Sarajevo's 'Sevap/Mitzvah': A Testament to Muslim-Jewish Harmony

The film 'Sevap/Mitzvah' premiered in Sarajevo, showcasing how Muslims and Jews saved each other during wartime. Directed by Sabina Vajraca, it highlights the potential for inter-religious harmony against the backdrop of global polarization. The narrative focuses on a Muslim woman rescuing a Jewish family during WWII and being saved by Jews in the 1990s.

The film 'Sevap/Mitzvah,' highlighting wartime acts of Muslim-Jewish mutual aid, premiered in Sarajevo this week. Directed by U.S.-based Sabina Vajraca, the film underscores the potential for inter-religious harmony amidst global tensions over the Gaza conflict.

'Sevap/Mitzvah' recounts the true story of Zejneba Hardaga, the first Muslim woman recognized as 'Righteous Among Nations' by the Israeli Holocaust museum. She helped a Jewish family escape Nazi-occupied Sarajevo in the 1940s and was herself rescued by a Jewish family during the Bosnian war.

Vladimir Andrle, president of Sarajevo's Jewish charity La Benevolencija, emphasized the film's message of neighborly solidarity. The premiere, held in the city's rebuilt National Library, drew a limited audience of Muslim and Jewish community members and journalists, showcasing Sarajevo's enduring spirit of religious coexistence.