Family Photos

Nissim and Rahel (née Tarica) Cohen in Ottoman-styled clothing. Notice the sheshikus on the ground. From: Esther Cohen Shear

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 called “sheshikus” used throughout Rhodes’s Old City. These stones were used to pave the streets and 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, salvar (long wide trousers) and entari (robe). The women often wore the sayo (tunic or robe), entari (dress), jube (overcoat lined with fur) and the traditional head cover, called the “tokado”. A “rozeta” (ornamental pin) was fastened in the front center of the “tokado” which symbolized the woman’s married status.

The family photos also illustrate the fashion transition; it shows the change in 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 hairstyles of curls and waves.

Below are the family photographs submitted to the RJHF Archives. If you’re interested in sharing family pictures and documents, please send the highest quality scan with descriptions to: info@rhodesjewishmuseum.org


Photographs of Jewish Families

The Capelouto & Mizrahi Family

1908 of Yacov Capelouto and Estrella Mizrahi. Their children: Amelie (left), Nissim (infant) and Rosa (standing). From: Elie, Corinne Soriano and Rina Soriano Hasson.

The Franco & Piha Family

1909 Family Portrait of Heskia Franco and Reina Piha. From: Jeanie Franco Marx.

The Huniu & Pilosof Family

Circa 1910 of Behor Myer Huniu and Sarota Pilosof (sitting at the center).  L-R sitting on floor: Morris Huniu, Catherine Huniu Benghiat and Flora Huniu Levy.  Standing in back, L-R: Gabriel Pilosof, Luna Pilosof and Asher Huniu. From: Al and Rae Huniu.

The Angel & Huniu Family

Circa 1910 of the Angel family. The older woman in dark dress in center is Bulissa Esther Huniu married to Behor Yeudah Angel. The woman in white dress above Bulissa Huniu is her daughter Behora Victoria Angel and girl on right side of the second row is her daughter Luna Angel. The other children are Morris, Ralph, Joseph, Abner, Raymond and Victor. From: Leon Levy.

The Israel, Biton & Hasson Family

1913. L-R: Nessim, Sarah, Samuel, Isaac & Morris. Children in the front row: John & Bona (Hasson). From: Daisy Israel.

The Pizante & Cohen Family

Seated: Rahamin Pizante & Palomba (Cohen). Standing L-R: Allegra, Victor, Esther. Front: Rebecca & Vida. From: Michael Policar.

The Hanan & Rosanes Family

(L-R) Rita, Sarina (back), Raphael, Isaac (seated), Djoya (seated) holding baby Allegra, Salvatore, Mathilda (back) and Rachel. From: Isaac Benatar.

The Shemarya & Cohen Family

Seated: Yeshua Shemarya and Desiada (Cohen). From: Al Shemarya.

The Benun & Berro Family

Benun Family: Sara Benun Piha, Mazaltov Berro Benun, Nissim Benun and Rachel Benun Asfari. Two boys infront are children of Sara: Salvator and David. From: Rose Marie Callahan.

The Amato & Capeluto Family

1917 of the Amato family. Standing L-R: 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. From: Esther Amato Pergament.

The Benveniste & Arugheti Family

1917 of the Benveniste family. L-R: Catherine (Hasson), Sarota (Arugheti), Moshe and Emily. From: Shirlee and David Peha.

The Hasson & Cohen Family

1918 of the Rafael Hasson family. L-R: Jamilia, Mary, Rafael, Solomon, Salvator, Rachel, Victor (infant) and Amelie (Cohen). From: Amelie Hasson Cohen and Catherine Halfon.

The Fis Family

1919 of the Fis family. L-R:  Isaac, Miriam, Yacov and Bension Fis. From: Steven Benveniste Nemirovsky.

The Codron & Franco Family

L to R: Giuseppe (Joseph) Codron (1909 – 1927), Rabbi Isaac Cordon’s sister (married last name: Benatar), Rabbi Isaac Codron (died in Auschwitz), Rebecca (Rivke) (nee Franco) (died in Auschwitz) and Scemtov (Santo) Codron (1913 – 1997). From: Cheryl Codron.

