Publications and Newsletters
KKJ periodically publishes our Community Newsletter, The Romaniote, to thousands around the country and around the world. The Newsletter includes news on Simchas, Greek Jewish history, synagogue developments, museum programs, and much more.
In addition to The Romaniote, every month KKJ is proud to publish an E-Newsletter to over 10,000 people around the world, keeping them up to date on the latest news in our community as well as the global Greek-Jewish Community. Below you can find our latest Newsletter as well as previous Newsletters. If you'd like to be added to our email list, please feel free to subscribe.
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The Romaniote
Community E-Newsletter
Spring 2019
As with many other Jewish congregations throughout the world, we, too, have been plagued by changes in demographics, leading to lower service attendance at our synagogue. We have persevered over the years and are now looking to the future. We have joined forces with, and derived inspiration from, Rabbi Gabriel Negrin, the Chief Rabbi of Athens Greece, himself a Romaniote.
Spring 2018
You cannot know who you are until you know where you came from, and you certainly cannot know where you are going until you access what brought you to the present. This is not only the individual story of successful people, but also the basis of achievement for successful institutions. Kehila Kedosha Janina has been very fortunate in having a wealth of inspiring history to fall back on, and, as has been shown by our renaissance in recent years, a path for a productive future.
Winter 2016
Many articles have been written about Kehila Kedosha Janina, initially forecasting the demise of the community and our beloved synagogue. As our community persevered and continued to, not only maintaining a functioning Jewish house of worship but, also, becoming a major tourist attraction, highlighted by visits to our Museum, many wondered why. Why was this community that so many thought would pass into oblivion, still viable in the modern world? One word may hold the key: dedication.
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Past Romaniote Newsletters
Spring 2019
As with many other Jewish congregations throughout the world, we, too, have been plagued by changes in demographics, leading to lower service attendance at our synagogue. We have persevered over the years and are now looking to the future. We have joined forces with, and derived inspiration from, Rabbi Gabriel Negrin, the Chief Rabbi of Athens Greece, himself a Romaniote.
Past Romaniote Newsletters
Spring 2018
You cannot know who you are until you know where you came from, and you certainly cannot know where you are going until you access what brought you to the present. This is not only the individual story of successful people, but also the basis of achievement for successful institutions. Kehila Kedosha Janina has been very fortunate in having a wealth of inspiring history to fall back on, and, as has been shown by our renaissance in recent years, a path for a productive future.
Past Romaniote Newsletters
Winter 2016
Many articles have been written about Kehila Kedosha Janina, initially forecasting the demise of the community and our beloved synagogue. As our community persevered and continued to, not only maintaining a functioning Jewish house of worship but, also, becoming a major tourist attraction, highlighted by visits to our Museum, many wondered why. Why was this community that so many thought would pass into oblivion, still viable in the modern world? One word may hold the key: dedication.
Past Romaniote Newsletters
Fall 2014
So often we are asked the question, “How do we ensure that our traditions and customs are passed on to the next generation?” This is a challenge faced by all communities. Our challenge is made even greater because of the fact that we are so few in number and so distinct.
Past Romaniote Newsletters
Spring 2013
Our synagogue is called Kehila Kedosha Janina (The Holy Congregation of Janina). The word Kehila has another meaning: community. From antiquity to the present, a synagogue served the community. The congregation was the community. Our forefathers could have named their synagogue many things: synagogue, temple, congregation, but they chose the traditional name used in Greece among Romaniote Jews for a Jewish house of worship,“kehila.” For the founding fathers of Kehila Kedosha Janina, the structure built in 1927 was more than a house of worship or a place to study. It was a place for the community to preserve its traditions, customs and language.
Past Romaniote Newsletters
Spring 2011
The story of Greek Jewry has been punctuated by the word “survival;” survival as the longest continuous Jewish presence in the European Diaspora (going back over 2,300 years); survival in spite of the horrors of the Holocaust (87% of Greek Jewry perished, the largest percentage of any officially occupied country) and, for Kehila Kedosha Janina, survival as a Jewish house of worship. In 1927, when Kehila Kedosha Janina opened its doors, there were hundreds of synagogues on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. We now proudly stand as one of only five Jewish houses of worship dating from that era still functioning as an active synagogue.
