Rhodes Emigration

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EMIGRATION FROM RHODES
At the beginning of this century many Jews left the Island of Rhodes for other lands in search of better economic opportunities. At that time Rhodes offered limited economic possibilities and this was the primary reason which caused young men to seek better opportunities elsewhere, some in nearby ports of the Mediterranean, while others traveled to far off places in Africa, as well as in North and South America. Most of the young men who traveled to other lands initially went with the intention of making some money and then returning to pursue their family life on the Island.

An even larger number of Jews left during the 1930's and 1940's due to the fear caused by the War and the passing of anti-Jewish laws. In 1944 the Island of Rhodes was occupied by the Germans and on July 23rd of the same year, 1673 members of the Jewish community were arrested and then deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp. There were only 151 survivors. Today there are only a handful of Jews living in Rhodes.

This is an audio recording of Joseph Capeloto, regarding his emigrating from Rhodes to the United States in 1907, at the age of 14. After traveling to New York, Joseph stayed in New York for eight days, and then traveled on to Seattle, Washington where his brother-in-law, Behor Joseph Alhadeff, had preceded him three years earlier. In Seattle, Joseph earned $8 per week and was able to send monies to his family that helped them to also immigrate to the U.S. in 1909. (This audio sound clip was recorded in Los Angeles by Aron Hasson in an interview conducted on April 26, 1972.)

Nace Treves

This is an audio recording of Nissim (Nace) Treves, regarding his emigrating from Rhodes to Africa in 1939, at the age of 16. Due to the difficulties caused by the Italian fascist government policies, he obtained documents to travel to be with his brother, Alexander, who was living in Katanga province of the Congo. (This audio sound clip was recorded in Los Angeles by Aron Hasson in an interview conducted on March 16, 1998.)

Montgomery, Alabama

Seattle, Washington

Atlanta, Georgia

Los Angeles, California

New York, New York

Portland, Oregon

Cairo, Egypt

Harare, Zimbabwe

Katanga, Congo