KIS - English Version

Social services for Nazi victims have been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Funds have been provided by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany for the Emergency Assistance Program for Nazi Victims at the direction of the United States District Court supervising the lawsuit In RE: Holocaust Victim Assets Litigation (Swiss Banks).

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LATEST NEWS

NEW VANDAL ATTACK AGAINST TOMB AT THE JEWISH CEMETERY OF IOANNINA

Antisemitism targets even the dead. For the second time in less than a month a tomb was found vandalized at the Jewish cemetery of Ioannina. The vandals chose the period of the High Holidays of the Jewish faith for the manifestation of their antisemitic hatred with the hideous act of removing the tombstone of a grave. Shame!

The State as well as the local authorities need to take all necessary measures for the safety of the Jewish Community and its sacred sites all over Greece, and particularly in Ioannina, where the Jewish cemetery has been the target of hatred attacks repeatedly in the past. Let the dead rest in peace!

Athens, September 10, 2021

Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece

MINISTER OF HEALTH THANOS PLEVRIS: I APOLOGIZE TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE

The newly appointed Minister of Health Thanos Plevris, reacted swiftly to the announcement of KIS regarding his past references to Auschwitz, with a statement posted on his social media accounts (Sept. 1^st, 2021). The statement reads: My respect towards the victims of the Holocaust of the Jews is absolute and I am contrary to any kind of antisemitism. I have demonstrated it through many public statements, in a manner beyond any doubt. The reservations of KIS about me -due to my statement while acting as defense lawyer of my father, whom I totally disagree with- are understandable.

I never wanted to insult the Jewish people and I apologize if I have done so. I am sure that through my work as Minister of Health I will lift all the reservations of all those who doubt my respect to the victims of the Holocaust of the Jews and they will realize that I have no antisemitic feelings”.

Relevant:
-Facebook & Twitter of Health Minister Thanos Plevris

-The Greek Reporter, Sept. 1, 2021: Greek Minister Apologizes for Auschwitz Remark

KIS ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THANOS PLEVRIS AS MINISTER OF HEALTH

The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece expresses its concern for the appointment of Thanos Plevris as Minister of Health.

In 2009, Mr. Thanos Plevris stated the following, inter alia, before the Greek Court of Justice: «I will refer to issues that have puzzled you. You are concerned about the reference to Auschwitz. The one that says “to keep the camp of Auschwitz in good conditions”. I will examine the most extreme interpretation. That the defendant with this reference means: “Keep the camp of Auschwitz in good conditions because I want, at some point, the national socialist regime to come back, Hitler to come back, take the Jews and put them in Auschwitz”. What kind of instigation is this? What incitement is this? Is it that one is not allowed to believe and want to believe that “I want to exterminate someone”?».

We expect Mr. Thanos Plevris to apologize to the Jewish people for this reference and express his unequivocal condemnation of intolerance, antisemitism and Holocaust denialists, conforming with the declared positions of the Greek Prime Minister. We also hope that the new Minister will address all citizens equally, regardless of skin color, race or religion.

Athens, September 1st, 2021

Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece

Wednesday, 24 March 2021 15:22

Tweet of David Harris:

Greece marks 200th anniv. of its struggle for
freedom from occupying Ottoman Turks:

I stand with Greece, as I have for decades.

I cherish its priceless gifts to our world.

I recall its heroism in WW2.

I value its US, NATO, EU & Israel ties.

I love its beauty, warmth & spirit.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF THESSALONIKI FOR THE VANDALISM OF THE MURALART ON HOLOCAUST

Thursday, 18 March 2021 13:55

THESSALONIKI, March 18, 2021.- The Jewish Community of Thessaloniki unequivocally condemns the vandalism of the recently created mural on Michael Kalou Street about the Jews of Thessaloniki and their extermination in the Nazi death camps. Τhe mural was created by the "Vardaris Neighborhood Team" of the Self-Help Promotion Program of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki under the direction of UrbanAct.

It is unfortunate that a few days after its completion strangers, who seem to be bothered by the willingness of the city to remember even the darkest pages of its history, vandalized a work that received flattering comments both for its aesthetics and for the powerful message that it conveys on the need to preserve the memory and constantly remind the events of the Holocaust.

Racism and anti-Semitism remain a serious problem and an open wound for our society. It is obvious that we must always remain vigilant in order to fight -through the use of historical facts and education- any attempt to revive the ideologies that gave birth to the Holocaust, the nadir of humanity.

JEWISH COMMUNITY OF THESSALONIKI

ILLUMINATION OF THE WHITE TOWER IN THESSALONIKI FOR THE NATIONAL REMEMBRANCE DAY OF THE GREEK JEWS MARTYRS AND HEROES OF THE HOLOCAUST

Wednesday, 27 January 2021 11:08

THESSALONIKH, January 27, 2021.- Today the White Tower, wears the yellow star exactly like the 50.000 Jews of Thessaloniki, the 67.000 Greek Jews and the 6.000.000 Jews of Europe, 78 years ago. The White Tower bears the piece of cloth that became the stigma that would lead millions of innocents to be deported and exterminated during the Holocaust.

The city of Thessaloniki remembers and mourns for the loss of 20% of the city’s population. A dynamic and vibrant part of the society that was wiped out, as hatred and inhumanity prevailed.

The yellow star on the White Tower, the landmark of Thessaloniki, is a promise by the city to turn the pain of the loss into one strong, unwavering, united, clear voice for freedom, respect, solidarity, justice…. against those few, who still strive to see racism and hatred rise again.

With this symbolic activity, the city of Thessaloniki and the Jewish Communtiy also joined the WJC #WeRemember campaign.

The illumination event will be streamed today January 27, 2021 at 17:00 CET

WATCH ON www.jcthessaloniki.gr & WATCH ON YOUTUBE

GREECE - JANUARY 27, 2021: HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY EVENTS

Thursday, 28 January 2021 11:52

The Holocaust Remembrance Day is commemorated in Greece since 2004, when the Greek Parliament unanimously voted for Law 3218/2004, which established the 27^th of January as the "National Remembrance Day of the Greek Jewish Martyrs and Heroes of the Holocaust". The Greek Parliament, as well as the country’s Regional Administrations, with the cooperation of the local Jewish Communities, organize annually a series of commemoration, cultural and educational events.

This year -due to the pandemic restrictions- most events were held on-line. From documentaries, to survivors’ testimonies, concerts, lectures and interviews, the 2021 programme covered a vast scale of activities that approached Holocaust history from many aspects and stressed the message of tolerance and respect of Human Rights. Greek officials, at the highest level, joined Holocaust commemoration events. The most symbolic ones were the following: