Friday, June 18, 2010

The Jewish neighborhood in the old town of Chania. Η Εβραική συνοικία στην παλιά πόλη των Χανίων.

There was a prosperous Jewish community, from many years in the old town of Chania. They were mostly merchants and managed to survive all the different conquerors of the island. That till the Germans came in WWII. A few managed to survive, protected by the local christian population, but most fled the incoming invasion or were perished in the concentration camps or the firing squads. The neighborhood, close to the port, is still known with the old name, denoting the inhabitants, and the old synagogue was reopened recently.
Υπήρχε μια μεγάλη και ακμάζουσα εβραική κοινότητα πρίν από τον πόλεμο στα Χανιά. Ήταν κυρίως πλούσιοι έμποροι και κατάφεραν να επιζήσουν επί πολλούς αιώνες, όποιος και να ήταν ο κυρίαρχος του νησιού. Μέχρι που ήρθαν οι Γερμανοί στον Β΄ ΠΑγκόσμιο Πόλεμο. Λίγοι επιβίωσαν κρυμμένοι από τους ντόπιους χριστιανούς, πολλοί έφυγαν και οι υπόλοιποι εξολοθρεύτηκαν στα στρατόπεδα συγκέντρωσης του Χίτλερ. Η γειτονιά τους, που άρχιζε από το λιμάνι και εκτεινόταν προς τα νότια της παλιάς πόλης, ακόμη και σήμερα είναι γνωστή σαν "Οβριακή". Η παλιά συναγωγή ανακινίστηκε και ξανάνοιξε πρόσφατα.













23 comments:

  1. Very interesting post. The photographs are very evocative.

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  2. Beautiful photos - I love those narrow old streets. What a sad history those stones have witnessed.

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  3. Such fantastic captures, Costas! It's like walking down each of those narrow little streets, seeing and feeling the history of the area! Thanks as always for a lovely tour and such interesting information! Enjoy your weekend1

    Sylvia

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  4. Great scenes and captures.
    Thank you for sharing.

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  5. http://beyondmygarden.blogspot.com/June 18, 2010 at 8:05 PM

    What a neat little town. Where in Greece is it?

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  6. Είχε πάρει φωτιά
    αλλά τη βλέπω μια χαρά τώρα!
    Πόσα βράδια δεν σεργιανίσαμε
    στα στενά αυτά!
    Φιλιά

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  7. Love the narrow ally ways, the natural colours of the bricks, the blue skies and,of course, the water, This area of Chania has so much charm.

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  8. Fascinating neighborhood, your pictures show all the interesting architectural details. Looks like the area is still thriving.

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  9. I am loving this photo tour of Chania.

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  10. Beautiful shots of a beautiful location.

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  11. those naroow streets are the ones I cna only see in movie, it's amzing... beautiful captures and colorful too

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  12. I always love your photos, and thanks for sharing! :)
    Such an informative post!
    Hope you have a great weekend!
    B

    I've put today my birthday photos if you liked to see ;o)

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  13. I love the B&W
    and the wonderful wood door
    and the small blue window

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  14. Hello,
    They are beautiful photographs. Full of symbolism and color.
    Greetings.

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  15. I love the narrow streets and alleys. The town still looks much as it did hundreds of years ago.
    thanks!

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  16. sometimes my heart breaks a little with joy.. over your wonderful photos and writings
    I find all you write fascinating
    and I appreciate the artist's heart that beats within you

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  17. Wow. These are amazing photos of a beautiful and amazing place.

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  18. The Jewish quarters are always fascinating and sometimes sad and poignant. They are always well worth a visit.

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  19. hi Costas, your pictures are so beautiful. This must be a very interesting neighborhood to visit.

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