Past Romaniote Newsletters
Spring 2010
At the time that Kehila Kedosha Janina was established in 1927, there were an estimated 500 Jews of Romaniote descent still living on the Lower East Side, many having already made the move to the outer boroughs of the Bronx and Brooklyn, or “uptown” to Harlem. Of those “500,” all were connected through familial ties, either through marriage or by blood, probably a core family grouping of no more than 50 families. Family would always play an important role for this conservative, traditional, observant group of Greek Jews. Most lived in close proximity to each other, filling the tenements on Broome Street adjacent to the synagogue, or on the surrounding blocks of Eldridge, Allen, Orchard, Delancey and Grand.
Past Romaniote Newsletters
Fall 2009
In creating The Holy Congregation of Janina (Kehila Kedosha Janina), the founding fathers did more than just build a sanctuary; they created a legacy, one that they would pass on to their children and grandchildren. More than just bricks and mortar, Kehila Kedosha Janina encompasses traditions inherent in Judaism. The Jews of Ioannina who came to the United States in the early part of the twentieth century may not have been highly educated but, more important, they knew how to do the right thing. They took care of their families, preserved their religion and passed on important values to their children and grandchildren. This, in essence, was their legacy.
Past Romaniote Newsletters
Spring 2009
When Kehila Kedosha Janina opened its doors for services in 1927, it was one of hundreds of Jewish houses of worship on the Lower East Side of New York City. Today, 82 years later, our synagogue is one of only five original synagogues from the early 20th century that still functions as a Jewish house of worship open for regular services every Shabbat and all Jewish holidays. So much of our success is due to the commitment, passion and perseverance of the founding fathers, attributes that they passed on to their children and grandchildren. They were proud of who they were, committed to their religion and culture, different from so many others on the Lower East Side but passionate in preserving their distinct liturgy and culture.
Past Romaniote Newsletters
Fall 2008
The ongoing restoration of our beloved synagogue has, in many ways, been an “archeological dig,” revealing interesting findings about the original community. When the synagogue was first constructed in 1927, the community then living on the Lower East Side probably numbered no more than 50 families, many families having already moved to the outer boroughs of the Bronx and Brooklyn. These were, for the most part, poor, hard-working, observant Jews for whom their religion permeated all aspects of their daily life. In addition, they dearly loved their “Greek” culture and traditions. The Kehila (community) was formally incorporated in the New York City in 1914, but the property to build a synagogue was not acquired until 1921. It would take five years to raise the funds to erect the humble structure, and they would erect the structure themselves.
Past Romaniote Newsletters
Spring 2008
In 1927, a magnificent Torah scroll, encased in a heavy silver tik, was brought over from Ioannina, Greece to dedicate the new synagogue, Kehila Kedosha Janina. Over the course of the years the tik would tarnish, in many ways reflecting the decline of the small Romaniote community that used the facilities on 280 Broome Street, but the Torah inside would continue to be used by the traditional, observant, Romaniote congregation. Eighty years later, those who had the foresight to send the Torah to New York City can look down from the heavens above and be assured that the small congregation on Broome Street has been worthy of their gift. In many ways, the silver tik and the Torah inside represent the positive changes taking place at Kehila Kedosha Janina. The tik is being shined, the tarnish gently removed, its luster restored, by Andrew Marcus, the son of our President, Marvin.
Past Romaniote Newsletters
Fall 2007
Ten years ago, the world was ready to write us off: even our own people were questioning whether we should close our doors and go the way of so many other synagogues on the Lower East Side. Our perseverance and commitment to the “little Greek synagogue on Broome Street” have been rewarded. Not only are we a part of the recent renaissance on the Lower East Side, but we are in the forefront. Our recent rededication (May 20th) of the Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue and Museum saw Broome Street between Eldridge and Allen closed to traffic as the crowds gathered to celebrate our triumphs. Greek, Israeli and American flags flew from our façade.
Past Romaniote Newsletters
Spring 2007
It took a little longer than expected and involved more patience than anticipated, but the dust is cleared and the interior of our synagogue has been restored to its 1927 splendor. As an historical landmark, we had to preserve the architectural integrity of the structure, but we could have gutted the interior and started from scratch. It probably would have been easier. It certainly would have been less costly. But, it would have borne little resemblance to the synagogue the founders had created. We chose to take the more challenging road and keep not only the architectural integrity of the building but also preserve the essence of the synagogue constructed in 1927.
