In the Footsteps of the Jews of Greece - by Anastasios Karababas (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Greek Jewry has a unique history in Europe. Greek Judaism is possibly the oldest faith on the continent. The Hellenized Romaniotes, the Sephardim from the western Mediterranean and the Ashkenazim from central Europe created a mosaic of communities across the country, each one with its own fascinating history and tradition. Thessaloniki, the ' Jerusalem of the Balkans', Ioannina, the capital of the Romaniotes, Larissa, Volos, Patra, Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, Athens, and many others. These Jewish communities, together but also individually, are an integral part of the Greece's rich history. This pioneering book presents a unique detailed historical overview of the history of Greek Jews from antiquity to the present day, including the period of the Shoah when nearly 90% of the community was annihilated. Beyond this historical landscape, the book also highlights the contributions of Greek Jews to the economic, cultural, intellectual and political life of the country, and reveals the golden times and the darkest days in the coexistence between Jews and Christians in Greece.

Review Quotes

"Before the Holo­caust, over 78,000 Jews lived in Greece; today, just 4,500 remain. Karababas's fine­ly writ­ten, high­ly acces­si­ble his­to­ry pro­vides an in-depth account of the Greek Jews' tragedies and triumphs." -- Jewish Book Council Review

About the Author

Anastasios Karababas is a French-Greek historian with a special interest in the memory of the Holocaust across the younger generations. He teaches history and ethics at the Lycé e of the Alliance Israé lite Universelle, Paris. He is the author of La Shoah. L'obsession de l'antisé mitisme depuis le XIXe siè cle and Sur les traces des Juifs de Grè ce. He is a frequent TV and radio commentator in France and Greece. His latest book In the Footsteps of the Jews of Greece is based on extensive historical and archival research in Europe, Israel, and the United States.