Yom HaShoah, 2007
in memory of the Dinoula Colchamiro Bakola Family

Nine of the eleven children of Jesoula and Rachel Colchamiro [married in Ioannina, Greece in 1865] would immigrate to the United States. One of their sons, Asser would die before he was able to join his brothers and sisters, but his widow, Steroula, would come with her seven young children in 1920. Only one of the siblings, Dinoula, would remain behind, marrying Ezra Bakola in Ioannina in 1897. This decision, unknown at the time, would, unfortunately, prove disastrous for her family. Most of her children and grandchildren would perish in the Holocaust. Dinoula would die in 1931, after giving birth to nine children, thus spared the agony of witnessing the destruction of her family. Her oldest son, Max, would come to the United States, settle there, and be spared. Two other children [Bimbo and Sion] would survive, Bimbo hidden by Greek Christians in Athens and, Sion, in the Resistance movement.

But, this Yom HaShoah, we stop and remember the six children of Dinoula Colchamiro Bakola, and their families, who became unfortunate victims of the Holocaust. In our congregation, at Kehila Kedosha Janina, most of our members can truly say, “there but for the grace of G-d, goeth I.” Many are survivors themselves. Others were ‘hidden children’ during the Occupation of Greece. Most, though, are here today because their parents or grandparents made the decision to leave Ioannina and immigrate to either the United States or Eretz Israel. Unknown to all, was the fact that this would mean life for them and their descendents.

In memory of the descendants of Jesoula and Rachel Colchamiro who perished in the Holocaust, the family of Dinoula and Ezra Bakola, Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue and Museum inscribes their names for eternity.

Ezra Bakola, merchant, who perished at Auschwitz-Birkenau on April 11, 1944, at the age of 74.

Jesoula ben Ezra Bakola, broker [middleman], who perished at Auschwitz-Birkenau on April 11, 1944 at the age of 46.

Esther Paparou Bakola, wife of Jesoula, who perished at Auschwitz-Birkenau on April 11, 1944 at the age of 43.

Ezra ben Jesoula Bakola, age 20, student, who was rounded up in Ioannina on March 25, 1944 and perished at Auschwitz-Birkenau, exact date unknown.

Menachem [Emmanuel] ben Jesoula Bakola, age 18, student, who was rounded up in Ioannina on March 25, 1944 and perished at Auschwitz-Birkenau, exact date unknown.

Ilias ben Jesoula Bakola, age 16, student, who was rounded up in Ioannina on March 25, 1944 and perished at Auschwitz-Birkenau, exact date unknown.

Asser ben Jesoula Bakola, age 16, student, who was rounded up in Ioannina on March 25, 1944 and perished at Auschwitz-Birkenau, exact date unknown [most likely April 11, 1944].

Haim ben Ezra Bakola, lawyer, who was murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau on April 11, 1944 at the age of 42.

Efthimia, wife of Haim, who was murdered at Auschwtiz-Birkeanu on April 11, 1944 at the age of 36.

Ezra ben Haim Bakola, age 13, student, who was murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau on April 11, 1944.

Solomon ben Haim Bakola, age 16, student, who was murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau on April 11, 1944.

Nissim ben Ezra Bakola, merchant, who was murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau on April 11, 1944 at the age of 38.

Reveka, wife of Nissim, who was murdered at Auschwtiz-Birkeanu on April 11, 1944 at the age of 28.

Ezra  ben Nissim Bakola, student, age 7, who was murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau on April 11, 1944.

Dina bat Nissim Bakola, age 7, student, who was murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau on April 11, 1944.

Infant child of Reveka and Nissim, who was murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau on April 11, 1944.

Rachel, daughter of Dinoula and Ezra Bakola who married Samuel ben Isaac Lagaris, and was murdered at Auschwtiz-Birkeanu on April 11, 1944 at the age of 34.

Samuel ben Isaac Lagaris, husband of Rachel, who was murdered at Auschwtiz-Birkeanu on April 11, 1944 at the age of 40.

Julia, daughter of Rachel and Samuel Lagaris, age 8, student, who was murdered at Auschwtiz-Birkeanu on April 11, 1944.

Efthimia daughter of Dinoula and Ezra Bakola who married Ezra ben Moisis Eliezer, and was murdered at Auschwtiz-Birkeanu on April 11, 1944 at the age of 30.

Ezra ben Moisis Eliezer, husband of Efthimia, who was murdered at Auschwtiz-Birkeanu on April 11, 1944 at the age of 35.

Moses, son of Efthimia and Ezra, age 5, who was murdered at Auschwtiz-Birkeanu on April 11, 1944.

Leon ben Ezra Bakola, 27, university student, was rounded up in Ioannina on March 25, 1944 and was murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau, exact date unknown].