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Dear Albania,
You were a source of mystery; your people and history previously unknown to us all. The charm of your white homes and cobbled streets in Berat contrasted the grey, concrete bunkers jutting out of the city streets of Tirana, remnants of communist rule and the widespread paranoia of that era. But your history was best understood through the people we met. Your people embody the morals of being a neighbor with the practice of besa, or keeping a promise. In Berat, we were fortunate enough to meet Simon Vrusho, an Albanian man who spent the later part of his life researching the history of the Jews of Berat and eventually opening a museum in attempts to preserve the history of those Jews. When asked why he was so motivated to conserve the memory of the Jews, Mr. Vrusho said, “Doesn’t memory have the right to have a house.” This truly emphasized just how much Simon cared for his neighbor, and embodied the values of being a good neighbor. Mr. Vrusho passed away on February 9th, 2019. May his memory be a blessing.
Love,
KIVUNIM ‘18-’19