History of the Jews in Albania

Throughout Albania’s communist rule under the dictatorship of Enver Hoxha, the Jewish community was isolated from the Jewish world.

All religion was strictly banned from the country. The Jewish population numbered between 200-300 citizens. After the fall of Communism, in 1991, nearly all the Jews of Albania were transported to Israel and settled predominately in Tel Aviv.

Today, approximately only ten Jews remain in Albania, most in the capital, Tirana. Where there was once an active Jewish community, today, there exists very little organized communal life. An Albania-Israel Friendship Society is active in Tirana, but with little assistance. One synagogue remains in Vlorë, but is no longer in use.

It has been stated that during the second world war Albania was the only state in Europe having more Jews after the war then before it. Though Albania did end up with a few hundred more Jews than she had at the beginning of the war she was not the only country in Europe to do so. Catholic Spain, as well as Lutheran Sweden and Finland also had more Jews at the end of the conflict than at the beginning.

External links

• History of Jews in Albania.
• RESCUE IN ALBANIA ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF JEWS IN ALBANIA RESCUED FROM HOLOCAUST Haroey Samer