The Documentary Podcast Two families from Sarajevo
Jan 2, 2026
Salih Hardaga, a Bosnian Muslim, shares his family's courageous history of sheltering Jewish neighbors during WWII, revealing poignant memories of his parents' bravery. Vladimir Andola, president of Sarajevo's Jewish charity, provides context on the humanitarian efforts of the Jewish community during the city's 1990s siege. Their discussion navigates through the interconnected fates of the Hardaga and Kabiljo families, highlighting themes of friendship, solidarity, and resilience amid conflict and adversity.
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Hidden Neighbours Became Lifesavers
- Salih Hardaga recounts how his Muslim family hid the Jewish Kabiljo family during WWII, even though German officers were stationed opposite their house.
- Mustafa and Zeneba Hardaga sheltered them in basements and helped them escape to safer Italian-held territory.
Centuries Of Shared Urban Life
- Sarajevo's history shows Muslims and Jews lived interwoven lives without formal ghettos, fostering long-term coexistence.
- That shared urban fabric made mutual aid during crises more feasible and personal.
Rescue Returned The Favor
- Decades later the Kabiljo family, now in Israel, used connections to get Zeneba Hardaga and her family evacuated from besieged Sarajevo in 1994.
- Mordecai Paldiel and Israel's authorities arranged letters and passage that allowed the whole family to arrive safely in Israel.