The Avzaradel, Notrica & Israel Family

Early 1920s. Standing L-R: Amelia, Sadoc, Mari, Victor holding Isahar (infant). Sitting L-R: Yakov “Pasha” Israel, Mazaltov Notrica and Abraham Bohor Avzaradel. From: Victor Avzaradel.

The Benatar & Mizrahi Family

Standing: Yakir, Seated: Elie Benatar and Rachel Mizrahi, Sarina (back), on the right: Victoria and Bertha. From: Claude Benatar.

The Alhadeff & Leon Family

1921 of the Alhadeff family. L-R: Salvador, Masliah, Sol Leon, Allegra, Joseph (infant), Davidchon and Marie. From: Joseph D. Alhadeff.

The Tarica & DeLeon Family

1921 of Buena Leah DeLeon and Heskia Tarica. From: Henry and Renee Tarica.

The Cohen & Tarica Family

1921 of the Cohen family. L-F: Olga, Ruben, Flor Tarica, Rahamim and Bertha. The boy sitting is Sami. From: Esther Cohen Shear.

The Franco & Capouya Family

Franco & Capouya family. Back L-R: Sol, Rachel Bohora Capouya, Joseph Hai Franco and Marie. Children In front L-R: Liv, Hertzel, Laura, Aron and Hillel. From: Esther Franco Gordon.

The Shemaria Family

1922 of the Shemaria family: Jacob (sitting) with infant, Alberto, Moshe and Flor. From: Benny and Sarah Jason.

The Hazan & Rosanes Family

1922 of the Hazan family. Father sitting is Perahia, mother sitting is Rica Rosanes. The children are: Samuel, Hacco, Sarina, Reina, Rafael and Pepo. From: Lou Hasson.

The Levi & Notrica Family


1924 of the Levi family. L-R: Yehuda, Sarah, Renee (child in front), Miriam Notrica (sitting), Selma (Mizrahi) and Victor. From: Joseph and Victoria Hasson.

The Hasson & Surmani Family

Sara “Giovanna” (née Hasson) and Jacob Surmani. From: Jack Surmani.

The Benatar & Tarica Family

Joseph and Ester (née Tarica) Benatar. From: Laura Larsen.

The Touriel & Menashe Family

1924 of the Touriel family. L-R: Esther (Franco), Elie, Jacob (sitting), Reina (Menashe), Esther (Menashe) (sitting), Claire (Alhadeff-Peha) and Vida (Franco). From: Selma Franco Jaffe.

The Alcana & Soriano Family

Seated in the middle: Chelibi wearing a fez next to a child and Rachel (Soriano) Alcana. From: Yoram Alcana and Rahamim Elkana.

The Sadis Family

1925 Sadis Family. From: Jake and Sylvia Tarica.

The Benoun & Menashe Family

1925 of Caden (Benoun) Menashe with her nephews. 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. From: Aron and Sepora Benoun.

The Benveniste & Rousso Family

1927 Rhodes wedding of Israel “Harry” Benveniste and Rebecca Rousso. This photo was taken at the stairs of the Benveniste family home. From: Arthur Benveniste.

The Piha & Israel Family

1928 Sam Piha and Missode Israel’s wedding at a hotel in Rhodes. From: Janine Eskenazi Hasson.

The Gaon & Fresco Family

Circa 1930 of the Gaon Family. Standing: Dr. David Gaon, Maurice Gaon, Camer Fresco, Norman Fresco, Sam (Silvio) Gaon and Neileh Fresco Gaon.  Sitting: Rebecca Fresco, Zelda Gaon and Moise Fresco. From: Cynthia Wexler.

The Menashe & Capeluto Family

Circa 1930s of Aron and Marie (née Capeluto) Menashe. From Morris Menasche.

The Ventura & Hanan Family

Marie Ventura and Ezra Hanan with their children. Behind Ezra is Sara Hanan, the 2nd of six children and the sole Holocaust survivor in her family. From: Sara Hanan Gilmore.

