The Jews of Greece Exhibition Opens in Sydney

Dr Stavros Kyrimis; Consul General of Greece in Sydney, has opened The Jews of Greece Exhibition at the Sydney Jewish Museum.

“We are proud to support this historic exhibition of one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. The Jewish community has been an integral part of Hellenism and its history as far back as antiquity. We applaud the organisers, curators and the Sydney Jewish Museum for bringing to the Australian public this cultural treasure.” said Kyrimis to a group of 150 guests.

Developed by filmmaker Carol Gordon, Natalie Cunningham; the co-director and editor of the documentary, and photographer Emmanuel Santos, shed light on the little known-history of one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world.

Through photography and a documentary, this exhibition brings to life the story of Greece’s once vibrant 2,500-year-old Jewish community and shows us the history, tradition and present-day existence of the Jews of Greece.

The Jewish community of Greece; one of the largest ancient communities in the world, was nearly wiped out during the Holocaust, which saw 87% of the Jewish population murdered.

The Jews of Greece exhibition provides an insight into the life of Romaniote Jews, Sephardim (Jews of Spain) and the smaller groups of Ashkenazi Jews of Europe that constitute the Greek-Jewish community. This community witnessed and experienced the beginnings of Christianity; the rise and fall of empires, and the creation of the modern state.

The exhibition also tells the story of Greece during the Second World War and the Holocaust, and of nearly 13,000 Greek Jews who served in the Greek army during the war and in the Greek resistance to the Nazi occupation.

The Jews of Greece exhibition celebrates this ancient community, who despite facing almost total decimation in the Holocaust, have continued to survive.

Source: J-Wire