Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki, the grandest port of Greece and one of the most picturesque cities, is referred to as «la madre de Israel». Sephardic jews who were expelled from Spain in the 15th century found refuge in this city, and it came to house the largest jewish population in Europe. By early 20th century, Thessaloniki was essentially a jewish city but devastating disasters such as the great fire of 1917 along with wwi and wwii reduced their numbers drastically. Nonetheless, their community still exists albeit in relatively lower numbers.

Contributions of jews to Thessaloniki

The jews have had significant impact on the marvellous Greek city of Thessaloniki. They have left a legacy of unique architecture, special flavour and sumptuous cuisine. The abundance of noteworthy sights and historical sites makes thessaloniki a great destination for exploring.

Notable landmarks of  Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is home to multiple monuments and remnants of jewish culture. It is impossible to see all of them in one day, so we present some of these iconic spots.

Monastirioton synagogue, 1927

Ida Aroesti donated funds in memory of her husband, Isaac, and families from monastiri (now bitola) who moved to Thessaloniki after wwi, to build the Monastirioton synagogue. During wwii, when many jews were deported, the red cross used the synagogue as a storage facility, so it survived. It still stands as a memorial, to honour the past, and to serve the present community.

Yad Lezikaron synagogue

Yad Lezikaron synagogue is devoted to those who perished in the holocaust. It is erected at the spot of a modest prayer house, otherwise known as market synagogue, that met the pious needs of those working in the marketplace close by.

Aristotle square

This is the central square in Tthessaloniki and the majority of the edifices that encircle it were owned by the jewish citizens of the city in the past. Their prosperity, tastes, and individual stories are all mirrored in the intricate architecture.

The jewish museum

Founded in 1997, it offers the chance to view old scriptures and gravestones, found close to the city`s walls, and a huge collection depicting the lives of jews in Thessaloniki before wwii. The museum conserves rare books and archives.

The old railway station

This locale stands as a symbol of great sadness and power in the city. Thousands of jewish people were cruelly pushed to their deaths in nazi concentration camps, right from here. It is a challenging task to confront the despair, heartache and terror that was felt during that time, but it is necessary.

Monuments & jewish heritage

The monuments of the past hold a profound tragedy, but also teach us lessons of bravery and compassion of ordinary people in the face of horror. Jewish heritage can also be found in architecture. Unique works of creativity bear memories of the past, such as Casa Bianca. This mansion has elements of the renaissance and art nouveau, but is mostly remembered for the story of a forbidden love that withstood the holocaust. The building has been superbly restored.