Jewish martyrs square

At Jewish Martyrs Square in Rhodes, Greece, visitors encounter a poignant memorial dedicated to the Jews who perished in the Holocaust at concentration camps like Auschwitz and Dachau.

This memorial commemorates the once-thriving Jewish community of Rhodes, partly formed by refugees expelled from Spain following the 1492 edict of Queen Isabella.

By the onset of World War II, Rhodes was home to approximately 6,000 Jewish residents, boasting eight synagogues within its town limits. Today, only one of these synagogues survives; it ranks among the oldest in Europe, dating back to the 15th century. Tragically, during the German occupation, most of the Jewish population was deported to concentration camps. Out of the numerous sent away, a mere 130 found their way back to Rhodes, and currently, only a few Jewish families remain on the island.

One of the most touching aspects of this historical narrative was the commitment of a surviving Holocaust victim who, up until recent years, maintained the synagogue and shared personal stories of the gruesome experiences in Auschwitz with visitors. The synagogue now houses a fascinating museum dedicated to the Jewish community’s history and culture. Adjacent to the memorial is a now-inactive fountain adorned with small seahorses, a relic from the Italian occupation.

Photo: I, Sailko