The Haunting Story of the Jewish Community in Corfu
While the majority of Corfu’s inhabitants are Orthodox Christians, few tourists know that the island hosted an important Jewish community prior to World War II. The current synagogue, a memorial, the old Jewish quarter, a few ruins and old gaps in walls for mezuza scrolls are the living proof of the community that lived in Corfu.
Although Jews inhabited mainland Greece since ancient times, the first record of Jews in Corfu was by Benjamin of Tudela in 1148. Ever since then, the Jewish population of Corfu played a significant role in the character of the island, as well as its history.
Two Different Communities
The first mass settlement of Jews in Corfu occurred during the 13th century. By 1267, there were a few hundred Jews on the island. The local community grew over the years, yet it experienced an unexpected surprise under Venetian domination.
Jews expelled from the Iberian Peninsula arrived in Corfu in 1492. Over the next few years, more Jews came from Italy. By 1540, Jews coming from Italy created their own community.
The old Jews were known as Greci, while the newly arrived ones were known as Pugliesi. The two communities had different synagogues, cemeteries, ritual objects and traditions. There were multiple attempts to mix them, but they all failed.
The Evraiki
In 1622, a new decree set some boundaries of the Jewish neighborhood, known as Evraiki back then. The name is still in use today. It was not a closed ghetto, but just a neighborhood covered in Jewish dwellings.
There are still a series of buildings from those times, not to mention a few ruins. Many of the narrow streets in the western side of the old town were part of the so called Yetto.
Jews in Corfu were given rights or abused, depending on who was in charge of the island. A significant event took place in 1891, when a young girl was found murdered. Christians believed she was one of their. They claimed she was killed for a Jewish ritual.
The riots claimed the lives of around 20 Jews. Later on, it was proven that the girl was actually Jewish.
The community had around 6,000 Jews at that time, but the population started to decline, reaching 2,000 people prior to World War II.
Holocaust in Corfu
On the 13th of September, 1943, Germans bombed Corfu. The island was taken over on the 27th of September. Only one synagogue was stills standing. It is still open today and can be visited.
While the locals knew that Jews from Thessaloniki were killed and deported, no one believed the horrific stories.
The deportation of local Jews started on the 9th of June, 1944. All the Jews were asked to gather in a square before being moved to the Old Fortress. They were robbed and even had to surrender the keys to their homes. Many of their homes were plundered the same day.
Around 200 Jews managed to hide or find protection among Christian locals in small villages.
The other 1,800 Jews were taken to Auschwitz after a deadly journey. Some of them lost their lives during the transportation. From those who got there alive, 1,600 walked straight into gas chambers. Less than 200 Jews from Corfu were selected for work. Even less survived.
Most survivors went to Israel, while some returned to Corfu.
Today’s population counts less than 100 people, many of them children of the survivors. Their stories are haunting.
Those interested in the local Jewish history can observe ruins, have a moment by the memorial, talk to people in the synagogue and, if they pay attention, see spaces for mezuzah scrolls in some buildings, by their doors.
A Holocaust museum for Corfu is currently under development and likely to help both locals and tourists understand the Jewish influence in the area.