The Jewish community in Greece currently amounts to roughly 6,000 people (2020), concentrated mainly in Athens, Thessaloniki (or Salonica), Larissa, Volos, Chalkis, Ioannina, Trikala and Corfu, while very few remain in Kavala and Rhodes. Jews have been present in Greece since at least the fourth century BC. The oldest and the most characteristic Jewish group that has inhabited Greece are the Romaniotes, also known as "Greek Jews". However, the term "Greek Jew" is predominantly used for any person of Jewish descent or faith that lives in or originates from the modern region of Greece.
Aside from the Romaniotes, a distinct Jewish population that historically lived in communities throughout Greece and neighboring areas with large Greek populations, Greece had a large population of Sephardi Jews, and is a historical center of Sephardic life; the city of Salonica or Thessaloniki, in Greek Macedonia, was called the "Mother of Israel."
Greek Jews became a source of education and commerce for the Byzantine Empire and throughout the period of Ottoman Greece, until suffering devastation in the Holocaust after Greece was conquered and occupied by the Axis powers (led by Nazi Germany) despite efforts by Greeks to protect them.
Chabad centers, Kosher food and eateries in Greece:
Chabad is very active in Greece, and offer several Chabad centers (Houses) In Athens, Thessaloniki, Crete & Rhodes to accommodate the Jewish observant travelers visiting Greece and the Islands. They offer Kosher food and Meals (including Shabbat meals and general groceries) as well as Daily and Shabbat Minyanim. Chabad is also offering online Kosher meals ordering service - featuring deliveries of Glatt kosher food all over Greece, including the Islands. However, it is highly recommended to check and book the kosher meals in advance.
There are great Passover Programs in Greece and Greek Islands. Be sure to check out our comprehensive Guide to Passover Programs.
Check out our blog post, A Grecian Odyssey: Immersive History, Stunning Landscapes, and a Touch of Jewish Heritage, to help you plan your kosher vacation to Greece - Athens, Crete, Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes and Thessaloniki.
