Family Tree Resources
Family Documents Available from our Archives.
Since the founding of the Museum in 1997 hundreds of documents for our archives have been collected relating to the Jewish families of Rhodes. Since then, we have received requests from descendants of those families who are interested in obtaining information relating to their family history. Therefore, this page offers people copies of these various documents in order for them to have some rare artifacts to add to their personal genealogy. Some of these documents give a surprising insight of family history, while other documents are simple in nature yet quite interesting.
| Name | Date | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Alhadeff, Abraham | 1922 |  |
| Alhadeff, Behor Rahamin | 1922 |  |
| Alhadeff, David | 1922 |  |
| Alhadeff, Raphael | 1919 |  |
| Amato, David | 1933 |  |
| Amato, Haim | 1931 |  |
| Benatar, Nissim | 1941 |  |
| Benatar, Nissim Haim | 1939 |  |
| Benun, Lucia | April 22, 1931 |  |
| Benveniste, Isaac | Oct. 29, 1923 |  |
| Capelluto, Salomon | 1932 |  |
| Capeluto, Reina Israel | Nov. 4, 1941 |  |
| Capeluto, Samuel | 1922 |  |
| Capouya, Joseph R. | 1906 |  |
| Capuya, Jacob | 1922 |  |
| Capuya, Rafael | 1922 |  |
| Codron, Leon | 1938 |  |
| Codron, Nissim | 1939 |  |
| Coen, Behor | 1922 |  |
| Coen, Rahamin | 1912 |  |
| Ergas, Giacomo | 1921 |  |
| Habib, Saul | 1936 |  |
| Hanan, David | 1922 |  |
| Hanan, Haco | 1921 |  |
| Hasson, Mercado | 1919 |  |
| Menashe, John | 1934 |  |
| Piha, Behor | 1942 |  |
| Turiel, Isaac | 1938 |  |
To obtain copies of these documents please contact the:
Rhodes Jewish Historical Foundation
10850 Wilshire Blvd. #750
Los Angeles, California 90024 USA
info@rhodesjewishmuseum.org
The Source of the Alhadeff Family Name: This is described in a book about the History of the Alhadeff Family, called “Le Chêne de Rhodes” by Vittorio Alhadeff. A portion of that book has been translated by Rachel Alhadeff Roditi as follows:
As in all historical research, one must start from a sure and unarguable fact: our family originates from Spain, the country in which it resided for nearly four centuries and which it left in 1492 as a result of the edict of the Catholic kings which condemned all the Jews who refused, to convert to Christianity, to exile. …
They gave the name Alhadeff to our ancestors. Why? Professor Abraham Galante of the University of Constantinople, in his book on the “Jews of Rhodes and Cos,” has established beyond all reasonable doubt, the etymology of our surname, which according to him, comes from the Arabic al-khadif, which means lord, i.e., the Chief. Let us remember that under the British, the King of Egypt bore the name of Al-khadif. The mutation to Alhadeff is explained by the fact, pointed out by the erudite Prof. Galante, that Hebrew is a guttural language that also has no vowels.
Alkadif is pronounced Alhadeff in Hebrew. My father signed in Judeo-Espagnole, in either version.
Some facts must be pointed out. Firstly, the name Alhadeff is borne exclusively by the near or distant members of our family. Today all the Alhadeffs, scattered over the world are, in fact, originally from Rhodes and are, furthermore, to a more or less degree, attached to our family by ties of relationship. We are descended, therefore, ie. all the Alhadeffs, from one common ancestor, one of those Alhadeffs or Alkadifs who disembarked in Rhodes in 1525.
Secondly, we must emphasize the strange and certain fact that there is no Alhadeff in Spain and none anywhere else who does not come from our Island. This is truly a unique case. While innumerable members of Sephardi families – Mendes, Cremieux, Lopez, Alvarez, Toledo, etc – scattered over the world and who have an Arab, Italian or French clan name – they do not have in common any family relationship and come from hundred of different places. The Alhadeffs consist of a well-defined and limited clan; we are all, no matter where we live, in U.S.A., Canada, Australia or South Africa, born in Rhodes or come from there.
37 Responses to “Family Tree Resources”
August 24th, 2009
Michael Nerenberg:
I am looking for records from my great-grandparents, last name of Yerushalmi. I will be visiting Rhodes next summer (late May 2010), and would love to visit the shul and museum. Please let me know if you were able to locate any records from my family. Thank you so much.
