Gypsy stories and Pristina Prefectal official who survived the Jews

Saving a child and raising him like your own, risking his life. This is the story of Hajrija Imer Mihajlic, a woman of the Roma community, who saved a little Jewish girl in Kosovo during World War II.

That girl, Esther Acevic today, remembers her traits. Hajrija worked for Esther's grandmother in Mitrovica. And when the Jews were sent to concentration camps, she found her grandmother and niece in the Mitrovica camp and took Esther out among her five children.

Esther was raised as her daughter, and after five years of finding out that the girl was Jewish, they took her and sent her to an orphanage in Serbia, where, even though she joined her mother, Esther always felt good about Hajre.

Croatian director James Sadler tells the Voice of America that Hajrija is the only Gypsy in the world to have received Israel's highest title “courageous people of the nations”, given to those who survived the Jews. He says Hajrie's courage is even more special, since the Roma community was also targeted by the Nazis.

Can you imagine in this terrible situation, being a Gypsy, having life endangered, and having the courage to save a little Hebrew girl? It is really impossible to describe her courage”.

Anna Cohen, a descendant of a Jewish family born and raised in Vlora, was one of the organizers of the event held in the BʹNai Tzedek synagogue, where the film was shown.

It's amazing how that little child is still alive and saved from a Gypsy in Kosovo”, She said about the Voice of America.

The evening was also dedicated to the role of Kosovo Albanians, who survived Jews, and helped with their passage to Albania, the only country where they were protected in Europe.

“We are Albanians from Albania, Albanians from Kosovo, and people know more about Albanians who saved all Jews theirs. But for me it was like an incomplete mission, because I always tell how Albania saved the Jews because it saved my family. But not many stories were heard about Kosovo”.

Part of those stories was that of Pristina Preng Ull, who as secretary general of the Pristina Prefecture during the war, saved many Jews. One of the most remarkable cases was when he collaborated with Pristina rabbi Joseph Levi, giving 52 false passports to the Jews to pass to Albania.

Gjergj Uli is proud of his father, who also suffered at the Graz camp, and says he was an idealist.

It's a pleasure and it's really an honor, and I'm thrilled that another people remember my father for what he did. This is an assessment of what he did and was not of little importance. Even a single human saving life is a miracle, no more my father has done far more than that”, He said.

To honour the memory and contribution of Pring Uli, artist Masha Roth, a surviving Holocaust child, had done an art work she gave George.

Ines Demiri, diplomas at the Kosovo consulate and one of the organisers, has a special position. Her Albanian grandfather saved her hebraje grandmother and later married them.

“As a daughter belonging to both ancient Jewish and Albanian peoples, both have experienced suffering and brutality, I am proud to call Kosovo my home, and proud of my people who saved the Jews at the most difficult time in their history”.

For Ardian Hasanaj, an audience member from Kosovo who was visiting Washington and lives in Germany, the symbol was very sensitive to him, having experienced as children war in Kosovo and the evil or good that people are able to do.

The action of Hajries and many other Albanians who, during World War II, have managed to risk their lives to save the lives of others, in this case the Ya Judes community that were endangered by Nazism at the time, is truly a sign of our nation but also of human values, which should each nation have”, He said.

Irene Makler, another participant, talks about the role of Albanians.

The fact that everyone was turning their backs and Albanians protected the Jews, protected people who were suffering and needed help, I think it's wonderful” She says.

In a hall where there were many survivors, some of the acts of people who helped them, Esther's gratitude and love for Hajre is something they feel and understand deeply.

And as we remember the Night of Broken Glass, we remember all Jews who died in war, but we will never forget those who saved other Jews”, Says Mrs. Cohen.