Description of the attraction
The famous Greek island of Rhodes attracts a huge number of tourists not only with its magnificent natural landscapes, but also with the most interesting cultural and historical sights.
While vacationing in Rhodes, you should definitely visit the Jewish Museum. It is located in the eponymous capital of the island in the old Jewish quarter in premises that are part of the Kahal Sholom Synagogue (the oldest synagogue in Greece, built in 1577, and the only one in Rhodes).
The Jewish Museum of Rhodes was founded in 1997 by Aaron Hassan with the aim of preserving and popularizing the history and culture of the Jews of Rhodes, whose roots go back to the 2nd century BC. Initially, the museum was equipped in two rooms that were previously used as prayer rooms for women. The exposition of the museum presents photographs, important historical documents, national clothes, household items and much more. Here you can see marriage contracts, Jewish theological books, as well as a Turkish travel document, which was issued in 1910 by the authority of Sultan Mehmet Resat to 20-year-old Isaac Nessim Ben Venist (the document allowed him to travel with his family to another country). On the museum stands, you will find a huge number of photographs illustrating the life of the Jewish community on the island in different historical periods.
Thanks to Aaron Hassan and the Jewish Historical Fund he founded, the collection of the museum has expanded significantly over time. A huge number of unique relics were collected from all over the world. In 2004, the museum was closed for renovation. Not only the planned overhaul was carried out, but also a significant increase in the exhibition area. Four more rooms were added to the two already operating halls, which made it possible to substantially expand the exposition and present a huge number of new exhibits to the public.
