About this experience
The Jewish community of Rhodes originated in ancient times and has experienced many ups and downs throughout its history. In the company of a licensed guide-archaeologist, you will explore the Old Town, see cult relics, and learn about the complex fate of the Jewish people. And I will help you understand the local culture and traditions.
"I have never met a Jewish community where everyone, from small to large, was so wise... they have long hair and look like princes", wrote an Italian rabbi-traveler who visited Rhodes in 1467.
What to Expect
Little Jerusalem
We will walk through the streets of the former Jewish quarter "La Juderia" and get acquainted with the chronicle of well-known families and the common population. The alley of banker and patron Alhadeff, the school of Mr. Notrika, and the gymnasium founded by Baron Rothschild are just some of the important places in this area. I will take you to a 17th-century synagogue, now a museum, which tells about the way of life of the Jews of Rhodes and their influence on the local culture. The rich exhibition of museum collections will transport us to the past of the community, and I will tell you about the origins of its formation, everyday life, holidays and rituals, as well as the special language spoken by the local Romaniotes and Sephardim.
Memory Politics
Not far away, under the shade of lush fig trees, lies the central square of the Jewish martyrs. We will talk about wartime and the raids of the Allied aviation of the anti-Hitler coalition, as well as see the memorial to the victims of the Holocaust in memory of more than 1600 Jews of Rhodes deported to Auschwitz, the disappearance of the diaspora, and attempts at its revival. Concluding our walk in the knights' part of the city, we will remember the relations between the Jewish community and the Catholic Church of the Middle Ages, as well as inspect a building from the time of the Knights Hospitaller.
Organizational Details
Entrance tickets to the Jewish museum are paid separately from the tour.
