La Juderia
The Jewish Quarter of Rhodes is located in the eastern section of the Old City of Rhodes near the pier of the cruise ships. The Kahal Shalom synagogue and the Jewish Museum of Rhodes are located on Dossiadou Street (see map below). If you are traveling to Rhodes during the off-season you may only visit the synagogue and museum by making prior arrangements with the office of the Jewish Community of Rhodes.
The museum and synagogue hours: 10am to 3pm, through October 31. Closed on Saturdays. During the “winter season” starting November 1, the museum and synagogue is closed although arrangements are possible by appointment by contacting: jcrhodes@otenet.gr (or phone: 30-22410-22364).
During the past five hundred years the background of the Jews of Rhodes was influenced principally by the Jews who fled Spain at the time of the Spanish Inquisition. The descendants of the Jews from Spain are called “Sephardic” Jews and they spoke the Judeo-Spanish language (also called “Ladino”) and is similar to modern Spanish.
During the 1930′s there were approximately 4,000 Jews living in Rhodes. At that time there were four synagogues and a Rabbinical College. Today the Jewish community of Rhodes consists of approximately 30 people. The Kahal Shalom synagogue conducts High Holiday services, as well as Friday night services when there is a minyan. There is no kosher facility in Rhodes.
Present Landmarks of the Jewish Community
Around the Jewish Quarter (historically known as “La Juderia”) there are several stone plaque monuments reminding us of the existence of Jewish life in Rhodes. The stone plaques which still exist today are written in Hebrew, Ladino, Italian and French. Many other landmarks have been destroyed by the bombings of World War II and by subsequent changes. Nevertheless, walking around the Old Jewish Quarter today still reveals several interesting landmarks (indicated on the map below).
- Please Select a number on the map to read about the location
-
The “Square of the Martyred Jews”. Located at the end of “La Calle Ancha”.
The street called “La Called Ancha” was the heart of the Jewish Quarter and was situated where the residential area ended and the business district started. The main street was known for hundreds of years as “La Calle Ancha” which means “the wide street” in the Judeo-Spanish (“Ladino”) language. The present fountain ornamented with three seahorses replaced a previous fountain that was destroyed during World War II.
-
Holocaust Memorial; located in the “Square of the Martyred Jews”
The Holocaust Memorial was dedicated on June 23, 2002 in memory of the World War II victims from Rhodes and the island of Cos. The dedication of the black granite column was a culmination of several years of planning by the Greek government in collaboration with the Jewish Community of Rhodes.
The monument is six sided, each having a different language: Greek, Hebrew, English, French, Italian and Judeo-Spanish (“Ladino”). The memorial is inscribed with the words: “IN ETERNAL MEMORY OF THE 1604 JEWISH MARTYRS OF RHODES AND COS WHO WERE MURDERED IN NAZI DEATH CAMPS. JULY 23, 1944.”
-
Joseph Notrica Donation of 1915; located on the corner of Perikleous & Ikarou Streets
There are a few homes surrounding a courtyard that was donated by Joseph Notrica for the Jewish community. There are two plaques, one on each side of the corner.
Background information: Joseph Notrica was a prominent banker who had no children. The income monies received were designated to help the poor of the community, particularly for needy children. The courtyard has a prominent date palm tree, and it was known to the community as “El Datlar”.
-
Alhadeff Family Donation Plaque of 1935 in “Ladino” (Judeo-Spanish); located on Calle de los Ricos (#5 Gavala Street)
Background information: this property was donated to the Jewish Community of Rhodes by the well known Alhadeff family. The family previously lived in the building prior to its donation.
-
Kahal Tikkun Hazot Synagogue; located on Calle de los Ricos (#8 Gavala Street)
The “Tikkun Hazot” was built in the 1870′s and the name comes from the “midnight service” and refers to the services before dawn.
