At the gala evening hosted in honor of the Albanian Prime Minister in Jerusalem, 4 years ago, Edi Rama said, among other things, that our ancient cities like Finiqi and Orikum were founded by Jews.
"There were 3,000 Jews in the years 70-73 AD, immediately after the destruction of the temple, who found refuge in Albania. I bring this up because there are not many among the Jewish community who know the history, but even those who do know, it was not just World War II and the Besa. This goes much further into history. These 3,000, after successfully hijacking a Roman ship that was carrying them to be held in slavery, anchored on the Albanian coast and founded thriving cities like Finiqi or Orikum. Around 3,000 were also Sephardic Jews who fled the Reconquista in Spain and Portugal at the end of the 15th century, to whom Albania and especially the urban area of Vlora offered freedom, security and prosperity ," Rama said during his speech, which is also published on the Prime Minister's website.