The Modiano & Franco Family

1935 of the Modiano and Franco Family. Diana (née Franco), Lucia, Giacobbe and Sami in Rhodes. Sami is a Holocaust survivor. From: Selma & Sami Modiano.

The Benveniste & Cordoval Family

1938 of the Benveniste and Cordoval Family. Standing L-R: Stella, Reuben and Nissim. Sitting: Sipora “Birdie” (née Cordoval) with 2 children (unknown). They were killed in Auschwitz, except for Stella who survived the death camps. From: Benny Leon.

The Varon and Cohen Family

1938 of the Varon and Cohen Family. Standing L-R: Laura Varon Israel, Stella Varon Tarica and Asher. Seated L-R: Regina Cohen, Salomon Varon, and Joseph. All 6 were deported to Auschwitz; Salomon and Regina were killed in August 1944; All 4 children survived. From: Joseph Treves.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

54 Comments
Newest
Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Jackson Franco Handmacher
Jackson Franco Handmacher
2 years ago

Incredible! I am going to look for Franco and Benvenisty photos from my family. My grandfather was a Franco and my grandmother was a Benvenisty. Difficult to conceive that my cousins, aunts and uncles who did not emigrate were murdered by the Germans.

Last edited 2 years ago by Jackson Franco Handmacher
Victor Hasson
Victor Hasson
2 years ago

Does anyone have any information on my late father and uncle – Maurice Hasson and brother Avraham Hasson – both left Rhodos before 2nd World War – went to Rhodesia – Avraham opened a general dealer store and Maurice helped him a bit and then joined the 8th Army and Kings Royal rifles – after the war marreid my mother (late) Frances in Cape Town – South Africa ………………..

Louis Capeloto
Louis Capeloto
2 years ago

Glad to find my grandmother Victoria Angel as a child (on the Museum family photos page).

Pat Weiss
5 years ago

Descendant of Benveniste families from Lanier-Bassano in Englands courts. Thank you for the photos.

renee touriel
renee touriel
6 years ago

so nice you have these old pictures…thank you…renee touriel.
PS….I am the daughter of Eli Touriel and Bertha Cohen Touriel

tom klein
tom klein
6 years ago

one of the older gravestones in the cemetery is Oro Fis, widow of Moshe Huniu. do you have any other information about her family, such as her relationship to the Fis family pictured, and/or where her husband, Moshe, is buried?

Ingrid Swenn Oliveira Alhadef
Ingrid Swenn Oliveira Alhadef
7 years ago

Gostaria de saber sobre a família Alhadef. Meu avô se chama Nessim Behor. Obrigada

Linda
Linda
8 years ago

Hi my father is a Greek Jew from Rhodes or Crete
His name is Yitzchak Eliayhu. Wonder if there are any pictures of his family. Please let me know if or where I could get hold of any. Many thanks. Linda Kopelowitz. South Africa, Johannesburg

Iris Planamento
Iris Planamento
8 years ago

My Grandmother was Victoria Angel born in Rhodes April 11, 1896. Arrived in Ellis Island on Nov. 27, 1911. Could she be the person in the Angel family Behora Victoria? My mother was Victoria Angel’s daughter, Jenny (Penny). Jenny had a cousin Bella Israel and a friend (I believe), Jenny Hazan. Any long lost relatives out there?

Alexandre Kapeluto
Alexandre Kapeluto
8 years ago

In reply to Abigail: It does make sense, as per your comments, I do remember my Great Grandmother also referred to as Ricoutcha, and my Grandfather lived in Mersin and Antalia. See the comments from my Sister Sarah Garnick in Juderia. Most of the names you have mentioned comes to mind as a child I remember my Grand Father and his brother Isaac (my Great Uncle), mentioning the names during family conversation. Is there a way we can get in contact with you. Thanks.