Background information: It is situated on the street known in Judeo-Spanish (“Ladino”) as Calle de los Ricos, because the wealthier people lived on that street. The synagogue was therefore informally called “Kehila de los Ricos” because it was attended by the wealthier families of the Jewish community. -
Old Jewish Cemetery; located just outside the wall of the Old City
The cemetery existed there for hundreds of years until 1938, when it was forced to be moved by the Italian fascist government to its present location 1½ kilometers (1 mile) away.
-
Alhadeff Park; located in the central part of the Jewish Quarter
This park cross-sects (intersects) a main part of the old Jewish Quarter. The street running through the park is called Salomon Alhadeff Street. In 1933 the land was donated to the city of Rhodes by the prominent Jewish family of Salomon Alhadeff.
-
Kahal Grande Synagogue; located between Calle de Kahal Grande and Calle de la Escola (between Thiseos & Kisthinou Streets)
The full name of the synagogue was the Kahal Kadosh Gadol (the Holy Great Congregation) and was also called Kehila Grande in Judeo-Spanish (“Ladino”). During World War II the synagogue was accidentally damaged by Allied bombings targeting German ships docked at the nearby port.
The remains of the Kehila Grande, including the perimeter, floor and other features can still be seen. The synagogue is believed to have been built in the late 1400′s after the Turkish siege of 1480. It actually replaced an existing Jewish synagogue that was built earlier but destroyed by cannon balls during the conflict of 1480.
Although heavily damaged in 1944 during World War II bombings, the structural walls of the Kehila Grande synagogue remained standing for several more years. During the next thirty years, the walls collapsed and the area filled with rubble. In 2003, the Greek government cleared away the 4 feet of debris which had accumulated exposing the foundation of the perimeter walls, floors and other features.
-
1904 Dedication Plaque of the Alliance Israelite Universelle School; located in the center of Calle de la Escola (Kisthniou Street)
The dedication plaque above the fountain of the Jewish school of Rhodes is all that exists today. The large two story building was damaged during the bombings of World War II and eventually came down during the 1960′s.
Background information: During an August 1903 visit to Rhodes, the Baron and Baroness Edmond de Rothschild donated 15,000 francs to build the school. The school building was completed at the end of 1904. During the Italian occupation, the school changed its name to “Scuole Israelitiche Italiani”. Different from previous schools in Rhodes, the Alliance school was attended not only by boys, but girls as well. Included in the entryway is a 1913 inscription that recognizes the beneficial deeds of the Italian regional administrator.
-
Notrica Foundation Community Building; located at the north end of Calle de la Escola (Kisthiniou Street)
Established during the 1920′s this building was used as a Jewish community center for several purposes. This building was donated by the Joseph Notrica Foundation to the Jewish Community of Rhodes. It is now a Greek school.
Background information: As explained by Heskia Franco, in his book the Martyrs of Rhodes and Cos: “The Jewish Community had a fine building, called the Notrica Foundation, a Foundation which was established thanks to the generosity of Joseph Masliah Notrica, our great benefactor. The ground floor was used for overflow classes from our school which was next door. The upper floor housed the Community’s offices and those of the Bene Brith Association, and a vast hall was used for lectures, and also as a meeting place for all Community activities.”
At the top left facade is a white plaque with the inscription (translated from Greek): “Establishment of Joseph Notrica”.
-
“Puerta de la Mar”; located in the northeast corner of the Old City
Translated from Judeo-Spanish (“Ladino”) “Door to the Sea”. This was a relatively small gateway to the sea and was situated in the northeast residential area of the Jewish Quarter.
-
The Rabbinical College; located at the end of La Calle Ancha
In 1928 the Rabbinical College was established as the natural need for the development of a center for spiritual learning. The school attracted professors and students from several countries and earned an international reputation. Its graduates have played important roles in several Jewish communities.
During that time it had 4 locations. The first two locations of the Rabbinical College were located in the Old City of Rhodes in the Jewish Quarter while the second two premises were located in the New City of Rhodes. For a few years (approximately 1929 to 1932) the Rabbinical College was temporarily housed in a building built by the Crusaders, the Hospice of Saint Catherine. This is at the end of “La Calle Ancha” as it was known to the Rhodeslis and this part of the street was called “el espejo” in Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) because it looked like a mirror.
