The synagogue is located in the center of Saranda. Albanian vacationers still do not have the right culture to visit historical and cultural sites because of various reasons. While foreigners are more predisposed to cultural tourism. The visit of a couple from Canada but who has been living in Jerusalem for 50 years is not accidental.
Jay Rollings is involved in film production. He has made dozens of documentaries on many parts of the Bible. The history of the synagogue in Saranda attracted many people so they came to visit it.
"We have come to Albania to learn more. We are Canadians, but we have lived in Israel for 50 years. I have made about 100 documentaries on various aspects of the Bible.
We came to Albania because we heard that here in Saranda is located a synagogue, dating back to the third or fourth century AD. We arrived here two or three days ago and today we came to visit this synagogue. We are very impressed," Jay Rollings said to local medial
While his wife is originally from Jerusalem. "I am Canadian, but I come from Jerusalem. I feel excited to have come to see the former Jewish community and synagogue in the wonderful city of Saranda.
Of course, it is now an abandoned edifice. But, apart from the ruins and stones, here is our history. When we see something like this, we do not get upset at all, on the contrary, we rejoice because it is at least preserved. Here are our roots.
Roots are everything in life. The trees are very beautiful, but they have no life without their roots. We Jews have this feeling for our roots, we see them as a valuable heritage," she said.
The producer and his wife also appreciate the Albanians who sheltered the Jews.
"The history of the Jews here was tragic in its beginnings, as they were very few at the time of the Holocaust. There were about 200 Jews throughout Albania. But an interesting fact is that, after the end of World War II, their number had increased, had become about 3 thousand Jews.
For me, this is quite significant, because Albania is the only country in Europe where something like this has happened. This means that this synagogue, these ruins, serve as a symbol of the significance that this piece of history has for this place. It is an object of historical heritage that must be preserved. Information boards should even be placed for people like us who come as tourists, to learn something more. It would be great," he said.
"God bless the people who came and stayed, who built their lives and brought prosperity to the city. Through these words, we understand that officials from Jerusalem came and dedicated themselves to this land. Today we are happy. It seems to us like 'Thanksgiving Day" she said.