Past Romaniote Newsletters
Fall 2006
On February 13, 2006, shortly before this newsletter was to be published, our beloved President, Hy Genee, the backbone of our congregation and our synagogue, suddenly passed away. Originally, we had thought to publish a short, special memorial newsletter in March and then the original newsletter in September, but as those who knew Hy began to send us their thoughts and memories, the decision was made to combine both for this double issue, with a special pull-out section dedicated to Hy. For those of us who had the honor of knowing and working with Hy, he will always be with us. May his blessed memory inspire us to continue with renewed strength to make his dreams a reality.
Past Romaniote Newsletters
Fall 2006 Special Edition - In Memory of Hy Genee
On February 13th we were shaken by the death of our beloved President, Hy Genee. This newsletter is dedicated to his memory. So many people sent in their thoughts and their memories of this special man. Please forgive us if your comments were not included, or if we had to edit what you sent us. It would have taken volumes to include everything. Hy was always so proud of his family. In the midst of this devastating loss, their strength and dignity have been an inspiration to us all. Hy’s daughter, Lois, and his oldest grandchild, Melissa, gave sensitive eulogies at the funeral (at Sinai Chapels on February 15th). For all of you who were there in the packed chapel, and to the many more who could not attend, I am reprinting their words in their entirety (pages 6-7). The Genee and Ledner families want to thank all of you who expressed condolences. They were deeply touched by the outpouring of emotion and would like to thank those who sent in donations to the Kehila. We all are extremely grateful for your generosity.
Past Romaniote Newsletters
Fall 2005
Due to an exceedingly generous bequest from the estate of Mrs. Frances Siegelbaum, we have been able to start our long-anticipated interior restoration. Soon our interior will be a fitting accompaniment to our newly refurbished exterior. None of this could have been done without your continued support. And special thanks to David Bellel for his generous donation in memory of his late father, Sol. We have been truly blessed in the support we have received. Many other donors, too numerous to mention, have given us the hope that our dreams will soon become a reality.
Past Romaniote Newsletters
Fall 2004
We are overjoyed to tell you that thanks to our generous supporters, the first stage of the restoration of Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue and Museum is complete. The façade has been restored to its original beauty and we are now the pride of the neighborhood! The roof has been repaired (no more leaks!) and reproductions of the original stained glass windows now adorn our synagogue. Stop by and admire your Kehila! Now, the next stage, the restoration and refurbishing of the interior, can begin. Hundreds of thousands of dollars will be necessary to complete the project: repair of damage from leaks; re-plastering; repair of interior structural damage due to wear and tear over the years; electrical updating and air conditioning; painting and carpeting. We also hope to provide additional exhibition space in our museum to enable the display of many items that are now in storage.
Past E-Newsletters
November 2020
Wishing all those who celebrate a Joyous Thanksgiving. There are strong historical connections between Judaism and Thanksgiving. Most of the Pilgrims who celebrated the first Thanksgiving were Puritans, a branch of the Protestant faith. The Puritans strongly identified with the historical traditions and customs of the Israelites in the Bible.
October 2020
On October 28, Greece stops and remembers Oxi Day when, 80 years ago, the Hellenic Republic stood up to Fascism to prevent the Italian invasion of Greece. Read the article that follows in this newsletter about this important date and the role that Greek Jews played on the battlefield. Hellenes throughout the world will join in the commemoration, even if for most of us it will be virtual.
September 2020
This year, the High Holiday of Rosh HaShanah ushers in the New Year of 5781, as Jewish families around the world gather for family dinners and wish each other "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." The foods and languages may differ, but the thoughts and prayers are the same. The Shofar is blown; its plaintive cry serves as a call to repentance. This year, 2020, has challenged us in many ways, as a pandemic sweeps across the globe. Rosh HaShanah will be very different this year. We may not have the luxury of large family gatherings. We may not be able to travel to visit loved ones. That does not mean that we will not observe our traditional customs, we will just perform them differently. A major reason for our survival as a people, as the Jewish people, has been our ability to adapt, very often to adversity. We will adapt this year and we will survive.
