This year, 2025, marks 80 years since the end of World War II, the end of the Holocaust. The Jewish Community of Thessaloniki continues to rebuild, and remain dedicated to ensure that the history of the Jews of Thessaloniki will never be forgotten.
Holocaust Memorial
Click above to view the short YouTube clip.
The Holocaust Memorial is in memory of the 50,000 Jews from Thessaloniki deported to the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in 1943, and sent to the gas chambers.
The memorial sits in front of Liberty Square, another site of Nazi crimes. It’s one place to bear witness to the horrific tragedy endured by the Jewish community.
Across the street is the Old Commercial Port, once managed and run by Jews when they made up the majority of the city’s population over 100 years ago.
You glance between the Holocaust Memorial and the port, filled with sadness about all that was lost. You gaze at the mesmerizing Aegean Sea, where the 50,000 Jews murdered in the Holocaust also once gazed.
It tells the story of the more than 2,000 year-old Jewish history of Thessaloniki, including detailed information on their tragic story during the Holocaust.
"In its short life, the museum created collections of tombstones from the destroyed Jewish Cemetery, constructional parts of synagogues which have been demolished by the German Occupation Authorities, religious objects, old and rare books in Hebrew language, family memorabilia, ketubot (marriage contracts), public and private documents related to World War II, private correspondence, traditional outfits, fabrics, tablecloths, books and bank account booklets (until 1940)," as written on their website.
One powerful exhibit (which can be viewed in the above YouTube video) we received permission to film and photograph, is the room with the names of the Holocaust victims murdered in Auschwitz. It's an ongoing project.
Jewish Cemetery of Thessaloniki
Click above to view the short YouTube clip.
The New Jewish Cemetery of Thessaloniki is not a typical community cemetery. The addition of monuments and tombstone fragments delve deep into the city's Jewish history.
There is a massive tombstone in memory of the 50,000 Jews of Thessaloniki, 96% of the community — men, women and children — who were dragged out of their homes by the German Army in 1943. They were sent to the Nazi death camps, and cruelly murdered. They are part of the six million Jewish People, the Nation of Israel, killed in the Holocaust.
A couple verses from the Tanach (Old Testament) are also written on the tombstone.
In front of the Holocaust tombstone, lies a smaller one. It’s the burial site of recovered remains from the Old Cemetery.The ancient cemetery existed from 1495 until 1942, when it was destroyed and desecrated by the Nazis.
Other heart-wrenching elements include recovered tombstone fragments from the destroyed cemetery. Many were used by the Nazis in construction projects across the city.
There is also a monument dedicated to the 12,898 Greek Jewish officers and soldiers who fought in the war from 1940-1941. During the war, 513 fell in battle, and 3,743 were injured.
A visit to the cemetery requires formal approval from the Jewish Community Center of Thessaloniki.
Synagogues
There are three synagogues in Thessaloniki now, according to Dr. Xenia Eleftheriou, Scientific Officer of the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki.
Monastiriotes Synagogue
Click above to view the short YouTube clip.
"The Monastiriotes Synagogue is the only synagogue to have survived the Holocaust, and it is only open on High Holidays and on special occasions," explained Dr. Eleftheriou. Its history is extensive, and both its architecture and design are stunning.
The Yad LeZikaron synagogue is a post-war synagogue dedicated to the Holocaust victims of Thessaloniki, according to Dr. Eleftheriou. "This is the synagogue for everyday services," she explained.
According to Dr. Eleftheriou, there is also third synagogue in Thessaloniki, which is located inside the Saul Modiano Nursing Home.
Today's Culture and Population
The Nazis annihilated more than 95% of the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki. The pre-Holocaust Jewish community was predominantly made up of Jews of Greek origin, as well as a large Sephardic, Ladino-speaking population that found refuge in Thessaloniki when they were expelled from Spain in 1492.
Today, the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki has about 1,000 members, according to Dr. Eleftheriou.
The Ladino language started to fade after the Holocaust. The Jews of Thessaloniki began to speak only Greek. "Now only a few older people speak Ladino, " explained Dr. Eleftheriou.
The Jewish community is dedicated to keeping the Ladino and Sephardic culture alive through various programs.
"There are Ladino lessons for whoever wants to learn the Hebrew-Spanish language. There are also educational programs about the Sephardic tradition — songs, poems, customs," explained Dr. Eleftheriou.
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