-
Plaque of 1767; located in the middle of Calle de Talmud Torah (#4 Vizantiou Street)
The small white tablet is located above a doorway located close to the Kehila Midrash synagogue. In this small room was where the community coffins were kept.
Translation from Hebrew: “With a good sign, this 8th day, month of Nisan, year 5527 (1767) from creation of the world.”
-
Kahal Midrash Synagogue; located in the middle of Calle de Talmud Torah (Vizantiou Street)
The Kehila Midrash was built in 1865 by the wealthy Camondo family from Constantinople (Istanbul). It was located upstairs and is the vault area above the street. It is currently a residence.
Background information: it was built with money donated by the wealthy banker, Abraham Camondo. It became known as a synagogue which had shorter religious services than other synagogues.
-
Kahal Shalom Synagogue & the Jewish Museum of Rhodes; located on Calle de Kahal Shalom (Simiou Street)
The Kahal Shalom, also known as the “Kehila Shalom”, is the oldest synagogue in Greece, and the sole remaining Jewish synagogue on Rhodes used for services. The Kehila Shalom is believed to have been built in the year 1577. The full name of the building is Kahal Kadosh Shalom (the Holy Congregation of Peace).
The interior of the Kehila Shalom synagogue follows the traditional Sephardic style of having the “tevah” (the prayer reading table) in the center of the sanctuary facing southeast toward Jerusalem. There is also a balcony that was created in 1935, as a result of a liberalization of religious policy, to be used as a women’s prayer area. Prior to that time the women sat in the rooms adjacent to the south wall of the synagogue that viewed the sanctuary through curtained openings. Those rooms are now being utilized for the Jewish Museum of Rhodes.
Location of Jewish Family Homes
Many Rhodesli descendants are interested in learning the location of their family home in the Jewish Quarter, also known as “La Juderia”. Therefore, the following 5 maps have been created to try to provide that information, despite 60 years having elapsed since the War and although many homes were destroyed in bombings.
The locations have been recalled from over 20 former residents of Rhodes, the primary sources are Joseph D. Alhadeff, Stella Levi, Sylvia Hasson-Berro, Sami Modiano, Diana Galante Golden, Sara Hanan Gilmore, Albert Almeleh, Rosa Israel Ferera, Joseph Natan Hasson, David Galante, Albert Menashe, Morris Barkey and others. This “location of homes” project is ongoing and therefore if you are able to share information regarding your family home please forward to us so that we will try to corroborate and it for inclusion when the below maps are updated.
We hope you enjoy this special insight into the closeness of this unique Jewish community.
Family homes around the Calle Ancha:
List of families around La Calle Ancha & El Mitiris
Family homes around the Kahal Shalom synagogue:
List of families around Kehila Shalom
Family homes around La Fasana:
List of family homes around La Fasana
Family homes around Calle de Los Ricos:
list of families living on Calle del los Ricos & on Via de Canaan
Family homes around the Kahal Grande synagogue:
List of families around Kehila Grande, Alliance School & Puerta de la Mar
3 Views of the Business Square in the Old City of Rhodes
Most of the visitors to the Old City of Rhodes do not realize the extent of the Jewish presence that existed before the War. Many of the landmarks are gone making it difficult to appreciate what existed. Therefore, in order to help people learn of this history, I have prepared these 3 photos indicating the types of businesses and the names of the owners during the 1930’s. Total accuracy is not possible due to the length of time which has passed as well as the fact that businesses changed during that period of time. The primary source of this information is from Joseph D. Alhadeff of Brussels. This main business square was previously known as “Tcharshi Kemado” and “Piazza del Fuoco”.
View of the Jewish businesses during the 1930’s located on the north side of the square:
View of the Jewish businesses during the 1930’s located on the south side of the square:
View of the Jewish businesses during the 1930’s located on the west side of the square:
The Square of the Martyred Jews:
The “Square of the Martyred Jews” (known in Greek as “Martyron Evreon”), is located in the heart of the former Jewish Quarter. The present park area of the square was originally an area of Jewish homes and small shops. However, the area was bombed during World War II, and in its place was established a small park and square. The present fountain ornamented with three seahorses replaced a previous fountain that was destroyed during World War II.
