who sought refuge in Albania during the Nazi occupation.

Following in the footsteps of these selfless saviors would have been impossible without the passion and dedication of the friendship societies in Albania and Kosovo, and historians who were able to significantly add to the numbers of stories of Albanian and Kosovar Muslims who risked their lives, and who asked nothing in return,except to know  what has become of their "guests".

Was it the ancient guest code of Besa or the writings of the Koran that led them to literally put their lives above a stranger in need? Gershman and award-winning filmmaker Jason Williams present Gershman’s astounding photographs and a sneak preview of the upcomng film God's House. Special guests will share remarkable insights and discuss this nearly forgotten story which will renew your faith in mankind's ability to do the right thing, and hopefully inspire others to look for the goodness in every human being..
http://www.eyecontactfoundation.org

Mark your calendar for Monday, April 14th, 815pm at the 92nd St Y in New York. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at  
http://www.92y.org/shop/event_detail.asp?productid=T%2DBL...

The Hebrew Union College exhibit of over 40 photos and accompanying stories including many not yet recognized by Yad Vashem, including King Zog's son, can be seen through July 11th at 1 West 4th Street  between Broadway and Mercer Street.
http://www.huc.edu/museums/ny/exhibits/08/gershman/

Norman will also be speaking Sunday, April 13th at the Ethical Culture Society of Essex County  at 11:00 AM, 516 Prospect Street, Maplewood, New Jersey 07040
Corner of Parker and Prospect. Phone 973-763-1905. Norman was a member of this organization when he lived in the New York, New Jersey area.

Yad Vashem's exhibition which recently was shown in Jerusalem and at the United Nations, will be on view from April 16th in Southbury Connecticut with a special opening for the local Albanian leaders from Waterbury on Wednesday, April 23. The exhibition will continue until May 2.  The building is closed April 19-21 because of Passover. The Yom Hashoah program is being held Monday, April 28th at 7pm. For more information contact Cynthia Burger at the Federation Jewish Communities of Western Connecticut. Office (203) 267-3177. cburger@jfed.net

The Eye Contact Foundation, Yad Vashem, Albanian, Kosovo and Israel Friendship Societies encourage anyone who may have information about specific individuals, families who either saved or were saved during this period to contact any and all organizations. http://www.yadvashem.org

For more information contact Norman H Gershman at normgersh@sopris.net or  
(970) 927-1742 (MDT). Randi Winter can be reached at randi@passionatetravel.com or 604 261-7871 or 425 283-7690 (PDT)

Eye Contact Foundation is a registered 501 (c ) 3.

# # #

About Norman H Gershman's Eye Contact Foundation. Our Mission: To use art as the primary form of expression, in geographic areas of instability, in order to break down stereotypes and build upon the deep roots of humanism that cross racial, ethnic, religious and national boundaries.

Website: www.eyecontactfoundation.org