JEWISH HERITAGE TOUR IN THESSALONIKI
History of the Jews of Salonica
(search your roots )
Because of its port and its reputation as a center of trade, Ashkenazi Jews
from Northern Lands, Jews from Provence France and Italian Jews from the south
of Italy settled in the city, fleeing from persecutions in their own lands, but
it was not until the influx of Sephardic Jews in the 15th century
that Salonika achieved its prominence as a “Jewish” city and was given the name
“La Madre de Israel” in recognition of its eminence as a center of Jewish
learning.
At the
dawning of WWII there were 56,000 Jews in the city. On April 9, 1941 the
Germans took over the city. About 10,000 Jews were able to flee to safer havens
before the mass deportations of 1943. From March to July of 1943, over 46,000
Jews were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Only 1,200 would survive. The Jewish
cemetery, with over 300,000 tombstones, the earliest dating back to the 15th
century, was destroyed by the Germans. Of the 36 synagogues, only Monasteriton
would survive.
There are
now 1,200 Jews living in Salonika. There are two functioning synagogues and a
chapel in the Saul Modiano Senior Home. There is a new Jewish Museum that traces
the proud history of Salonikian Jewry.
Synagogues
The Monasteriton Synagogue was built in 1925 by Jews from Monastir in the Former Yugoslavia. Influenced by modern styles, the exterior is an imposing façade with a prominent Mogen David in the façade. The interior is similar to that of Beth Shalom in Athens with the Tevah and Echal joined by a raised platform. Subdued colors and imposing marble columns convey a feeling of dignified sanctity. The synagogue is presently undergoing restoration but can be viewed by request from the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki (Salonika). It is located at 35 Syngrou Street. The first picture below shows the exterior of the Synagogue, and the second picture shows the interior.
The Yad Lezikaron Synagogue
was constructed in 1984 out of the remains of former synagogues in Salonika.
Many of the plaques from former synagogues are in the walls of the interior
sanctuary, as are some of the ner tamids (lamps). The synagogue is simply
constructed within a commercial building at 26 Vas. Herakleios Street. The
layout is traditionally Sephardic, with the Tevah in the center and the Echal
on the far eastern wall. The picture below shows the Echal.
Built in memory of 50.000 Jews from Thessaloniki, who
died in the Holocaust. The site was chosen because it was the place where Jews
were rounded up before embarking to trains for concentration camps. From
2004 thw statue of ALEKOS MENEXIADIS is been in Freedom square in the center of
Thessaloniki near the port .
Jewish Cemetery
This is hte second Jewish
Cemetery of Thessaloniki. Its use began
after the war since the old one, which was located under the present-day
precincts of the University of Thessaloniki, was totally destroyed by the
Nazis. In the new cemetery, some
tombstones of the old one are maintained.
Villa Modiano -1905.
Modiano was one of the rich jewish families in
the city. Today houses the Ethnological Museum of Macedonia.
Villa Allatini
The Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda with its
minaret c. 299-303 CE
The Arch of Galerius (or Kamara)
and the Rotunda are neighboring
early 4th-century monuments in the city of Thessaloniki, in the
region of Central Macedonia in
northern Greece. The
Rotunda is also known as the Church of
Agios Georgios or (in English) the Rotunda of St. George
The Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki
The Jewish Museum of
Thessaloniki was founded to honour the rich and creative Sephardic heritage as
it evolved in the city after the 15th century. Consequent to the horrible
expulsion from Spain by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492,
In academies associated with these synagogues, rabbis and mystics continued to teach the great traditions of Iberian Jewry. In the course of the following centuries, the small Jewish cemetery of the city was enlarged to accommodate the increased numbers of the deceased. By 1940 there were more than 500,000 tombs.
The Museum is housed in one of
the rare Jewish structures that survived the fire of 1917. Located in the very
heart of Thessaloniki, this imposing building has at times housed the Bank of
Athens and the offices of the Jewish newspaper “L’ Independent” and is a silent witness to the great Jewish presence
that once filled its streets with the language of Cervantes, redolent with the
odours of the kitchens of Seville and Toledo, silent from Friday to Saturday
during Shabbat.
The Museum incorporates artifacts
from its permanent collections, photographic exhibitions and the Simon Marks
Photographic Exhibition “Thessaloniki, Sephardic Metropolis”.
