The Solomon Museum ( sq, Muzeu Solomon) is a museum in the

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

city of Berat devoted to the history of the Jewish community in Albania.

History

Opened in 2018 by Professor Simon Vrusho, who ran it with his own pension and small donations, the museum was on the brink of closure after Vrusho passed away. However, Gazmend Toska, a French-Albanian businessperson, read about the museum and its possible fate, and paid for the relocation of the museum to a larger place in the city, which relocation took place on September 29, 2019. The museum is unique among its peers for telling the stories of how Albanians saved almost 2,000 Jews from the Holocaust, following their centuries-old Besa code of honor.

Collections

The museum has documents, photos, and items that have belonged to the Jewish community, which arrived in Berat in the 16th century from Spain, fleeing the Inquisition. Albania is the only Nazi-occupied territory whose Jewish population increased during World War II. The museum's current director is Angjlina Vrusho, Simon's Vrusho's wife. Last Jewish history museum survives in Albania
European Jewish Congress

References

Jewish museums Jews and Judaism in Albania E Ethnographic museums in Albania Tourist attractions in Berat Rescue of Jews during the Holocaust {{ethnographic-museum-stub