Editorial by Elias V. Messinas
Welcome to the new issue of Kol haKEHILA! Although we, like
many of our readers, are concerned with the situation in the Middle East,
we pursue our work with the same dedication as before. Our web site is
growing to include new information on Jewish sites in Greece, genealogy,
and a new format that makes searching more friendly and easy. Events scheduled
for this year include a lecture series in Florida, Rhode Island, Connecticut
and New York on the Jews of Greece and the preservation of the synagogues
in Greece This issue is dedicated to the Jews of Veroia. Five years ago
I began my efforts towards the preservation of the synagogue, a jewel
of 19th century local vernacular architecture. I helped the local municipality
to secure two grants from the Getty Grant Program in Santa Monica, CA.
These grants allowed us to study the building in detail, and to prepare
a comprehensive conservation program. In 1997 the local municipality,
which is responsible for the upkeep of the building, completed the conservation
of the exterior. This year we are increasing our efforts to complete the
conservation work in the interior, and to create a permanent exhibition
inside the synagogue on the history of the Jews of Veroia. I would like
to acknowledge and thank the Hellenic Society Paideia, and its President
Elias Tomazos, for their pledge to support the creation of this exhibition.
In this issue I give a short history of the Jews of Veroia; Dr. Joseph
Stroumptsas and Miriam Mordohai share their experience in surviving the
Holocaust in Veroia; George Giannopoulos shares a story of a Jewish family
hiding in the mountains; and, letters by Isaac Daniel, Harold and Sarah
Spector, and Isaac Meir about Veroia are presented. We thank our readers
who helped with this issue, especially Prof. Carol Krinsky, Marcia Haddad
Ikonomopoulos, Leon Saltiel, Dr. Michael Matsas, and Yossi Mor. Kol haKEHILA
wishes all our readers Happy New Year 2001! |