August 25th, 2009
aron:
Hi Michael. I have 3 documents that I’m forwarding to your email address. They relate to: Abraham & Lunar Yerusalmi, Rafael & Violette Yerusalmi and Abraham and Miriam Yerusalmi. Have a good trip in Rhodes.
October 4th, 2009
S. Renaud:
Ke pekado, los komentarios son todos in ingles, muestros parientes avlavan todos djudesmo o djidio o espanyol segun lo ke lo yamavan. Esta lingua merese de ser avlada y guadrada para el honor de estos martyros assassinados. El Ijo de Rosa Capelluto.
October 5th, 2009
Linda Roth:
Hi. I am going to be in Rhodes on the 16th of Oct. 2009. My grandfather was born there. I was interested to know if my family had any records or information. My grandfathers name was Victor Pizanti. If you have anything on the Pizanti family history I would love to know about it. Thank you.
October 12th, 2009
aron:
Hi Linda. I found a document about the parents of your grandfather. His parents were: Jacob Pizanti (born in 1873) and Bulissa Arughetti (born in 1880). I will forward it to you.
October 13th, 2009
aliza:
We want to visit the Synagogue & Jewish Quarter, my grandfather was a vegetable shop in District name was Shlomo Bachar grandparents Mmsffht Cordova. I am looking for records from my grandparents, my grandfather was a vegetable shop in the district, his name was Shlomo Behar, grandparents Mmsffht Cordova. I will be visiting Rhodes soon at 16/10/2009, and we want to visit the Synagogue Quarter. Please let me know if you were able to locate any records from my family. Thank you so much. Regards, Aliza Arad
October 14th, 2009
גרסיה פונסקה:
שלום לכולם, כמו שכבר כתבתי בפורום, התוודתי לאתר זה ממש בימים האחרונים,תכננו טיול משפחתי לרודוס ממש כבר השבוע, 15.10.09, ולצערנו אין לנו את כתובת הבית או חנות הירקות שהיו בבעלותם של משפחת אבי, אולי מישהו יוכל עזרו לנו?
שמה של סבתי הוא גרסיה קורדובה, וסביר להניח שגם הוריה נולדו ברודוס, שאת שמם איני יודעת, אבי גם נולד ברודוס ושמו הוא אהרון בכר, ובנוסף יש לנו תמונות של המשפחה מלפני מלחמת העולם השניה, האם אפשר להעלות אותם לאתר?
תודה רבה מראש!!
October 30th, 2009
Gail Bunge:
Your site is wonderful. My grandmother, Marie Hasson, is pictured in the Hasson family photo. Do you have any documents from the Hasson family? Raphael was the father, I am pretty sure. P.S. I also noticed a Carmona on this page. My father’s family is Carmona, from Turkey.
December 6th, 2009
Debbi Norrie:
We will be visiting Rhodes in June 2010. My grand-parents were born there – Nelly (Esther) Capelouto and Victor (Haim) Israel. Apparently their family homes were right next door to each other in Rhodes. My late grandfather left Rhodes to live in Rhodesia – Gatooma -and was followed shortly afterwards by my grandmother. If you have any documents or information on my family, I would be most grateful to know about it. With thanks for your wonderful site.
December 9th, 2009
David:
Hi i am trying to find out as much about my grandmother Matilda Mizrahi as I can. Her father was Mussani Mizrahi. If you have any information about her or their family I would be very grateful.
December 10th, 2009
aron:
Hi David. I located their family registration which I’ll email to you. It shows that Matilda’s parents were Mussani Mizrahi (born in 1866) and Bulissa Benatar (born in 1880). It shows that Mussani’s parents were Isaac Mizrahi and Grazia Hazan. It shows that Bulissa’s parents were Jacob Benatar and Mazaltov Tarica.
December 10th, 2009
David:
Thank you so much Aron, this website has been so informative. I can’t wait to come to Rhodes and revisit my grandmothers heritage.
December 11th, 2009
Lisa:
I am very interested in finding out about my family. I found their name on a “restitution” web-site, and then I couldn’t find the web-site again. My grandmother was Flora Avzaradel –maiden name; her parents were sent to auschwitz I think. They were on the “restitution” website because they had land on Rhodes. My grandfather was leo hanan. One more thing ….. my grandmother’s (avzaradel) mother was a notrica.
December 11th, 2009
Claudia Benhabib:
Hi. I’m visiting Rhodes on may/june 2010. My father Nissim Benhabib and my mother Sara Coen were borned there. Also my Grandparents: Fortuneé Soriano de Coen and Moisés Coen. I would like to know if you have any information of them. Thank you.
