Crete Jewish & Kosher Guide 2025: Kosher Info in Crete, Greece

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About Crete

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and is in the Mediterranean Sea between the Sea of Crete and the Libyan Sea, south of the Peloponnese. Crete, with a population of approximately 650,000, is not just sun, sea and sand; it is a quite distinct place full of vitality, warmth, hospitality, culture and of course an excellent infrastructure. Crete is well known for its seas and beaches but it has a very contrasting landscape. The island goes from fertile coastal plains to rugged mountains and from busy metropolitan cities to very peaceful hillside villages. If you travel throughout Crete you can clearly see remnants of Roman and Turkish aqueducts and architecture from when these people invaded the island long ago. You will also find ancient Minoan ruins around the island. The atmosphere can be quite humid, depending on the proximity to the sea, while winter is fairly mild.

The Best Of Crete

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Jewish History, POI & Kosher Establishments in Crete

There was a Jewish community on Crete since before the Hasmonean empire started in 160BCE, and apart from a short period around 400CE this community remained until 1944 when the 263 Jews left were imprisoned. At the beginning of the Greco-Turkish war of 1897 there were 225 Jewish families in Crete, or 1,150 persons in a total population of 250,000, distributed among the three cities: Khania (200 families), Candia (20 families), and Retimo (5 families). They were engaged in commerce and in various manual occupations. Between the end of the war and 1994 many of the local population did their best to remove any traces of a Jewish community. It was decided in 1995 without a Jewish presence to rededicate the Etz Hayyim synagogue, by 1999 the synagogue had been rebuilt and rededicated, today the synagogue is the only remnant of the long history of the Jewish community on the island.


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What Is *JOFY?

JOFY, or "Jewish Observant Friendly" Establishments are lodging establishments offering special services for Jewish Observant guests such as Shabbat meals, accommodation on lower floors and regular keys for the rooms. It can also be a NON KOSHER establishment located in walking distance from the local Shul, community or kosher restaurants area.

Please note - *JOFY does NOT mean that KOSHER food is served on the premises!

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