August 2020
As we approach the High Holidays, we remind our readers of the tradition of Hashkavoth at Kehila Kedosha Janina. We are not yet sure what the Holidays will be like this year in light of COVID19. Our Board is discussing whether we can be open to celebrate or, if not, what we can do in lieu of gathering together. At Kehila Kedosha Janina, we follow the centuries-old Romaniote custom of our people by reciting Hashkavoth (Memorial Prayers) and the individual names of our dearly departed during the Kol Nidre Yom Kippur Eve service. If you wish to honor your family members or friends in this very special way, please email their names as soon as possible to museum@kkjsm.org.
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April 2024
This year, Pesah (Passover) is celebrated from sunset on April 22nd to nightfall on April 30th. Jewish families around the word gather to tell the story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Most scholars believe the date of this exodus was the 13th century B.C.E. during the reign of Ramses II. Traditions differed from community to community, in the songs that were sung and the special foods eaten. Much of the seder service was done in the vernacular of the community, since the Rabbis felt it important to pass on the story of Pesah to Jews, many of whom were losing their ability to understand Hebrew. Among our community, Greek and Ladino are still sung at the seder tables, and the holiday is celebrated with many delicious traditional foods. We wish everyone a Happy Passover, Moadim LeSimha, Χρόνια Πολλά, and Pesah Alegre!
February 2024
There are no Jewish Holidays this month, but 2024 is a leap year, as is the Jewish Year 5784. In February, in the US, we celebrate President’s Day (combining the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln - February 12th and George Washington - February 22nd). In the US, February is Black History Month. As this newsletter is being written, Jewish hostages have been held in Gaza for more than 120 days. The world is praying for their release. We want something to truly celebrate.
January 2024
The 15th of Shevat is the New Year for Trees, known as Tu b'Shevat. This year the date falls on January 25. Although this day is Rosh Hashanah for trees, we attach special significance to this holiday because "Man is compared to the tree of the field" (Deuteronomy 20:19). Through cultivating strong roots – faith and commitment to G d – we produce many fruits—Torah and Mitzvot. On this day it is customary to partake of the fruit with which the Holy Land is praised (Deuteronomy 8:8): olives, dates, grapes, figs, and pomegranates. As Tu b’Shevat is celebrated this year in Israel, we pray that the war will end, our hostages will be released, and a sustainable peace will be negotiated.
December 2023
In December Jews throughout the world celebrate Hannukah, the story of our triumph over oppression. This year, as we light the candles, the story is even more poignant. Along with the traditional blessings over the candles of the Hannukia, we will say our prayers for the release of all the hostages, and for peace in Israel.
November 2023
On October 7th, just before the beginning of Simchat Torah, the day when Jews around the world begin the celebration of the “Joy” of the Torah, Israel was brutally attacked by Hamas, as they entered kibbutzim, slaughtering Israeli families and gunning down young people attending a concert in the south of Israel. In addition, over 200 Israeli hostages were taken into Gaza. This E-Newsletter is, therefore, quite different. We will, as always, give you news of importance to Greek Jews around the world with upcoming events, and coverage of past events, but a good portion of this newsletter will be devoted to the ongoing war. We pray for the safety and success of the IDF, we pray for the safe return of all the hostages, we pray for the recovery of all those who are wounded, and we pray for peace in Israel.
October 2023
We wish all our friends a joyous and healthy 5784. This year our Museum Director attended Yom Kippur services in Ioannina, where the world gathered to honor Moisis Elisaf of Blessed Memory. This E-Newsletter is dedicated to this special man. He will always live on in our memory. Thank you to all who made donations to Kehila Kedosha for the holidays, and a special thanks to those who remembered Ioannina with a gift.
September 2023
This year, the High Holiday of Rosh HaShanah ushers in the New Year of 5784, as Jewish families around the world gather for family dinners and wish each other "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." The foods and languages may differ, but the thoughts and prayers are the same. The Shofar is blown; its plaintive cry serves as a call to repentance.
July 2023
This year, from the evening of July 26th until the evening of July 27th, Jews around the world commemorate Tisha B’Av. Tisha B’Av is considered the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, traditionally assigned to those same dates in 586 B.C.E. and 70 C.E., respectively. For Sephardim, the day has additional significance, since it coincides with the date of the 1492 expulsion edict.
June 2023
We are happy to celebrate the beginning of summer. Thanks to all who joined us for our eighth annual Greek Jewish Festival. It was a thrilling uplifting day. The Association of Friends of Greek Jewry will be bringing their annual tour group to Greece in anticipation of the beautiful summer weather that awaits them. June is one of the best months to go, before the sweltering heat of July and August sets in. The word for summer in Greek is καλοκαίρι (kalokaíri) meaning “the good weather.” There are no beaches in the world that compare with the beaches of Greece.