December 14th, 2009
aron:
Hi Claudia. I located their family registration which I’ll email to you. It states that the parents of Fortunee were: Elia Soriano, born in 1871 and Rosha Levi, born in 1880. It also shows that: the parents of Elia Soriano were: Musani Soriano and Mazaltov Soriano, and the parents of Rosha Levi were: Isaac Levi and Rivca Bili(?).
December 14th, 2009
Claudia Benhabib:
Thank you very much. Previously we had no records about the parents of my grandparents.
December 25th, 2009
Alex Franco:
I’m a big fan of all the work you’ve done for the Rhodes Jewish Museum. Could you give my email to David, I may have some information for him (Bulissa Benatar is from my family too).
January 3rd, 2010
Abraham Israel:
Hi, Felicitation! you did a great contribution for the community of Rhodes. I am looking for documents and records of my ancestors, the family Israel of Rhodes. Thanks to all of you.
January 8th, 2010
Dan:
Hello, I’m doing some researches for a school project and I’d like to have some information about my great grandparents such as birthdates if possible please. Their names were Mussani and Matilda/ Mazal Tov Franco (née Franco) and Mussani and Matilda/ Mazal Tov Franco (née Galante) as well. Thank you.
January 9th, 2010
aron:
Hi Dan. I’m sending you the family registrations by email. It indicates that Mussani Franco was born in 1882 or 1883 and his parents were: Aron Franco and Rica Alhadeff. It indicates that Mazaltov Franco was born in 1893 or 1895 and her parents were: David Franco and Palomba Musafir. One of their children, Victor, was born in 1921 and moved to Buenos Aires.
Regarding the other Franco family: It indicates that a Moshe Franco was born in 1882 and his parents were: Aron Franco and Rachel Amato. It indicates that Mazaltov Galante was born in 1886 and her parents were: Moshe Galante and Joya Codron.
January 9th, 2010
larry posner:
I have reached a dead end tracking my materal great great grandfather, Benjamin Alahadeff. In about 1901, he married Leah “Lucy” Franco (born about 1887). They had five children: Joseph, Sarah, Jack, Huskia. Benjamin died around 1910-1915.
January 23rd, 2010
Betty Sue Codron Karp:
Hi Aron. Firstly, I would like to thank you so much for the beautiful Rhodes calendar you sent me. Second, I would like to thank you for everything you have done for the decendants of all the families from Rhodes. No words can really express how I feel except that you have done such a fantastic job in handling such a monumental task.
I hope you can help me find a difinitive answer to a very important question. I am the Great Grand Daughter of “Chilbi” Nissim Codron (d 1906). Joya Codron (spouse of Moshe Galante) was his sister and my great aunt. (see last post) I do have a couple of names but now am not sure they are correct so if you can find anything please send it to me. Who were the parents of Chilbi Nissim and Djoya Codron?
January 25th, 2010
monie:
Hi i am trying to find out as much about my great granfather was born in rhodes in 1815 [i think] he went to israel 1837. i like to know more about my family, his name Eliezer Nahmias. if u can find any sources about my family Nahmias. u r doing a great job for the new generation to learn about ouer jewish history. thank you so much…monie
January 26th, 2010
aron:
Hi Monie: Our records show that there was an Eliezer Nahmias born in Rhodes who moved to Israel in 1810 and lived in Safed and worked as a donkey driver.
Also, on our cemetery page we display a tombstone of a Sarah Nahmias buried in the Rhodes Jewish cemetery. Besides that there are several Nahmias buried in Rhodes, for example: Moshe Nahmias in 1662, Yehiel Nahmias in 1669, Avraham Nahmias in 1765, Yakov Nahmias in 1824, Avraham Nahmias in 1832.
February 23rd, 2010
Nir Sidis:
Hello. i am looking for records and information about Moshe Sidis born at 1841/2 probably at Rhodos and family.
March 2nd, 2010
Marcus Stiller:
I was adopted in 1961 in Durban, South Africa, I am in the process of trying to find out as much info as possible about my birth parents. What I do know is that my Mother was Rebecca Benatar, her parents were Gabriel Benatar born 1890-1939 (Rhodes) who married Alice Bondi (Cairo) and went to live in Harare, Rhodesia. Gabriels parents were Isaac Benatar married to Mazeltov Cohen.
March 4th, 2010
aron:
Hi Marcus. I found 2 family registrations for your family. It indicates that Isaac was born in 1856 and his parents were Gabriel Benatar and Sol Benatar and that Mazaltov was born in 1861 and her parents were Nissim Cohen and Rachele Tarica. The second document shows that Alise’ parents were David Bondi and Esther Sion. I will send them to you in a separate email. Good luck.
