Η - Θ - Ι

Much to my regret, you won't be reading about the time when my family moved to Brussels. Still, board the time machine with me if you please, we will travel further back this time. Awaiting the next installment, here is a joke interlude my sister sent me today...

Two Jewish men, Sid and Al, were sitting in a Greek restaurant. Sid asked Al, "Are there any people of our faith born and raised in Greece?"

Al replied, "I don't know, let's ask our waiter". When the waiter came by, Al asked him, "Are there any Greek Jews?". And the waiter said, "Aronno, I ask the cooks."

He returned from the kitchen in a few minutes and said, "No ser, no Greek Jews." Al wasn't really satisfied with that and asked, "Are you absolutely sure?"

The waiter, realising he was dealing with "xenoi" (foreigners) gave the expected answer, "I check again," and went back into the kitchen.

While the waiter was away, Sid said, "I find it hard to believe that there are no Jews in Greece. Our people are scattered everywhere."

The waiter returned and said, "The head cook say there is no Greek Jews."

"Are you certain?" Al asked once again. "I can't believe there are no Greek Jews!"

"I ask EVERYONE," replied the exasperated waiter.

"All we have is Orange Jews, Prune Jews, Tomato Jews, and Grape Jews."

Joke aside, Al and Sid's people are indeed scattered everywhere. So are Greek people, by the way. Twenty-three centuries of Jewish presence in Greece have left their mark in more ways than one. Material remains to this legacy can be found all over the country. Home of the largest pre-war Jewish Community in Greece, Thessaloniki was once called “The Metropolis of Israel, the City of Justice, the Mother of Israel, same as Jerusalem itself”, according to the words of the poet Samuel Usques.

In 1943, all of the Jews of Thessaloniki were deported to extermination camps, where 95% perished. Only 1,950 returned, to find only two of the city’s 19 synagogues still standing, their properties looted and themselves a minority in a city where they once had been the largest community. Today, the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki is the second largest in Greece, with two functioning synagogues, its own nursery and primary school, a local museum and a number of active organisations.

Greek Orthodox people were also deported during WW II. I've seen a couple of elderly people in my own village with a number on their arm, indelible reminiscence of their time spent in some concentration camp. I recall my grandmother telling me how women had to hide in the fields with their children, scared by planes flying over the village or simply running away from German troops passing by.

All men above the age of 15 were once gathered in the school yard and threatened to be killed because the occupant suspected weapons were hidden somewhere in our village. They were indeed hidden weapons, meant to be used by the Resistance, that were kept in one of the churches. That is "Saint Paraskevi", the older church that was, and still stands, further down a slope, far behind the school. "Saint Nicolas" newer main one was, and also still stands, beside the village square.

A couple of Germans stood in front of the church and were about to have its door unlocked when a rabbit appeared miraculously and made the soldiers chasing it all around. A while later, a whistle blew from the school yard and made them abandon both the rabbit and the weapon chase. The whole German troop had been called to withdraw and go elsewhere. So they did leave the village in a hurry, not having found any weapons in the meantime and therefore not killing anyone.

However, villagers' lives were lost, either fighting the ennemy during WW II or killing one another during the Greek civil war that followed. One can read many names written in golden letters on a memorial in the middle of the village square. My father was too young to find himself in that school yard but other members of my family were standing there at the time. I can't help thinking how many of the people I used to meet and talk to during the 18 years I lived in Greece wouldn't have been alive or born if the soldiers had found these weapons in the church. But all of them were not evil, my parents and grandmother told me some German soldiers were extremely friendly and even gave them food.

Hundreds of British, Australian and New Zealand soldiers were befriended, hidden, sheltered and assisted to escape by the Greek people. Nowadays, my people do take care of the many graves in cemeteries and duly respect the memory of all these soldiers' wasted lives. Of ALL soldiers, German included. It's your turn now, please pay a visit to the graveyards through this link and pay your respects to your people who fought and are buried in my country.

Rememberance day can also be today. In fact, we ought to Remember every single day of the year. These bloody wars are over but history keeps repeating itself, yet another conflict is always going on in some part of this world. Apparently, mankind will never learn, mankind will never be wise and humble, mankind will always be greedy and stupid.

On the left picture:

Greek soldiers, my grandfather standing on the right side.

*Mille mercis à Dip Dop pour la retouche de la photo*

On the right: my mother's family, probably before 1940, considering how little she is on this picture. Grandmother is wearing our traditional costume. I have been proud to wear it myself on many occasions. I remember meeting my grandfather at the age of six while on holidays but I never had a second chance to see him afterwards. Today, I still remember him clearly, though.

My grandparents survived two world wars, my mother and her two brothers just one. But just one out of the above nuclear family is alive today. It is my uncle P., standing in the middle. I miss those who have passed away, especially my late wonderful mother.

Anyway, I sure hope I won't live to see a nuclear world war...

Let us enjoy a peaceful life