Corfu Israeli community hold special event at the Synagogue
Israeli
01 Oct 2018
/ 15:19
CORFU. Enimerosi contributor and historian Giorgos Zoumbos was honoured for his work over the years to promote Corfu΄s rich history.
Corfu's Israeli community held an event on Saturday at its office at the Synagogue. Members of the youth group 'Wilde Rose', who, amongst other things, research the history of the Israeli community in Corfu and Corfu Jews in the Holocaust, were also present. Hans Schlumm from the Ionian University was also at the event along with representatives from the Wild Rose Network.
The Israeli Comunity Board honoured the Enimerosi contributor Giorgos Zoumbos for his work over the years to promote Corfu's rich history.
The presentation of the award came at the end of a discussion about various aspects of the history of the Israeli community in Corfu. In an effort to promote this history there are plans to create a memorial area so that the history and memories can be kept alive for future generations.
Some background
It is estimated that there were approximately 2,000 Jews living in Corfu in 1940. According to history, all 2,000 were rounded up in the main square on 9 July, 1944 - their names were recorded and they were then kept in the British barracks in the Old Fortress. There were three transportations to Auschwitz concentration camp, where 1,700 of them were executed! The remainder survived. It was perhaps the largest Greek holocaust.
The operation to exterminate the Corfu Jews took place just three months before the end of the war and responsibility has been laid on the administrative authorities for handing them over - in Zakynthos only two people from the Jewish community were taken.
It is estimated that there are approximately 60 Jews in Corfu today - descendants of those that survived - who are an integral part of the community and in recent years have been giving talks in schools, under the aegis of the Ministry of Education, to raise awareness of the subject.
The Israeli Comunity Board honoured the Enimerosi contributor Giorgos Zoumbos for his work over the years to promote Corfu's rich history.
The presentation of the award came at the end of a discussion about various aspects of the history of the Israeli community in Corfu. In an effort to promote this history there are plans to create a memorial area so that the history and memories can be kept alive for future generations.
Some background
It is estimated that there were approximately 2,000 Jews living in Corfu in 1940. According to history, all 2,000 were rounded up in the main square on 9 July, 1944 - their names were recorded and they were then kept in the British barracks in the Old Fortress. There were three transportations to Auschwitz concentration camp, where 1,700 of them were executed! The remainder survived. It was perhaps the largest Greek holocaust.
The operation to exterminate the Corfu Jews took place just three months before the end of the war and responsibility has been laid on the administrative authorities for handing them over - in Zakynthos only two people from the Jewish community were taken.
It is estimated that there are approximately 60 Jews in Corfu today - descendants of those that survived - who are an integral part of the community and in recent years have been giving talks in schools, under the aegis of the Ministry of Education, to raise awareness of the subject.
