President of the Republic, Ilir Meta emphasized this Friday he is proud that in Albania not a single Jewish was allowed to fall in the hands of Nazis, during Holocaust.
This declaration was made as President Meta awarded this Friday “Grand Master” Title to economist, Dr. Ichak Kalderon Adizes. This title was awarded to Adizes with the motivation: “In gratitude for a distinguished career in the economic and political fields. In appreciation of his outstanding achievements as a world-renowned expert and of his valuable academic contributions to the development and consolidation of democracy in Eastern European countries”.
Dr. Adizes, a Jewish American citizen, was born in Republic of North Macedonia but he together his family moved to Albania during the Holocaust in order to get way from persecution, by pretending to be Muslims.
“I have the great pleasure of honoring today with ‘Grand Master’ Title the distinguished Jewish American personality, professor, author of many books, eminent business consultant and thinker of international dimensions, Dr. Ichak Adizes. His life has a strong connection with the Albanian nation, and Dr. Adizes has throughout his life expressed respect and honor for Albania.
I would like to emphasize the fact that Dr. Adizes was born in Skopje, North Macedonia, but spent part of his childhood, and more specifically, the years of World War II in Albania. To escape persecution, his family fled to Albania claiming they were not Jews but Muslims, in order to escape persecution and execution.
Dr. Adizes’ story is one of hundreds stories of Jewish who found shelter in Albania, in those dark years of human history. They were protected with courage, nobility and love by the Albanian people, who showed an extraordinary human virtue, also risking their lives, that is honored even today not only from rescued families and the state of Israel but also from around the world and history.
We are proud of the fact that in Albania, not a single Jewish was allowed to fall into the hands of the Nazis and the persecutors,” said Meta.