Hotels and Accommodations
If you are an adventurer and would like to have a first hand experience and would not mind leaving behind some of your accepted conveniences there are several pensions in the Old City located in the former Jewish Quarter. They are actually homes previously owned by Jewish families that were converted into modest to good accommodations. One of the best situated is the Cava d’Oro Hotel located at Kistiniou Street #15 (phone #30- 22410-36980), e-mail: hotel@cavadoro.com . Other more modest pensions are the Spot Hotel located at Perikleous Street #21 (phone # 30-22410-34737), Hotel Iliana located Gavala Street (phone # 30-22410-30251) and Pension Eleni located at 25 Dimosthenous Street (phone #30-22410-73282).
There are several modern hotels in the New City, which are a 5-minute drive away from the Old City (about a 15 minute walk). Two of the more popular ones are the Mediterranean Hotel (phone # 22410-24661) and the Grand Hotel (phone # 22410-26284). The Sheraton (formerly the Hilton) Hotel (phone # 22410-75000) is a 10 minute drive further away (closer to the airport).
Excursion to the Jewish Cemetery
The Jewish Cemetery is one of the best preserved in Europe and contains tombstones from the 1500′s to the present. Excavations of additional tombstones are continuing and during the last five years over 300 burial stones have been uncovered.
The cemetery is located outside the Old City of Rhodes along the main road to Kalitheas. It takes 5 to 10 minutes to drive there from the Old City. It is possible to pick up a taxi at the taxi station just outside the Jewish Quarter of the Old City next to “St. Catherine’s Gate”, also known as the “Marine Gate”.
Panoramic View of the Kahal Shalom Synagogue
Louis Davidson has provided an extraordinary photographic view of the synagogue. This is viewable on the website called “Synagogues360″, located at: http://www.synagogues360.org/synagogues.php?ident=greece_005
24 Responses to “La Juderia”
September 13th, 2009
Moises Hernandez-Amateau:
I would like to know the date of the earliest Amato burial stone.
September 15th, 2009
aron:
Hi Moise. The oldest burial stone of the Amato family is from 1844 relating to the family of Yosef Amato. I would not be surprised if we are able to locate another older item based on analysis of the archives which we are continually collecting of the Jewish community of Rhodes.
September 24th, 2009
michael feller:
anticipating a vacation in rhodes i found this site on the jewish museum. this is certainly a wonderful contribution and memorial of the once vibrant jewish community. it has been an adventure of sorts in itself and hope that my actual visit will prove even more exciting. thank you for this special site.
October 30th, 2009
Benjamin Lukoff:
I just visited Rhodes last month and was fortunate enough to meet Sami Modiano (one of the boys in the picture on the Holocaust section of the “History” page) at the museum. What a charming man, and what a great museum. I was so happy to discover it, since the port guide on the cruise ship had absolutely no idea about the Jewish Quarter of Rhodes, and my guidebook only mentioned its existence, not its location. A shopkeeper pointed me in the right direction. She is Greek, and not Jewish, but is learning Hebrew anyway to better communicate with tourists. Everyone who is visiting the area would find it worth it to give Rhodes, and the Jewish Museum, a visit.
February 12th, 2010
Jack Surmani:
Fascinating. What a lot of work. It is beautiful to see. You mentioned that much of the research was done by Joseph D. Alhadeff of Brussels. I am looking to confirm that my fathers family, that of Giacobbe Surmani did also live on the square. The grandparents were Eliahu Surmani and Tamar Capaluto. Eliahu was involved in the translation of the Shir Hashrim into Ladino. Thank you
February 13th, 2010
aron:
Hi Jack. Giacobbe (Jacob) Surmani was a publisher and he had a shop in the business square located at the end of La Calle Ancha, not far from the seahorse fountain. I have a copy of the 1930 Ladino book you’re talking about with Jacob’s name on the front cover. If you don’t have a copy of it let me know and I’ll forward it to you.