Abigail
Abigail
8 years ago

In response to Alexandre Kapeluto inquiry…Is it possible “Riketa (nee Mizrahi) Capeluto” is actually “Ricoutcha (nee Mizrahi) Capeluto”? Ricoutcha (b. 1884 in Mersin, Turkey) had the following siblings: Allegra, Amelie (married William Rinkowich), Estrella (married Jacob Capelluto), Mazaltov (married Joseph Alhadeff), Serina (married Albert Avraham Levy), Shmuel (married Esther), Sol (married Leon Soriano), and Rachel (b. 1877-1959, married Eliechon Benatar)

Alexandre Kapeluto
Alexandre Kapeluto
9 years ago

I am very curious as per the comments of Alicia Allmendiger, on regard of the Capelluto/Capeluto, which when some of the family moved to Turkey and with the change on the Turkish alphabet the “C” was replaced by the “K” due to C is pronounced J. I remember from My Great Grandmother “Riketa(Nee Mizrahi) Capelouto, Talking of her Sister la Bohora, and the two Sisters married into the Capeluto, which were cousins. Is Estrella Mizrahi the Sister of Riketa Mizrahi Married to Israel Kapeluto.
I am the Great Grand Son of Israel and Riketa Capelouto, and we are in Canada.

Alicia Allmendinger
Alicia Allmendinger
9 years ago

Identities of the people in the Angel family photo I belong to our Sephardic family on facebook, I found a comment by Molly Angel Roth under the Angel family photo I am coping it as she wrote it from my Uncle Marc (Rabbi Marc Angel: this is a family shot of grandmother Angel before she and children left for Seattle, grandfather Angel and uncle Moshe were already in Seattle. Among the people in the picture (whose names I do not know) are neighbors of grandmother Angel. I was told they were of the Capelluto family, and Aunty Bohora was part… Read more »

aron
Admin
9 years ago

Thanks John for the names of the “Angel” family photo. That’s a great help for many people interested in putting the puzzle together of their family ancestry regarding that special photo.

john holcenberg
9 years ago

In the Angel picture above the older woman in dark dress in center is Bulissa, Esther Huniu married to Behor Yeudah Angel. The woman in white dress above Bulissa Huniu is her daughter Behora Victoria Angel and girl on rt side of the second row is her daughter Luna Angel. The other children are Morris,Ralph, Joseph, Abner, Raymond and Victor

tom klein
tom klein
9 years ago

would you by any chance have any more information about the Fis family? my wife’s great-grandparents were Moshe Hugnu and Oro Fis, but we know very little about them, except their names, and i was wondering if she might have been related to this Fis family whose picture is displayed here?

Madeline Angel
Madeline Angel
9 years ago

I didn’t realize there were two different ladies named Luna Angel who lived in Seward Park. The one that I knew was my Aunt Luna who married a Mezistrano. Bona Hasson was my grandmother Rosa Alkana Calderon neighbor here in Seattle plus she was a cousin.
My father was born in Rhodes but came to Seattle when a teenager. His name was Eli Angel and his father wa Joseph Angel and mother Mazatov Israel Angel. His grandfather was the baker on Rhodes last name Israel.

aron
Admin
9 years ago

Hi Donna. You can reach me directly at: info@rhodesjewishmuseum.org
Aron

Nicole Purcell-Phillips
Nicole Purcell-Phillips
9 years ago

Hi. Was hoping to connect with other Hassons to find out if the Hasson in the picture were related to me. My maternal grandfather is Wilson (Salvatore) Hasson, born 1921, in Sao Paulo, Brazil and immigrated as a child to Los Angeles. His father was Maurice or Morris Hasson of Rhodes. He married my great-grandmother Isabelle from Brazil (not sure where she was from before that) and they had 5 children: Wilson (Salvatore), Victor, Matilda (Tilly), Cathy and Ralph. My grand-father and 2 of his sisters are alive, not sure about his brother Victor who I think lived in Los… Read more »

Donna Zaitz (Hasson)
Donna Zaitz (Hasson)
9 years ago

I am the granddaughter of Catherine Hasson married to Morris Hasson. I would like to get in touch with Aron Hasson who I believe is my 2nd cousin. I will be going to Rhodes in September and want some information on where best to find some of our relatives homes etc. if anyone can help I’d appreciate it so much.
Thank you. Donna Zaitz