Besa

Taking a moment to reflect during Lent often reminds me of the blessing of forgiveness, atonement, and simply making amends with those around me. We have recently received a number of titles that relate to these topics, but even beyond an academic discussion, there was one book that really struck me as I was receiving it, entitled Besa : Muslims who saved Jews in World War II by Norman H. Gershman (D804.65 .G476). The publisher's description includes the following:

"The tradition of besa--keeping one's word--is so deeply rooted among Albanians that when they committed themselves to saving the lives of Jews during World War II, they did so despite the danger they put themselves in. It is because of the courage and conscience of the mostly Muslim Albanians that the country's 2,000 Jews survived the Holocaust."

It is inspiring and comforting to know that, in the midst of suffering, during the low moments of history, we can be reminded of the power of something as simple as "besa," and may reflect in turn on the many good promises of our Lord.

Here are some other new titles on the general topic.

 

As we forgive [videorecording] / produced and directed by Laura Waters Hinson ; in association with Different Drummer. , Widescreen format. [Washington, D.C.] : Image Bearer Pictures, c2008. Ask at Circulation Desk DT450.44 .A82 DVD

Forgiveness [videorecording] / Jeremy Nathan & Joel Phiri present ; a dv/8 film ; in association with National Film and Video Foundation ... [et al.] ; in co-production with Film i Väst ; a Giant Films production ; directed by Ian Gabriel ; written by G, Standard format. [San Francisco, Calif.] : California Newsreel, c2005. Ask at Circulation Desk PN1997.2 .F67 DVD

McCullough, Michael E. Beyond revenge : the evolution of the forgiveness instinct / Michael E. McCullough. , 1st ed. San Francisco, CA : Jossey-Bass, c2008.   BF637.R48 M238

Radzik, Linda, 1970- Making amends : atonement in morality, law, and politics / Linda Radzik. Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2009.   BJ1451 .R32

Deepening faith, hope and love in relations with neighbors of other faiths / Simone Sinn, editor. Geneva : Lutheran World Federation, c2008.   BL410 .D436

Bridges instead of walls : Christian-Muslim interaction in Denmark, Indonesia and Nigeria / Lissi Rasmussen, editor. Minneapolis, Minn. : Lutheran University Press, c2007.   BP172 .B74

 

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[Poker free]

even after doing that many people died in world war II