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1/22
Today is #YomHaShoah, or Israel's #HolocaustRemembranceDay, and to commemorate this I'm gonna tell a story. Story of a friendship that transcended not only history but also politics. And time.
This goes back to 1941 when Hitler invaded Yugoslavia.
1/22
Today is #YomHaShoah, or Israel's #HolocaustRemembranceDay, and to commemorate this I'm gonna tell a story. Story of a friendship that transcended not only history but also politics. And time.
This goes back to 1941 when Hitler invaded Yugoslavia.
2/22
When we discuss the holocaust, the Baltic rarely features in our conversations. But that doesn't mean they were untouched by the atrocities. If anything, it was a double-whammy for them because they were also Slavic.
When we discuss the holocaust, the Baltic rarely features in our conversations. But that doesn't mean they were untouched by the atrocities. If anything, it was a double-whammy for them because they were also Slavic.
3/22
Mustafa Hardaga, a devout Muslim, was a furniture salesman who lived in Sarajevo with his sister Izet, his wife Zejneva, and her brother Bachriya. After the Nazis invaded the city in 1941, the Gestapo opened an office right across the street from the Hardaga residence.
Mustafa Hardaga, a devout Muslim, was a furniture salesman who lived in Sarajevo with his sister Izet, his wife Zejneva, and her brother Bachriya. After the Nazis invaded the city in 1941, the Gestapo opened an office right across the street from the Hardaga residence.
4/22
Mustafa had a Jewish business partner, Josef Kabilijo. A Nazi bombing of Sarajevo in April 1941 had left the Kabilijo family homeless. One day on his way to his rectory, Mustafa ran into his homeless partner and decided to bring him and his family home.
Mustafa had a Jewish business partner, Josef Kabilijo. A Nazi bombing of Sarajevo in April 1941 had left the Kabilijo family homeless. One day on his way to his rectory, Mustafa ran into his homeless partner and decided to bring him and his family home.
5/22
Back home, Mustafa went out of his way to make his Jewish guest comfortable. Too the extent that he asked Izet and Zejneva to not cover faces when around the Kabilijos because "they're family." The Kabilijos remained there until the time they could finally leave.
Back home, Mustafa went out of his way to make his Jewish guest comfortable. Too the extent that he asked Izet and Zejneva to not cover faces when around the Kabilijos because "they're family." The Kabilijos remained there until the time they could finally leave.
6/22
The Bosnian city of Mostar was under Italian occupation and relatively indifferent to Jews. That made it an ideal choice when the Kabilijos decided to move out. Josef, however, stayed back to wrap up his business and sell off whatever he could.
The Bosnian city of Mostar was under Italian occupation and relatively indifferent to Jews. That made it an ideal choice when the Kabilijos decided to move out. Josef, however, stayed back to wrap up his business and sell off whatever he could.
7/22
Unfortunately though, Josef got caught and although a heavy snowfall prevented his transportation to the notorious Jasenovac camp near Zagreb, he was made, along with other prisoners, to clear the snow from the streets. With chained legs.
Unfortunately though, Josef got caught and although a heavy snowfall prevented his transportation to the notorious Jasenovac camp near Zagreb, he was made, along with other prisoners, to clear the snow from the streets. With chained legs.
8/22
One day while running an errand, Zejneva recognised a barely-alive Josef and broke into tears. That day onward, she would bring him and other prisoners food from home. Stealthily, of course. One day Josef managed to escape and was again sheltered and nursed by the Hardagas.
One day while running an errand, Zejneva recognised a barely-alive Josef and broke into tears. That day onward, she would bring him and other prisoners food from home. Stealthily, of course. One day Josef managed to escape and was again sheltered and nursed by the Hardagas.
9/22
With a Gestapo office practically breathing die their neck, the Hardagas were putting their lives on the line housing a Jewish fugitive. Uneasy of the dangers he was putting them in with his presence, Josef eventually fled to Mostar to live with his family.
With a Gestapo office practically breathing die their neck, the Hardagas were putting their lives on the line housing a Jewish fugitive. Uneasy of the dangers he was putting them in with his presence, Josef eventually fled to Mostar to live with his family.
10/22
By 1943, Mostar fell intro German hands and the Kabilijos fled once again, this time into the mountains. After liberation, they returned to Sarajevo where the Hardagas only hosted them as family but even returned them the jewellery left for safekeeping.
By 1943, Mostar fell intro German hands and the Kabilijos fled once again, this time into the mountains. After liberation, they returned to Sarajevo where the Hardagas only hosted them as family but even returned them the jewellery left for safekeeping.
11/22
Happy ending. Well, almost. Just before the liberation, Ahmed Sadik, Zejneva's father, got arrested for hiding a Jew named Pepo and forging documents with Christian names. He was later executed at the Jasenovac camp. Ahmed had also forged papers for the Kabilijos.
Happy ending. Well, almost. Just before the liberation, Ahmed Sadik, Zejneva's father, got arrested for hiding a Jew named Pepo and forging documents with Christian names. He was later executed at the Jasenovac camp. Ahmed had also forged papers for the Kabilijos.
