Albanian Ambassador to United States to visit New Orleans

All are invited to an intimate opportunity to hear from Her Excellency, Floreta Faber, Ambassador of Albania to the United States. To be held Tuesday, February 26 from 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. at Touro Synagogue, the event will offer attendees the chance to learn about trade and geopolitics from an expert – all from within a Jewish lens.

Floreta Faber became ambassador of Albania to the United States on May 18, 2015. Ambassador Faber previously served as the executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Albania since its opening in 2000, working closely with the business community and representatives of the Albanian and American governments, international organizations and the European Union.
 
Albania played a critical role in saving Jews during World War II.  At the time the only European country with a Muslim majority, Albania committed itself to saving its Jewish inhabitants. Hundreds of Christian and Muslim families hid their Jewish neighbors in defiance of the Nazis, because of a cultural custom called besa, which is a mandate to display hospitality to all. 

Besa required Albanians to provide shelter and safe passage for anyone seeking protection, at the risk of losing their social prestige if they did not do so. As a result, not only were almost all Albanian Jews saved, but Albanians also fiercely protected refugees fleeing from the Nazis. Albanians would transport Jewish refugees into the mountains, where they would be hidden until they could be safely spirited out of the country to relative safety elsewhere. By the end of the war, there were more Jews in Albania than before. Yad Vashem has since listed dozens of Albanian protectors as Righteous Among the Nations.
 

To learn more about this event or to RSVP, please contact Mithun Kamath at mithun@jewishnola.com or at 504-780-5608.

Marion B. Steeg-Harold Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education

Do you know an outstanding educator?  Someone who meaningfully imparts the treasures of Jewish life and Judaism? Nominations are now being accepted for the Marion B. Steeg-Henry Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. 
 

This award highlights the value of Jewish education in its many varieties in our community not limited to specific institutions or classroom teaching. In addition to classroom teachers, song leaders, camp educators, independent Jewish educators, and tutors are also eligible for the Steeg-Grinspoon Award.

The only requirement is that a nominated educator must be involved with a group of Jewish students and/or Jewish learning community on a regular basis, meaningfully imparting the treasures of Jewish life.

Anyone can nominate an educator and the one-page nomination forms can be accessed here. Additionally, nominations may be submitted using the online form located here. Completed nomination forms are due to Michelle Neal at michelle@jewishnola.com by February 28, 2019.

Learn more about the award and its namesake here.