May 2023
While April was a month of painful anniversaries, as we remembered those lost in the Holocaust on Yom HaShoah (see article and photos in this newsletter), May is a month of joyous celebration, as we celebrate Shavuot (the receiving of the Torah), commemorate the establishment of the State of Israel 75 years ago, and dance on Broome Street for our annual Greek Jewish Festival.
March 2023
Wishing all our Jewish friends a joyous celebration of Purim. Join us on March 6th at 6:00pm as we celebrate a Greek Jewish Purim! The evening starts with Minha and Arvith services, followed by a Romaniote Megillah reading. Afterwards we'll enjoy a traditional Greek Jewish dinner. Dress up as your favorite costumes and celebrate this festive Jewish holiday with your family and friends!
February 2023
In February, this year, we celebrate the Jewish New Year for Trees - Tu BiShvat. While the holiday is mentioned in the Talmud, Tu BiShvat is the Israeli Arbor Day, and it is often referred to by that name in international media. Ecological organizations in Israel and the diaspora have adopted the holiday to further environmental-awareness programs.
December 2022
Best wishes for a happy and healthy Hanukkah. The holiday begins the evening of December 18th. As we recall the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days, and the success of the Maccabees over our enemies, may our lives be enlightened from our love for our family, our community, and our Romaniote and Sephardic heritage, and may all Jews and good people around the world prevail against the forces of antisemitism and hate.
November 2022
Our Museum is back in full activity with the recent launch of our new exhibit on the Jews of Corfu and two special events coming up this month. Do join us for our events with Stella Levi on November 13th and Dr. Joe Halio on November 20th. While there are no major Jewish holidays in November, that just gives us plenty of time to prepare for Hanukkah, which will start on December 18th.
October 2022
As we celebrate the Sukkoth, Shemini Atsereth, and Simhat Torah holidays at Kehila Kedosha Janina, we invite you to join us for services at the only Romaniote synagogue in the Western Hemisphere located at 280 Broome Street in New York City. Our hearts were full as we saw many old and new friends join us for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Do join us for our annual Simchat Torah celebration and dinner on Monday October 17th at 6pm.
September 2022
This year, the High Holiday of Rosh HaShanah ushers in the New Year of 5783, as Jewish families around the world gather for family dinners and wish each other "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." The foods and languages may differ, but the thoughts and prayers are the same. The Shofar is blown; its plaintive cry serves as a call to repentance. This year, 2022, many of us have begun to travel again and after a hiatus of almost 3 years, family dinners are now possible. The pandemic has brought many changes but we must remember that a major reason for our survival as a people, as a Jewish people, has been our ability to adapt, very often to adversity. We will adapt this year and we will survive.
August 2022
This year, Tisha B’Av is commemorated from sunset on August 6th to sundown on August 7th. It is a traditional day of mourning, as we remember the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. Tisha B’Av has been called the saddest day of the Jewish year and with good reason. Among the many tragedies that befell the Jewish world on the 9th of Av was the Destruction of the First Temple by the Babylonians in 587 BCE, the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE, the defeat of the Bar Kochba revolt against the Romans in 133 CE, the Expulsion of the Jews from England in 1290, and the Expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492.
July 2022
The Association of Friends of Greek Jewry is returning to Greece in July with a lovely group of inspiring Greek Jewish Young Professionals. After a three year hiatus we are so looking forward to this. This newsletter is sponsored in honor of Rose Eskononts, President of Sisterhood of Janina, on the celebration of her 88th birthday (July 21st). In this issue we also remember the arrival of the Jews from Corfu to Auschwitz-Birkenau (July 11, 1944) and the roundup of the Jews of Rhodes and Kos on July 23rd, 1944.
June 2022
In June we celebrate Shavuot - the receiving of the Torah. The word Shavuot means "weeks," and it marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer. Its date is directly linked to that of Passover: the Torah mandates the seven-week Counting of the Omer, beginning on the second day of Passover, to be immediately followed by Shavuot. This counting of days and weeks is understood to express anticipation and desire for the giving of the Torah. On Passover, the people of Israel were freed from their enslavement to Pharaoh; on Shavuot, they were given the Torah and became a nation committed to serving G-d.