12/22
The Kabilijos eventually moved to Jerusalem along with many other Jewish families in an act called aliyah. In 1984, they requested the Hardagas and Ahmed Sadik to be honored as the Yad Vashem's Righteous Among the Nations. A tree was planted in Jerusalem in their honor.
The Kabilijos eventually moved to Jerusalem along with many other Jewish families in an act called aliyah. In 1984, they requested the Hardagas and Ahmed Sadik to be honored as the Yad Vashem's Righteous Among the Nations. A tree was planted in Jerusalem in their honor.
13/22
Even after Mustafa passed away in the 60s, the Kabilijos stayed in regular contact with Zejneva and her daughter Sara. The bond only grew stronger with time and the two families never really lost touch with each other.
Then something happened in 1992.
Even after Mustafa passed away in the 60s, the Kabilijos stayed in regular contact with Zejneva and her daughter Sara. The bond only grew stronger with time and the two families never really lost touch with each other.
Then something happened in 1992.
14/22
In 1992, Yugoslavia broke into a bloody civil war, Bosnia being the worst affected with its volatile mix of Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats, and Muslim Bosnians. Over the following 2 years, about 100k died and 3mil lost everything in what was the bloodiest postwar event.
In 1992, Yugoslavia broke into a bloody civil war, Bosnia being the worst affected with its volatile mix of Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats, and Muslim Bosnians. Over the following 2 years, about 100k died and 3mil lost everything in what was the bloodiest postwar event.
15/22
Most were killed by Serbian snipers who had surrounded the city and shot at anyone seen fleeing. One of the victims of this war was the Hardaga family — Zejneva, her daughter Sara, son-in-law Branimir, and 9-yr-old granddaughter Sacha.
Most were killed by Serbian snipers who had surrounded the city and shot at anyone seen fleeing. One of the victims of this war was the Hardaga family — Zejneva, her daughter Sara, son-in-law Branimir, and 9-yr-old granddaughter Sacha.
16/22
Scared and starved, the Hardagas spent weeks on grass soup hiding in the same basement that had once hidden their Jewish friends. Watching their neighbors dropping dead in the streets outside had drained every bit of optimism from them.
Then came a message. From Israel.
Scared and starved, the Hardagas spent weeks on grass soup hiding in the same basement that had once hidden their Jewish friends. Watching their neighbors dropping dead in the streets outside had drained every bit of optimism from them.
Then came a message. From Israel.
17/22
It was an Israeli journalist traveling to Bosnia to cover the war. He carried with him a letter from the Kabilijos in Jerusalem. The letter was eventually delivered to the Hardagas with help of a local organization. The Kabilijos were relieved.
It was an Israeli journalist traveling to Bosnia to cover the war. He carried with him a letter from the Kabilijos in Jerusalem. The letter was eventually delivered to the Hardagas with help of a local organization. The Kabilijos were relieved.
18/22
But the rescue wasn't going to be easy. It needed government intervention. First the Kabilijos approached Yad Vashem but that didn't work because the Bosnian government refused their request. Then they petitioned PM Yitzhak Rabin. This time it worked.
But the rescue wasn't going to be easy. It needed government intervention. First the Kabilijos approached Yad Vashem but that didn't work because the Bosnian government refused their request. Then they petitioned PM Yitzhak Rabin. This time it worked.
19/22
Sometime in early 1994, the Hardagas and 300 other refugees boarded a 6-bus convoy leaving a battered Sarajevo. When asked for preferred destination, Jerusalem was an easy choice. The Hardagas never returned to Bosnia after that. Jerusalem was home.
Sometime in early 1994, the Hardagas and 300 other refugees boarded a 6-bus convoy leaving a battered Sarajevo. When asked for preferred destination, Jerusalem was an easy choice. The Hardagas never returned to Bosnia after that. Jerusalem was home.
20/22
Touched by the Kabilijos' help and hospitality, Sarah and her family later converted to Judaism. In Sara's words, it was like "returning to the tribe." Later she got a job with the Yad Vashem's archives.
Touched by the Kabilijos' help and hospitality, Sarah and her family later converted to Judaism. In Sara's words, it was like "returning to the tribe." Later she got a job with the Yad Vashem's archives.
21/22
Within months of arriving at Jerusalem, the Hardaga matriarch, Zejneva got a chance to meet with PM Rabin. At the interview she offered him an advice:
"Please, try to make peace in the Middle East. Don’t let Jerusalem become Sarajevo."
Within months of arriving at Jerusalem, the Hardaga matriarch, Zejneva got a chance to meet with PM Rabin. At the interview she offered him an advice:
"Please, try to make peace in the Middle East. Don’t let Jerusalem become Sarajevo."
22/22
So this was the story of a debt squared 50 years later, in full and then some. Of two families that put humanity above religion and principles above politics to have each others' backs. This was the story of a flower of carnage.
There's many more. https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/11/25/families_save_each_other_from_genocide_50_years_apart.html
So this was the story of a debt squared 50 years later, in full and then some. Of two families that put humanity above religion and principles above politics to have each others' backs. This was the story of a flower of carnage.
There's many more. https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/11/25/families_save_each_other_from_genocide_50_years_apart.html