March 5th, 2010
Ron Israel:
Hello cousins/familia one and all. What a joy to see all of this. I will try to gather what I have of my family, scan it, and send it along. I am the grandson of Morris N. Israel of Seattle, WA, who came to the US from Rhodes in the early 20th century, where he married my grandmother, Estrella Alhadeff (after the death of her first husband, my granfather’s brother, according to biblical commandment). We are descendants of Reuben Eliyahu Israel, 12th descendant of Israel family rabbis on Rhodes. I would love to hear from anyone to whom I am related–closely or distantly–who finds this website. I can be reached at risrael@sdccd.edu. I am going to my kitchen now to bake borechas! Muchos y buenos.
March 10th, 2010
Victor Pisante:
This message is for Linda Roth: Hi Linda, I am Victor Pisante your 3rd cousin twice removed. I live in Athens, Greece and would love to communicate with you and share all I know about the Pisante family from Rhodes. We are all descendants of Bohor Heskia Pisante. My email address is vic.pisante@gmail.com. warm regards, Victor
March 11th, 2010
Bryana:
My great-grandparents both came from Rhodes to Seattle sometime around 1910-1920. Their names were Matilda Shemaria and Albert Alhadeff (birthdate May 22 1898). I don’t know much about the Alhadeff side but I believe Matilda’s father, brother, and maybe sisters also came to the Seattle area. Unfortunately I don’t know any other family names at this point in my search. I would love any additional information or clues. Also, are there records in Rhodes of who left on what ship, etc?
March 18th, 2010
Benvenida Jacoel:
I would like to know if there is as much information about the Jews of Salonica? And if the Jewish cemetery still exists in that town like the one in Rhodes? Thank you in advance.
April 3rd, 2010
Malka Ben-Peshat:
Dear all. Thank you for the opportunity to look for more details about the familly of my grand mother from my late mother. My grand mother’s name is Regina Israel. To my knoledge she was born in Rhodes and traveled to Alexandria, Egypt to get married with Abraham Nachmias the son of the Rabbi David Nachmias. I will appreceate very much to recieve any detail of information about her familly, the Israel familly, that you have in your archives. Thank you again. Malka Ben-Peshat, Herzelia, Israel
April 17th, 2010
Vicki Koslin:
Hi, both my grandparents’ families go back to Rhodes at least 8 generations ago. My great grandparents are Hanan, Cohen, and Hasson. I’ve found that my great great grandfather is Hazdai Hassoon (born 1880), my great-great grandmother is Oro “Goldie” Fis born 1852. But that’s where I can no longer find anyone. I know my great, great, great grandparents names on my grandmother’s maternal side are Eliakim Bohor Cohen (Desiada Israel), Mordechai Cohen (Caden Cohen), Elie “Louis” Hasson (Oro “Goldie” Fis), and Nissim Alhadeff (Caden Berro). I know my great great grandmother was Lea Alhadeff, born 1883.
I guess I’m looking for a needle in a hay-stack but my grandmother passed away Monday and it is my greatest wish to find her family.
April 28th, 2010
Martine Israele:
What a great website! I am planning a trip to Rhodes later this year and am looking for information on the following families – Michael Menasce (married to Goia – traded in tobacco and perfume) and a family by the name of di Mayo. Any info would be greatly appreciated as I’m travelling all the way from South Africa in search of my great grandparents’ roots!
April 29th, 2010
aron:
Hi Martine. I located records of a Michael Menasce (born in Rhodes) who was married to Goia Haim (she was born in Izmir). They had several children: Victor, Sarina, Samuel, Norma (Zafira), Rica and Graziela. If this is your family let me know because I also have the names of the parents of Michael and also of Goia–that would be one generation older/earlier.
April 29th, 2010
Martine Israele:
Wow – that’s my family! Thanks Aron – Graziella is my maternal grandmother and fortunately left Rhodes for Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in time to escape deportation. She is currently living in Cape Town (where I live) and will be turning 96 this year (please G-d). I would be so grateful for any information you could pass on about any of the children / their parents and grandparents. Thank you once again!
August 28th, 2010
tania Luna Behar Behar:
I want to find contact to the famili in israel, the brother of my grandpa, is Rahamin Behar Levy, he came from turqui, leved in petah tikva, rehov nordon 62 in a bilding, he married rebeca, and have 2 children, Menahem and palomba, pleace any help will be appreciate, he is only my father living jacobo MOises Behar Behar, we live in habana, cuba. thanks a lot. tania
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