The campaign took Norman H Gershman across the UK for an exclusive campus tour at selected universities where he talked about his book “Besa: Muslims Who Saved Jews in World War II”.
During the week, Norman H Gershman talked about his journey to Albania and his experiences of meeting the Muslim families who sheltered Jews during World War II. For the first time, Islamic and Jewish student societies from each university came together to co-host the events.
Campus Tour with Norman H Gershman
Co-hosted by the Islamic society &
Jewish society of the London School of Economics
Monday 24th January 2011
"Through co-hosting the Missing Pages event at LSE, it has enabled us to further strengthen the bond between the Islamic and Jewish societies and helps us to create an environment of harmony for all on campus.”
Nabeel Moosa, President of the Islamic Society at the London School of Economics
“The remarkable stories of Muslims putting their own lives at substantial risk in order to save the Jewish community under Besa really highlighted the fact that there is a lot of potential both on campus and further a field for relations to be developed between the two faiths. Since the talk, the Jewish Society has joined the Islamic Society for a trip to Regents Park to visit the largest mosque in Europe. I hope we continue to organise similar events as they are not only incredibly insightful but also create friendships on campus.”
Ben Samuels, President of the Jewish Society at London School of Economics
Campus Tour with Norman H Gershman
Co-hosted by the Islamic society &
Jewish society of the University of Leeds
Tuesday 25th January 2011
“The Missing Pages campaign was a much needed factor in breaking the barriers which had existed between the Jewish Society and Islamic Society at Leeds in previous years. The campaign proved we could work well together, and has made it easier for to us plan future events together.
This event facilitated an opportunity for the Jewish Society to ask the Islamic Society to attend their own Holocaust memorial week events and we were even invited to speak at one of them about the Bosnian genocide. I genuinely believe the event has helped the Muslim/Jewish relationship on campus.”
Thawhid Khan, President of the Islamic Society at the University of Leeds
“The Missing Pages event has undoubtedly had a knock-on affect this past term; it was the introduction to further joint events between the Jewish Society and the Islamic Society at Leeds. The relationship between the two societies has never been better. On campus, such relationships can go two ways; together we've chosen the right path and my only hope is that it will continue and strengthen. My sincere thanks go to the Exploring Islam Foundation for the fantastic event itself and for the positive after-effects it has created.”
Michael Kosky, President of the Jewish Society at the University of Leeds
Campus Tour with Norman H Gershman
Co-hosted by the Islamic society &
Jewish society of the University of Cardiff
Wednesday 26th January 2011
“The Cardiff Islamic Society and Jewish Society were ever so happy to have this opportunity of challenging stereotypes and negative perceptions among both our communities. Having Norman Gershman speak on Albanian Muslims shows a great deal of human compassion that exists within our faith. The event attracted a broad range of people – Christians, Muslims, Jews, political activists, students, staff and members of the local community. We thank Exploring Islam Foundation for bringing Missing Pages to Cardiff and for giving us the opportunity to work and learn hand in hand with our fellow Jewish friends, to be on the front line of the movement against blind hate and prejudice, to celebrate our faiths together in harmony and respect, while acknowledging our commonalities before differences.”
Abdullah Al-Mulla, Interfaith officer of the Islamic Society of Cardiff University
“The Missing Pages event was very significant for Jewish-Muslim inter-relations, as the first joint event between the two societies at Cardiff University, I hope for many more to come. I believe that the Missing Pages event has opened up the opportunity for us to share and explore each other's cultures, as I think that members of both societies are more open about meeting each other and less 'scared' of the other.”
Danielle Morashti, President of the Jewish Society of Cardiff University
Campus Tour with Norman H Gershman
Hosted by the Islamic society & supported by the
Jewish society of the University of Oxford
Thursday 27th January 2011
Campus Tour with Norman H Gershman
Co-hosted by the Islamic society &
Jewish society of the University of Cambridge
Friday 28th January 2011
“The Missing Pages campaign was an excellent initiative. In Cambridge it was the first lecture-based event co-hosted by the Jewish Society and Islamic Society who were both equally enthusiastic about its importance. It successfully served purposes of educating, inspiring and bringing together Muslims, Jews and others. It also contributed to a positive relationship between the Islamic Society and Jewish Society, and we are in the process of organising further activities together.”
Safian Younas, President of the Islamic Society at the University of Cambridge
Sabiha Ahmed, Interfaith Officer of the Islamic Society at the University of Cambridge
“We found the Missing Pages talk incredibly interesting, especially as one of the many examples of Jewish-Muslim coexistence and good relations. It is through shared historical experiences, such as that on which the Missing Pages project focuses, that we can engage and interact with each other, remembering that we are in fact sister-religions.”
Rachel Steinberg, Interfaith Officer of the Jewish Society at the University of Cambridge
Elliot Guthartz, Interfaith Officer of the Jewish Society at the University of CambridgeBack to Top
I hope that students across the UK will join me in paying tribute to those heroes and I pray that together we can acknowledge the sense of brotherhood between our faith communities.
We welcome the Exploring Islam Foundation's campaign as proof of the potential for coexistence, and how the values of respect, toleration and understanding can be enshrined in modern society.
Watch the exclusive trailer of the film ‘Besa:The Promise’. Click here.
Launch of Missing Pages at the House of Lords
Monday 24th January
Venue: Room 4, House of Lords, London SW1A 0PW
Time: 10.30am-12.30pm
Screening of the film ‘Besa: The Promise’
Co-hosted by the
Islamic society & Jewish society of the
School of Oriental and African Studies
Wednesday 26th January 2011
University of London
Venue: School of Oriental and African Studies,
University of London, Junior Common Room,
Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG
Time: 6pm – 8pm
Lecture & book launch with Norman H Gershman
Hosted by The City Circle
Friday 28th January 2011
45 Crawford Place
London W1H 4LP
Time: 6.45pm-8.30pm
Back to Top
Jews who were expelled from all over Europe found sanctuary under the Ottoman Empire which actively encouraged Jewish migration. They flourished under the Sultans’ rule, holding vital diplomatic positions in the royal court, and contributed significantly to the Empire’s political, cultural and economic advancement.
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