March 3rd, 2010
Solly Menashe:
This is great! Thanks for creating a record for generations to come. I was too young when I left Rhodes to remember all the details that you have collated. Great job.
June 16th, 2010
Tarica claudia:
Fantastique!!!! Je suis allée tant et tant de fois à Rhodes mais il y a tellement longtemps. Si j’avais su tout cela, ma façon d’ “appréhender” les lieux n’en aurait eu que plus d’intensité. Merveilleux travail de “reconstitution”.
June 27th, 2010
Leo Shahon:
One of my greatest thrills has been to introduce my children to our family heritage from Rhodes.
August 25th, 2010
ruth nahum:
we are planning to be in rhodes over the weekend of sept. 9-12, 2010 with our 3 grown (in their 20′s) children and significant others. just came across your site while doing travel research prior to our trip, and i can’t tell you how impressed i am by the contents of the site and the efforts you have made at capturing and saving this part of history.
although i don’t believe that we have any family connection to rhodes specifically, my husband’s family is sephardic (his mother’s family Nachmias/Mallel,came to israel from spain via monistir and cyprus)and my in-laws spoke ladino when they didn’t want the kids to understand!
we look forward to our visit to rhodes, and we will certainly plan to visit the Old City, specifically the Jewish Quarter. It does say on your site that the museum is closed on saturdays, and since the other 2 days we will be in rhodes are Rosh Hashana, i assume the museum will also be closed then. Will the stnagogue be open to visitors? Will there be ‘tfilot’in the synagogue for the holiday, and if so, what times and are tourists allowed to attend, even for a short time?
September 1st, 2010
Albert Palombo:
My maternal grandmother was Ester Galante (nee Soriano)..She was born in the Juderia in Rhodos in 1887 her father was Nissim Soriano (her mother I think was called Ketty) She moved to Egypt after her marriage to Vita Galante. Do you know how I can get any further information on the families? She had at least 2 Brothers and a sister al of whom ended up in Egypt. They were in birth order Behor, Ester, Sarina and Simon.
December 30th, 2010
Katie Esther and Salvatore Franco:
My grand-father was Haham Joseph Hai Franco and was married to Bohora (Rachel) nee Capouya. Is there any way to find out where they used to live. I would really appreciate it if you had further information.please contact me. My father’s name was Liv Franco his brothers and sisters were Reuben, Sol, Marie, Hillel, Hertzel, Aaron and Lauren. My mom’s maiden name was Katie Alhadeff originally also from Rhodes. I look forward to hearing from you.
January 1st, 2011
aron:
Katie & Salvatore: Yes, the Franco home is located on “La Juderia” page. Scroll down to the section called “Location of Family Homes.” The Francos lived in the area around the Kahal Shalom synagogue.
February 15th, 2011
Archie Nahman:
I will be visiting Rhodes in May 2011. I would like to visit the place where my parents lived and where I was born. My parents, of blessed memory, are Elie and Zimbul Nahman. Elie, a barber, was married to Susanna Moussafir, who died after the birth of her third child. He then married her sister, Zimbul. Elie left in 1939 to seek work in the Belgian Congo; Zimbul followed with five children: Alfred, Joseph, Albert, Victor, and Archie. Is there any record of their history in Rhodes? They moved from the Congo to Rhodesia (Zambia) to South Africa (Capetown) and had 5 more children. They later moved to the United States. Their children live in South Africa and the U.S.
May 11th, 2011
Lea Capelluto:
Hi, I would like to post a comment to the daughter of Liv and Katie Franco as they lived in the Congo just opposite my house. Is Joseph Franco her brother??? I believe they live in Atlanta, Ga. My father Haim Capelouto was a very good friend to Hillel Franco, brother of Liv. I live in Cancun and you have my e-mail, so please contact me.
