On 20.7.2025, took place the main event for this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day, at the Kal Shalom Synagogue, in the Medieval City of Rhodes, which included a memorial service by the Rabbi of Athens Gabriel Negrin, candle lighting, greetings, a keynote speech and the laying of wreaths at the Holocaust Memorial, in Jewish Martyrs Square.

At the event at the Synagogue, the vice-president of the I.K. of Rhodes, Mr. Yomtov Robisa, the general secretary of the I.K. of Rhodes and Treasurer of KISE, Mr. Daniel Benardout, the MP of the Dodecanese, Mr. Vasilios Ypsilantis, the deputy regional governor, Mr. Apostolos Asprakis, the deputy mayor and deputy mayor for economics and the medieval city and monuments, Mr. Konstantinos Chalkias, and the general secretary of KISE, Victor Eliezer, delivered speeches.

The keynote speaker of the event was Dr. Vasiliki Giakoumaki.

Letters sent by the Ambassador of the State of Israel, Mr. Noam Katz, and the MP for the Dodecanese and former Deputy Minister of Shipping & Island Policy, Mr. Ioannis Pappas, were also read.

The events were attended by ND MP Mr. Vasilis Ypsilantis, the Deputy Governor of the South Aegean Mr. Apostolos Asprakis, the Press Secretary of the South Aegean Region Mr. Costas Taraslias, the Deputy Mayor Mr. Costas Chalkias from the Holy Metropolis of Rhodes, His Eminence Bishop of Olympus Mr. Kyrillos, the Imam of Rhodes Mr. Hassan Kara Ali, the President of the Vakuf Mr. Vintimi Sali, representatives of the military port fire and police authorities, the president and members of the council of the Israeli Community of Rhodes, and several believers.

The events concluded in the afternoon of the same day with the presentation of the book “The last transport: The Holocaust in the eastern Aegean” by Anthony McElligott. The presentation of the book was made by historian Dimitrios Varvaritis, associate of the Jewish Museum of Rhodes, who discussed with the author and asked him questions about his work and research. The author analyzed the historical documentation of his book, illuminating the unknown and shocking aspects of the history of the Jewish communities of the Eastern Aegean during the Holocaust.

The JMG was represented by Mr. Mikis Modiano, President BoD, who laid a wreath in memory of the island’s victims. 

source: ΚΙΣΕ