The debate that has accompanied the construction of the Albanian Jewish Museum in Vlora in recent days has been based on one main claim: that the new museum is being built in the historic building of the former "Labëria" Patriotic Club.
But the project documentation, the decisions of local institutions and the very positioning of the two buildings show a different reality. The building where the Jewish Museum is being built and that of the Ethnographic Museum, historically linked to the “Labëria” Club, are two different buildings.
However, the line between them blurred on social media and then in some media reports, creating the perception that a part of the city's history was being replaced to make way for the new museum.
Two buildings, two different stories
The Ethnographic Museum of Vlora is located in the historic building where the activity of the Patriotic Club "Labëria", founded at the beginning of the 20th century, is also connected.
The Albanian Jewish Museum, meanwhile, is being built in another building next to it, identified in official documentation as "Apartment near the Labëria Club".
Even the technical documentation treats them as two separate structures. In the discussions of the Vlora Municipal Council of March 2024, it was clarified that the Ethnographic Museum is identified with file no. 158, while the intervention for the new museum takes place in the building with file no. 162.
At the same meeting, it was made clear that the building of the former "Labëria" Club is not subject to transformation into a Jewish Museum.
The physical proximity between the buildings has led the project to include measures to protect and reinforce the neighboring monument during the works. However, this does not mean changing the function of the Ethnographic Museum.
How did the confusion arise?
Part of the debate seems to have been fueled precisely by the way the name "Apartment near Labëria Club" has been interpreted.
In some posts and reports, the word "near" practically disappeared from the narrative and the building where the new museum is being built began to be identified as the former "Labëria" Club itself.
Thus, two different objects were presented to the public as one.
The claim spread rapidly on social media, where the project began to be presented as an intervention that would eliminate or replace a symbol of Vlora's patriotic history. From social media, the narrative moved to various portals and media outlets and then turned into a much broader public debate.
From the building debate to the protest
With the increase in reactions, opposition to the project did not remain just online.
In early September, a call for protest was made and a group of citizens gathered near the construction site, demanding that the Jewish Museum not be built at this location.
One of the slogans used was “Jewish Museum NO! 'Labëria' Museum YES!”, a formulation that presented the issue as a choice between two museums.
In fact, such a choice does not exist: the Ethnographic Museum and the Jewish Museum are two different institutions and are located in two separate buildings.
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Blendi Gonxhja, reacted publicly by clarifying that the historical building associated with the Patriotic Club “Labëria” will not be turned into a Jewish Museum. According to him, the new museum is being built in another cultural monument, registered as “Apartment next to the Labëria Club”.
The debate then took another turn.
What began as a dispute over the identity of the building gradually became associated with broader claims.
In some posts on social media, the project was linked to the idea of a “Judaization” of Vlora or to claims that areas of the city were being passed on to the Israelis. No data was presented to prove the existence of such a process for these claims.
The claim that the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) was building two Jewish museums, one in Vlora and another in Tirana, also appeared in circulation.
Public information about the projects does not support this claim. The AADF project is the Albanian Jewish Museum in Vlora, while another project, the “Besa Museum,” has been announced in Tirana, related to the stories of Albanians who saved Jews during World War II.
What will the Albanian Jewish Museum be?
The Albanian Jewish Museum in Vlora aims to document and interpret the history of the presence of the Jewish community in Albania and the relations between Albanians and Jews over the centuries, including the stories of the protection of Jews during World War II.
The architectural project was designed by the Israeli studio Kimmel-Eshkolot Architects, selected through an international competition.
AADF has committed $6.5 million to the project, which also aims to contribute to the cultural and urban revitalization of the historic center of Vlora.
Meanwhile, the Ethnographic Museum building maintains its unique function and identity.
When one word changes the whole story
The case of Vlora shows how easily incorrect information can take on other dimensions when it passes from one post to another.
In this case, the difference between "Labëria Club" and "apartment near Labëria Club" is essential.
The loss of a word – “near” – helped two different buildings to be perceived as one. On this perception, a narrative was then built that moved from concern for cultural heritage, to opposition to the museum, and to much broader claims that are not supported by the project documentation.
The debate on interventions in cultural heritage, architecture, or city development is not only legitimate, but necessary. But it only has value when it starts from the facts.
And in this case, the basic fact is simple: the Albanian Jewish Museum and the former “Labëria” Club are not the same building.