May 13th, 2011
miriam muskal:
i am so fascinated with the beautiful culture of rhodes. i never knew that so many jewish people lived there. i am of polish descent (my parents and grandparents, etc). i am an orthodox jew who lives in crown heights. thank you
August 17th, 2011
Judy:
We will be in the Dodecanese between Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur, and wondered if there will be any Holy Day observances? Thanks.
August 17th, 2011
aron:
Judy: yes, High Holiday services are observed at the Kahal Shalom synagogue.
September 17th, 2011
Massimo Spazzoli:
Good day to you. I am so happy that you have my mothers pics on display: Lucia Hanan. I also have my grandparents names: Nissim Hanan & Bulissa. Their other children: Matilda, Haim, Ida & Boaz which as well all perished. Sadly, my mother Lucia was on her way to marry in Rhodesia. They had lived in Rhodes at Alia Del Bosco #29. God bless you all, Massimo.
September 18th, 2011
Fortunee Lynette (nee Alhadeff) Lewis:
How wonderful and emotional to see all of this as we have no one left to ask so many questions. My paternal Grandfather was Haim Alhadeff married to Fortunee Menashe. They had four children Salvatore, Elieto, Stella and Rachel (Lina) The two brothers left for Africa before the war, but the parents and the sisters went to Auschwitz. My grandmother probably died soon after arrival there, and my grandfather, being a tailor was put to work for his skills. The girls survived, but Stella was one of Mengele’s guinea pigs. She married Joseph Israel and went to the Belgian Congo and had four children, but sadly died of cancer in her late 40′s. Rachel went to Italy, married Carlo Vanzini and had a son Victor. They divorced and she came to Rhodesia and remarried Haim Amato who adopted Victor and renamed him Robbie Amato. After Haim’s death, Victor discovered he was not an Amato and he has since reverted to his original name. Salvatore married Clare Menashe and had Vivian, Victor and Victoria in Rhodesia. Elieto married Eleonora Pilossof (daughter of Gabriel and Esther Hasson who had Boaz, Reuben and Eleanora). I would love to know where my grandfather Haim Alhadeff’s tailor shop was and where they lived. My mother Eleanora was named after Luna, and I dont know what her connection is to the Pilossof family. I would also like to know if the Pilossof business (making Baul’s) was my Grandfather’s family -his name was Gabriel,sisters, Bulissa and Zimbul, children of Boaz and Rosha Pilossof (dont know Rosha’s maiden name)and where they lived. Thank you for reviving these precious memories that we used to hear so much about as children, but only thought to ask questions after most of the family had passed on. Best wishes from Lynette (Fortunee) Lewis.
September 23rd, 2011
Robert Notrica:
We just got back from our honeymoon in Rodos. We had a fabulous time but unfortunately, Mr Modiano was out of town during our stay. We saw most of the landmarks mentioned on this site but will have to return some day to get a tour.
Also want to thank Aron Hasson for sending the newsletters. We received them the day we were departing to greece.
Rob and Paula Notrica
October 2nd, 2011
ben sciarcon:
Hi Fortunee Lynette. Did Rachel Amato live in Bulawayo in the 50/60s? Regards. Ben Sciarcon
October 21st, 2011
Robert Carlson:
from the “La Juderia” page: My great grandmother was born in Rhodes her name was Esther Tarica. But she didn’t grow up in Rhodes, her parents were Rachel Touriel and Marco Tarica. Marco worked in a taverna in turkey. By any chance does anyone have any records on Marco and Rachel Tarica?
October 22nd, 2011
Leon Soriano:
from “La Juderia” page: My grandfather Aslan (Yehuda) Soriano and his wife Rachel (nee Galante) lived in the old city. They had four children. Victoria, Marie, Esther and my father, Sabetay. I know that the family moved to Egypt but am not sure when they left.
I have been several times to Rhodes and have seen where my brother in law Jack Hasson’s family lived. This area is now where the Holocaust Memorial stands. Samy Modiano showed us around and explained where things were, but these new maps etc are quite astonishing. It is so wonderful to know our Heritage. Thank You so much. Leon Yehuda Soriano
Leave a Comment