Family Photos
These photos represent a perspective of typical Jewish families of Rhodes. In many photos you will notice the distinctive foreground of the graceful stone mosaic floors which are used throughout the Old City of Rhodes. These stones were used to pave the streets, as well as for flooring of the homes, shops and even the synagogues.
The poses may appear to be more “stiff” than normal. That was because the camera lens was required to remain open for at least a few seconds—so the photographer would say the equivalent of, “OK, hold still”.
The men wore the “fez” which was the customary Turkish headwear of the time. The women often wore the traditional head cover, which was called the “tokado”. A “rozeta” (ornamental pin) was fastened in the front center of the “tokado” and symbolized the woman’s married status.
The family photos also illustrate the fashion transition–in particular it shows the change to European clothing styles. Older family members tended to dress in the costume of the Turkish traditions, while the younger family members would adopt the more European styles. The younger women wore shorter dress lengths and some started wearing high heels and new hair styles of curls and waves.
The Amato Family
1917 photo of the Amato family. Standing (left to right): Matilda, Morris, Yaacov, Edward and Marie. The young boy standing is Aron. Sitting in front wearing the fez is Albert (Behor). The woman sitting is Rahel (Capelouto) holding daughter, Esther. The young girl standing in front is Reina.
The Benveniste family
1917 photo of the Benveniste family. Left to right: Catherine (Hasson), Sarota (Aroghetti), Moshe and Emily.
The Capelouto Family
1908 photo of Yacov Capelouto and Estrella Mizrahi. Their children are: Amelie (at left), Nissim (baby sitting) and Rosa (standing).
The Hasson Family
1918 photo of the Rafael Hasson family (left to right): Jamilia, Mary, Rafael, Solomon, Salvator, Rachel, Victor (infant) and Amelie (Cohen).
The Hazan family
1922 photo of the Hazan family. Father sitting is Perahia, mother sitting is Rica Rozanes. The children are: Samuel, Hacco, Sarina, Reina, Rafael and Pepo.
The Huniu and Pilosof Family
1911 photo. Sitting in chairs: Behor Myer Huniu and Sarota Pilosof. Left to right sitting on floor: Morris Huniu, Catherine Huniu Benghiat and Flora Huniu Levy. Standing in back, left to right: Gabriel Pilosof, Luna Pilosof and Asher Huniu.
The Israel Family
1913 photo of the Israel family. Left to right: Nessim, Sarah, Samuel, Isaac and Morris. Children in the front row: John and Bona (Hasson).
The Levy Family
1924 photo of the Levy family. Left to right: Yehuda, Sarah, Renee (child in front), Miriam Notrica (sitting), Selma (Mizrahi) and Victor.
The Menashe Family
1925 photo of Reina (Benoun) Menashe with her children. At the far left is Sam. At the left, above is Albert, in front of him is Haim. At the right, above is Rahamin, in front is Jack.
The Tarica Family
1921 photo of Buena Leah DeLeon and Heskia Tarica.
The Touriel Family
1924 photo of the Touriel family. Left to right: Esther (Franco), Elie, Jacob (sitting), Reina (Menashe), Esther (Menashe) (sitting), Claire (Alhadeff-Peha) and Vida (Franco).
Angel Family
The Cohen Family
1921 photo of the Cohen family. Left to right: Olga, Ruben, Flor Tarica, Rahamim and Bertha. The boy sitting is Sami.
11 Responses to “Family Photos”
September 13th, 2009
Moises Hernandez-Amateau:
Please be advised of the recent publication of the book “Un Dia Más de Vida” – Rodas, Auschvitz, Buenos Aires, la Odisea de David Galante, authored by Martin Hazan. David´s brothers Moshe and an older brother married Capeluto s from Rhodes. Other family names in book: Benveniste, Notrica, etcetera.
November 9th, 2009
Allegra Kline:
Thank you for maintaining this site. I love seeing the photo of the Huniu Family. My Mother is Catherine, the youngest child, born in 1903, deceased in 1992. She married Elie Benghiat of Smyrna in Los Angeles in 1920. She had three children, Allegra b.1927, Morris b.1930, and Mildred b.1934.
December 1st, 2009
tom klein:
this site is great. imagine my surprise at finding pictures of people who are most certainly our relatives – my wife is a Hugnu, and her mother was a (de) Leon!
January 15th, 2010
Alan (Asher) Israel:
I love the picture of the Israel Family. It’s funny looking back at this. The community stayed close in America. Just two generations apart I still know my cousins, the Hasson family. Rabbi Marc Angel was one of the counselors at Ezra Besaroth summer camp. David Touriel and I were in AZA together. Benveniste family and Capelouto family were always at camp with us. The Rhodesli traditions are still alive and well in Seattle.
I hope, one day, to visit Rhodes and say Mincha at the Kahl. Then go find where Grandpa Johnny (Asher) lived.
I still have the Shofar, that they purchased in Israel, and the Mezzuza that was on his house from Rhodes.
January 31st, 2010
Miles Rind:
To Alan Israel — are you sure you aren’t thinking of David Angel? He was a counselor at Ezzy-Bezzy camp in 1974 or thereabouts, when I was there as a boy. Rabbi Marc Angel, who is his brother (as I am told), has pursued his career entirely in New York City, as far as I know.
February 17th, 2010
Miryam Levy:
Only today i saw these beautifull photos, and i enjoyed them. My father is Victor Levy. thanks for this site.
July 4th, 2010
salvador hazan:
me encanta encontrar eneste sitio la foto de mi padre, mis abuelos y mis tios. yo soy hijo de jaco hazan de bendita memoria.
August 23rd, 2010
Mark Benzion:
My grandparents on my mother’s side were from Rhodes. My grandfather was Marco Israel but I can not seem to find much family history on his side (anyone with any info, please reply). My grandmother was Luna Israel (nee Angel) and is pictured in the “Angel” family photo (she is the little girl in the polka dotted dress). This website is fantastic for us “americanized” descendants to understand where our family and culture originated. I hope to visit Rhodes in the near future!
August 25th, 2010
aron:
Hi Mark. I have some information that may be your family: did they have a child, named Abraham, born in Seattle in 1918? If so, please reply and I’ll forward the information that contains the parents of Marco and Luna.
August 26th, 2010
Mark Benzion:
Hi Aron – They did marry in Seattle and raise their children there. Marco was born Mar 20, 1892 and his fathers name was Abraham. Marco came to USA in 1911 and later married Luna Angel. They settled in Seattle in the Seward Park area.
I do not know the exact date of their first born but his name was Albert and the year sounds right (but maybe his birth certificate showed as Abraham?). Marco was born in 1892 – died in 1982 and I am pretty sure Luna was born in 1901 and she died in 1974.
August 27th, 2010
aron:
Hi Mark. Yes, the information I have is about your family which I’ll email to you. It indicates that the parents of your grandfather Marco were: Abraham Israel and Caden Benatar. It also indicates that the parents of your grandmother Luna were: Behor Angel and Bulissa.
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