Solomon museum, Jewish heritage museum in Berat, Albania.
The Solomon Museum in Berat displays documents, photographs, and objects that represent the Jewish community who settled in Albania beginning in the 16th century. The collection shows evidence of this settlement and its development across several centuries to the present day.
The museum was founded in 2018 by Professor Simon Vrusho and relocated to a larger building in 2019 with support from French-Albanian businessman Gazmend Toska. This expansion allowed more materials and evidence about the long Jewish presence in the region to be displayed.
The collection shows how Albanian families protected nearly 2,000 Jewish people during World War II by following their traditional Besa code. These protective actions made the country unique among occupied territories during that time.
Angjelina Vrusho, widow of the late founder, manages the museum's daily operations and shares knowledge about the Jewish experience in Albania. A visit allows you to learn directly from someone who has known the museum's story from the beginning.
The pull-up banner by the entrance names the backer: "Mbështetur nga Fondacioni G. Toska", the foundation of Gazmend Toska, the French-Albanian businessman who paid for the September 29, 2019 move to larger premises after founder Simon Vrusho died in February 2019.
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