On the ground level are monumental stones and inscriptions that were once
found in the great Jewish necropolis that lay to the east of the city walls.
Accompanying these stones are a series of photographs showing the cemetery and
visitors as it was in 1914.
Complementing this exhibition,
are many artifacts from the collections of the Museum, giving the visitor the
chance to have an image of religious and everyday life of the pre-war Jewish
Community of Thessaloniki.
A separate exhibit focuses on
the Shoah, as it affected the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki. The majority of
the community - some 49,000 persons - was systematically deported to Auschwitz
and Bergen-Belsen where most of them perished.
The library houses important
texts that were printed in Thessaloniki from the 16th to the 20th century,
covering almost every aspect of Jewish life, religious and secular. The library
acts also as a repository for books on the history, customs and language of the
Sephardi Jews. Adjacent to it is an audio-visual centre, in which visitors will
be able to watch and research tapes and films documenting Jewish history
-especially on the Holocaust.
Your Jewish Thessaloniki tour ( 5-6
HOURS
by a luxury car )
by a luxury car )
Will start with a luxury car and an
excellent official guide and a tour leader to visit the impressive neoclassical
buildings Villa Allatini, Casa Bianca and Villa Modiano , which were designed
by famous architects.
Leaving back the neoclassical buildings you will
head to the center of Thessaloniki, passing from Thessaloniki Byzantine Walls
to admire the view of the city!
Next stop will be the oldest standing building
of Thessaloniki: Rotonda was built in 306 AD as a Mausoleum or Pantheon
for Emperor Galerius.
Passing right next to the famous Galerius Arch,
you will soon arrive to the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki, were you will
learn about the presence of the Jewish community in Thessaloniki.
Follow me through history, in
the most unknown chapter of the history of my hometown. In a city which lost
the most vivant part of its population during the German Occupation, you will
have the opportunity to visit its most wonderful places, learn a lot about a large jewish
community, and why not, meet people or even taste unique flavors.
Many people return to search their roots. You will see from Turkish baths (hamams) to synagogues, from commercial passages to fruit markets, (Modiano building ) you will enjoy a private visit in the Jewish museum and show the Shoah monument.
And all this not away from the heart of the city. Thus being able to enjoy its seafront, its Othoman and Byzantine remnants and continue with a nice clean meal in a kosher restaurant more famous in the city .
Many people return to search their roots. You will see from Turkish baths (hamams) to synagogues, from commercial passages to fruit markets, (Modiano building ) you will enjoy a private visit in the Jewish museum and show the Shoah monument.
And all this not away from the heart of the city. Thus being able to enjoy its seafront, its Othoman and Byzantine remnants and continue with a nice clean meal in a kosher restaurant more famous in the city .
PROGRAMM of tour
Duration: 5-6 hours (approximately )
Route : Yad Lezikaron Synagogue -Jewish museum-ROTONDA -Ancient ROMAN FORUM –market Modiano –The Sloah monument –the ebraic villas
Duration: 5-6 hours (approximately )
Route : Yad Lezikaron Synagogue -Jewish museum-ROTONDA -Ancient ROMAN FORUM –market Modiano –The Sloah monument –the ebraic villas
Kosher food is optional at a kosher restaurant in Salonica named ORPHEAS approved by Chief Rabbin of Thessaloniki Info Rabbi Aharon Israel , with menus at an average of 35.00 € pp with light drink .
What’s Included
- Professional and licensed guide & tour leader as assistant
- Transportation by a deluxe A/C vehicle (bus – minivan or taxi depending on the group’s size)
What’s Not
Included
- Entrance fees
- Gratuities (optional)
- Meals and drinks
Private Thessaloniki
Jewish Heritage Tour Prices Per Person
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Per
person
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02-03 Person
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04-07 Person
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08-15 Person
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16-50 Person
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UPON REQUEST
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185.- €
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160.- €
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110.- €
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85.- €
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For Synagogue organization, we need to sent them a request at least 12 days before the visit day .
Please contact us for tour
details …
YOUR TOUR OPERATOR
IN GREECE IS
OLYMPOS travel
P.P GERMANU 41 -THESSALONIKI-GREECE
P.P GERMANU 41 -THESSALONIKI-GREECE
tel 00302310 260485 -fax 0030 2310 260486
nice post !
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