The remarkable story behind this photograph.
Zejneba Hardaga, a Muslim woman, guides Rivka Kavillo, a Jewish woman, and her children, down a street in Nazi-occupied Sarajevo, 1941. As they walk, Zejneba covers Rivka’s yellow star with her veil.
#HolocaustMemorialDay
Zejneba Hardaga, a Muslim woman, guides Rivka Kavillo, a Jewish woman, and her children, down a street in Nazi-occupied Sarajevo, 1941. As they walk, Zejneba covers Rivka’s yellow star with her veil.
#HolocaustMemorialDay
In April 1941 when the Germans invaded Yugoslavia, Sarajevo was bombed from the air. The Kavilio family home was destroyed. They fled to the hills and met Mustafa Hardaga, a Muslim friend. He immediately offered them to stay at his house.
“Our home is your home”, they said.
The Kavilio family stayed with the Hardagas until Josef Kavilio was able to move his wife and children to Mostar, in an area under Italian control, where Jews were relatively safe. Kavilio himself stayed behind to liquidate his business.
The Kavilio family stayed with the Hardagas until Josef Kavilio was able to move his wife and children to Mostar, in an area under Italian control, where Jews were relatively safe. Kavilio himself stayed behind to liquidate his business.
Eventually, however, he was arrested by the Ustasa. The prisoners were taken, with their legs chained, to clear snow from the roads. This is where Zejneba saw Josef. Despite the danger, she began to bring food to the prisoners.
Josef Kavilio eventually managed to escape and returned to the Hardaga home. The family welcomed him warmly and nursed him back to health. The Gestapo headquarters were nearby, and the danger was immense.
Josef later described the notices on the walls threatening those who would hide Serbs and Jews with the death penalty. Not wanting to endanger the Hardagas life, Josef decided to flee to Mostar and join his family.
After September 1943, when the Italian areas came under Nazi occupation, the Kavilios fled to the mountains and joined the partisans. After the war, they returned to Sarajevo and again stayed with the Hardagas until they could find a place of their own.
After the war, the Kavilio family moved to Israel. The Hardaga family stayed in Sarajevo.
1994: fifty years on, Serb forces besiege Sarajevo, where Zejneba Hardaga still lived with her daughter and grandchildren. Now it was 'ethnic cleansing' of Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims).
1994: fifty years on, Serb forces besiege Sarajevo, where Zejneba Hardaga still lived with her daughter and grandchildren. Now it was 'ethnic cleansing' of Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims).
The Kavilio family petitioned the Israeli authorities to help Zejneba and her family escape to safety. With the support of Yad Vashem, the Hardagas were allowed to re-locate to Israel in 1994.
The Hardagas had helped the Kavilios. Now the Kavilios helped the Hardagas. #humanity
The Hardagas had helped the Kavilios. Now the Kavilios helped the Hardagas. #humanity
Fuller story can be found here: yadvashem.org/righteous/stor…
And here:
And here:
https://twitter.com/magi_jay/status/957354711497281536?s=20
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