top of page

          JEWISH LIFE IN THE GREEK ISLANDS
                                  June 9-19, 2025
  Led by Prof. Shalom Sabar and Dr. Kathy Aron-Beller

008.JPG
022.JPG
051.JPG

The seminar in Greece covers a history of more than two thousand years. The encounter of the Jews with Hellenism opens this long history of Jewish life in Greece, on the mainland, and the islands, while the Holocaust and its aftermath close its most recent chapter. As we travel throughout Greece, we will study the history, culture, and art of the Jews in Hellenistic, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Modern Greek periods and learn about Romaniote, Sephardi, and other communities and their mutual relations and influences. The seminar will focus on several fascinating chapters in the history of the Jews in Greece, including the vital encounter between Judaism and Hellenism.MonArrival in Rhodes, the largest of the Dodecanese Islands.

 

Mon, Jun 9: Arrival in Rhodes.    Late afternoon orientation followed by specially prepared dinner. RHODES

 

Tue  Jun 10: Lecture: The Jews of Ancient Greece, K. Aron-Beller

Lecture: The Influence of Greco-Roman Culture on Jewish Art and Culture of Late Antiquity, S. Sabar

Visit the Kahal Shalom Synagogue, the Jewish Museum and the Jewish Cemetery

Afternoon: Walking tour of the Jewish Quarter located in the Hora district.                                          RHODES

 

Wed, Jun 11: Lecture: The Jews of the Byzantine Empire, K. Aron-Beller

Lecture: Jewish Art of Greece and the Romaniot Communities, S. Sabar

Explore the well-preserved medieval old town of Rhodes with its Byzantine, Turkish, and Latin architecture within massive walls.Visit the Archeological Museum, housed in the 15th Century Hospital. Continue to the magnificent 14th-century Palace of the Grand Master of theKnights of Rhodes. Board the overnight ferry (16:00-09:40) to Piraeus. Lecture on the ferry: The Rhomaniot versus the Sephardim K. Aron-Beller

                                                                                                                                                                           FERRY

 

Thu, Jun 12: Early arrival to transfer to local ferry to Aegina, one of the Saronic Islands.

Visit the mosaic floor of the ancient synagogue at the courtyard of the Archaeological Museum. Tour the island.

Ferry to Piraeus and transfer to Athens, the capital of Greece.

Visit the Unesco World Heritage site, the Acropolis, the famous sanctuary of the age of Perikles.        ATHENS

 

Fri, Jun 13:  Lecture: The Greek Islands in the Twentieth Century, K. Aron-Beller

Lecture: Hebrew Manuscript Illumination in Greece and the Ottoman Empire: Between the Romaniot and the Sephardim, S. Sabar

Visit the Jewish Museum, containing artifacts from all over Greece. Visit the Ioanniotiki synagogue, originally for Romaniote Jews.Continue to the Beth Shalom synagogue, which follows the Sephardi ritual.

View the Holocaust Monument.

Services at the synagogue followed by a kosher Shabbat dinner.                                                              ATHENS

 

Sat, Jun 14: Services in the synagogue

Kosher Shabbat lunch.

Optional walk in the Plaka                                                                                                                             ATHENS

 

Sun, Jun 15: Early departure by ferry to Paros (07:30-11:40), one of the Cyclades islands.

Transfer to the hotel

Tour the attractive island with vineyards, fruit trees, and olive groves.                                                        PAROS

 

Mon, Jun 16: Travel by boat to Delos, a small island in the Cyclades, to visit the site of the oldest synagogue known today, and its origin dates back to 150-128 B.C.

Travel by boat back to Paros.                                                                                                                           PAROS

 

Tue, Jun 17: Lecture: From Eretz Israel, Spain, and Italy to Greece: Tradition and Art in  the Romaniot and Sephardi Ketubbot, S. Sabar

Travel by afternoon ferry to Heraklion, Crete (14:10-18:10).                                                                 HERAKLION

 

Wed, Jun 18: Visit the archaeological site of Knossos. 

Travel to Chania, a picturesque city that has preserved its traditional architecture and most of its monuments from Venetian and Turkish times.

Visit the Jewish Quarter and the Etz Haim Synagogue, built in the 17th Century.

Specially prepared farewell dinner                                                                                                                  CHANIA

 

Thu, Jun 19 Transfer to the airport departure.

 

PROGRAM SUBJECT TO CHANGE

 

Lecturers:

Prof. Shalom Sabar (Emeritus), Dept. of Art History/Dept of Folklore and Folk Culture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Dr. Kathy Aron-Beller, Lecturer in Jewish History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University

Price for land arrangements only: Euro 4595 per person in a double room

***EARLY REGISTRATION UNTIL Dec 15, 2024: Euro 4555 per person in a double room***

Single supplement (Double room for Single Occupancy): Euro 1450

Price is based on minimum participants

Price for airfare from Israel (Tel Aviv-Rhodes and Chania, Crete-Tel Aviv): USD 729 (Based on airfares and airport taxes in effect at time of publication and subject to change)

People joining us from abroad should meet us in the hotel in Rhodes or at the Rhodes airport.

 

Deposit: Euro 1300 with registration, of which Euro 650 is non-refundable.

 

Remainder of payment is to be paid by March 2, 2025. Please register promptly as our trips fill quickly.

 

Cancellation fees:   Jan 26-Feb 28, 2025.…..……........................30%

                                 Mar 1-April 30, 2025……..…….…...…….….50%

                                 May 1, 2025-Departure..…….…….......…....100%

Trip includes:

 

l• Lectures by Prof. Shalom Sabar and Dr. Kathy Aron-Beller

• JHS Tour escorthotel

• Local English speaking tour guide throughout the tour

• 10 nights accommodation in good 4-star hotels and an overnight ferry (Rhodes-Piraeus)

• Local transport by tourist bus and ferries

• Daily buffet breakfast, 1st and last dinners (vegetarian) and kosher Shabbat dinner and lunch.

• Entrance fees according to itinerary

 

Not included in the price:

 

•Obligatory health and cancellation travel insurance

•Visa fees

•Tips Euro 95

 

Program subject to change: All rights are reserved by Jewish Historical Seminars to makestaff substitutions if necessary and/or make changes to the program and conditions asrequired by force majeure, including cancellation of the trip at any time due to drastic changes in the situation. Participants are reminded that weather conditions cannot be predicted and cancellations or changes to visits may be unavoidable.

 

Further information: Contact Debbie: Tel: 972.2.534.5191, Cell: +972.54.2212503 Fax: 972.2.5700005 Email: JHSeminars@gmail.com. www.JewishHistoricalSeminars.com The trip is run in conjunction with Ayala Travel and Tours, Jerusalem

bottom of page