May 2022
In May we celebrate our seventh annual Greek Jewish Festival, as well as the 74th birthday of the establishment of the modern State of Israel. During this month we also count the Omer, the 49-day period between the second day of Passover and the holiday of Shavuot. In the words of Rabbi Angel, the Omer period is an appropriate time to remind ourselves of the importance of each day. May we cherish each and every moment we have together, and appreciate the upcoming celebratory events we will share as a community. Read Rabbi Gershon Harris’ enlightening article on the State of Israel and Rabbi Marc Angel’s inspiring insights on Counting the Omer in this E-Newsletter.
April 2022
Best wishes to all our readers who celebrate Pesah. In this issue you will find the traditional order of the seder (transliterated from Greek) in the Romaniote tradition. We also send best wishes to our non-Jewish readers who celebrate Easter, both the Greek-Orthodox tradition and in the western Catholic and Protestant traditions. April is a month of rebirth. The Jewish nation was redeemed from Egypt in “the month of spring.” May the joy of the holidays give us hope for a future of peace.
March 2022
In March we celebrate the Holiday of Purim, the Holiday commemorating the saving of the Jewish community in the Persian Empire. This is a Holiday of Deliverance and is told in the Book of Esther (the Megillah). Jews throughout the world will celebrate our savior Esther and stamp their feet and make noise every time the name of Haman (the villain) is mentioned.
February 2022
This issue is dedicated in memory of Leonard Colchamiro, beloved member of our Board of Trustees, who passed away on January 4, 2022. His brothers Elliot and Jesse are sponsoring this newsletter in his memory. We stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us. Just as Leon Colchamiro helped found our congregation 100 years ago, his grandson Leonard followed in his footsteps and served as the architect overseeing our synagogue’s historic restoration. We proudly recognized Leonard’s contributions on the plaque on our building’s façade. May the Colchamiro family continue to play a vital role in our community for generations to come, and may Leonard Colchamiro’s memory be for a blessing.
December 2021
As we close out the secular year of 2021, we would like to thank our ever-growing number of followers and supporters. When we started our E-Newsletter in February of 2008 we reached a little over 2,000 households. Now, as we enter our 14th year, our readership has grown to over 10,000. Our first newsletter was 5 pages long. Now, the average number of pages is close to 40. May our community continue to grow and flourish in the new year ahead. We wish everyone a Happy Hanukkah and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
November 2021
This year, from November 28 to December 6, Jews throughout the world will gather to celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. As we light our Hanukkah menorahs, let us remember how much we have to be thankful for and let us enjoy the presence of our family and friends, along with our special holiday foods (see recipes included in this newsletter). Happy Hanukkah!
October 2021
In Greece and in Greek Diaspora communities around the world, October 28th, OXI Day, is celebrated as the date Greece stood up to Fascist aggression. It was celebrated around the world as the first open confrontation with Fascism. As Winston Churchill said, “From now on we won’t claim that the Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks.”
September 2021
As we celebrate the High Holy Days at Kehila Kedosha Janina, we invite you to join us for in-person services at the only Romaniote synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. In this time of introspection and renewal, we pray that the new year 5782 will bring health, peace, and happiness to our community and to all people around the world.
June 2021
On June 21st, in the United States, we welcome Summer. This year, thanks to a decline in the COVID-19 numbers, many of us can get back to normal. While many of us are not yet ready to travel abroad, we are looking forward to a full return to normalcy in 2022. We know that 2022 will be a record year for travel to Greece so, for those who wish to join a 2022 Tour to Jewish Greece through the Association of Friends of Greek Jewry, contact us at museum@kkjsm.org.
May 2021
This month the Jewish Holiday of Shavuot will be celebrated. Unfortunately, often overlooked by many, in many ways it is one of the most important of the Jewish Holidays. As our former spiritual leader, Hy Genee of Blessed Memory, would often say, “How can we forget when G-d gave us the Torah?”
Shavuot is the only major festival mentioned in the Torah that is not given a particular date on the Jewish calendar. Instead, the date of the festival is given in relation to Pessah. Instead of giving us an exact date, we are commanded to count a week of weeks, 49 days, in anticipation of the date the Torah was given.
At Pessah, G-d restores our freedom.
