Volos

Romaniotes are Greek Jews, distinct from Sephardim and Ashekenazi. The Volos Romaniotes are one of the oldest Jewish communities in existence! (Since the second century C.E.)

The city had a thousand Jewish people in 1913, even with high levels antisemitism in the area. Three quarters of the Volos Jews managed to escape before the Nazis rounded them up, with the help of locals and religious authorities, one of the few good stories from that time. (Another is the story of the Danish Jews.)

Today Volos has about 100 Jewish people. We joined the local synagogue for kabbalat shabbat and Sukkot. The melodies were beautiful and very different than the ones used in North America. The congregation was mostly elderly, and all were warm and friendly. A very sweet experience.

In 1988, the Volos municipality, appreciating the contribution of resident Jews, and to memorialize the victims of the Nazis, erected a Holocaust Monument.

In Volos we also had the most delicious Souvlaki!Read more