At Shavuot, G-d restores our responsibility.
April 2021
For Jews around the world, this year, April will be a month where we stop and acknowledge the Holocaust. Yom HaShoah is commemorated on the Jewish Calendar on the day of the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. For Greek Jewry, this is a painful day, our percentage of losses being among the highest in Europe.
March 2021
For Jews around the world, the holiday of Pessah (Passover, Pasca) this year starts on March 27th and ends on April 4th. The Holiday of Easter will be celebrated by Catholics and Protestants on April 4th this year but the Greek Orthodox Easter will not be celebrated until May 2nd. Why the difference? Greek Orthodox Easter is tied into Passover and is always celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon in Spring after Passover. For many, we will still be separated from friends and family due to COVID. Pessah was one of the most popular holidays among the Jews of Ioannina. We hope you can celebrate and enjoy the holiday this year.
February 2021
For Jews around the world, February 25-26 marks the Holiday of Purim. It is a joyous Jewish festival commemorating the survival of the Jews who, in the 5th century BCE, were marked for death by their Persian rulers. The story is recounted in the biblical Book of Esther. It tells of the near-destruction of the Jewish people as decreed by Haman, an adviser to the Persian King Ahasuerus. However, Ahasuerus’ newly crowned queen, Esther is secretly a Jew and she intercedes for the saving of her people. In synagogues throughout the world, every time the name of Haman (the villain in the story) is mentioned, the congregation stamps their feet and make noise with handheld noisemakers to drown out the name of Haman.
January 2021
Wishing all our friends a Happy and Healthy 2021. May we all get back to a new normal and move past the sadness that 2020 brought into our lives. In January, in the Hebrew calendar, we celebrate Tu B'Shevat, the Jewish “New Year for Trees.” On Tu B'Shevat Jews often eat fruits associated with the Holy Land, especially the ones mentioned in the Torah. Tu B'Shevat (which is a transliteration of 'the fifteenth of Shevat') is the Hebrew date specified as the new year for trees. The Torah praises seven 'fruits' in particular: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.
December 2020
As we approach the Jewish Holiday of Hanukkah, during this difficult and challenging time of COVID19, we, at Kehila Kedosha Janina, are grateful for our growth within our small Greek-Jewish world and the connections we have made to the outside Jewish and non-Jewish world. We are saddened by the increase in anti-Semitic acts here in the United States and throughout the world. In many ways, Hanukkah is an example of the ability of Jews to overcome persecutions. As a people, we will overcome. As a community, we will persevere. We are forever thankful for the support and love we receive. This love strengthens us and enables us “to go from strength to strength”
November 2020
Wishing all those who celebrate a Joyous Thanksgiving. There are strong historical connections between Judaism and Thanksgiving. Most of the Pilgrims who celebrated the first Thanksgiving were Puritans, a branch of the Protestant faith. The Puritans strongly identified with the historical traditions and customs of the Israelites in the Bible.
October 2020
On October 28, Greece stops and remembers Oxi Day when, 80 years ago, the Hellenic Republic stood up to Fascism to prevent the Italian invasion of Greece. Read the article that follows in this newsletter about this important date and the role that Greek Jews played on the battlefield. Hellenes throughout the world will join in the commemoration, even if for most of us it will be virtual.
September 2020
This year, the High Holiday of Rosh HaShanah ushers in the New Year of 5781, as Jewish families around the world gather for family dinners and wish each other "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." The foods and languages may differ, but the thoughts and prayers are the same. The Shofar is blown; its plaintive cry serves as a call to repentance. This year, 2020, has challenged us in many ways, as a pandemic sweeps across the globe.
August 2020
As we approach the High Holidays, we remind our readers of the tradition of Hashkavoth at Kehila Kedosha Janina. We are not yet sure what the Holidays will be like this year in light of COVID19. Our Board is discussing whether we can be open to celebrate or, if not, what we can do in lieu of gathering together.
July 2020
In July of 1944, the Jewish communities of Rhodes and Kos were rounded up for deportation to Auschwitz Birkenau. Last year, we attended the 75th anniversary of the deportations and this year, the Association of Friends of Greek Jewry was planning to bring one of their annual tours to Rhodes. COVID-19 prevented that. With the help of G-d we will be back in Greece in 2021. This newsletter is dedicated to the Jews of Rhodes and Kos.