by Christos Paridis
SEE HERE THE TRAILER
Since I was little, I used to go through the Hebrew school, I heard the name and I didn't know what this thing is. Over the years I felt ashamed that I had not entered into the process of learning." If Maria Bois felt ashamed that she knew nothing about an important part of her country's history, how ashamed should those who failed to inform her and all her peers about it?
She is the composer and co-producer of the documentary "The Jews of Corfu", which was recently screened at the 24th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, in addition to the music for the only documentary film on this subject to date, which is little known both in Panhellenic and local society, especially among the younger generations, together with the historian Christiana Latsa, he also did the research and shot it with the director Yianni-Mirian Gergevitsa.
He explains: "Giannis and I were wondering how it is possible that a documentary has not been made for so many years. They tell me I did it because I'm Jewish, when I'm not Jewish, I'm Christian, but that has nothing to do with that anyway. I did it because I like making things and writing music for movies. It's nice to make documentaries with historical content, a tribute to the people who died. They could also be Christians, for me we are all Jews, we are all Christians, we are all human."
More: THE JEWS OF CORFU: A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT A FORGOTTEN COMMUNITY FOR CENTURIES
CORFU. The Intercultural Youth Network of the Association of German Scouts (BDP) "Wilde Rose", which has a total of 200 members, maintains ties of friendship with the Israeli Community of Corfu. A twelve-member group of the Network is currently on the island of Faiakos, making a visit, with the aim of researching the history of the Israeli Community of Corfu and the Holocaust of the Corfu Jews.
Its members, on the morning of Friday 17.9.2021, visited the Jewish Synagogue and spoke with the Board of Directors. of the Israeli Community, in the context of the ties they have developed, wanting to pass the message of peaceful and equal coexistence of people, against all forms of violence and exclusion.
"The purpose of the visit is to deal with the history of the Jewish community, the Occupation and the tragic events of the Holocaust in World War II," Ionian University professor Hans Schlumm, who attended the meeting, emphasized to "E", pointing out that in the context of the group's visit to Greece, it will also travel to other areas that suffered from the German occupation, such as Filiates and other historical villages in Ioannina, paying tribute to the victims.
As part of the Gastronomy and Wine Festival that took place in Corfu from 8 to 12 May 2019, the organizers included the Israeli Community of Corfu and the Jewish traditions of the island in the Festival which united the peoples of the Mediterranean and Europe, as well as the culture and their traditions.
On Saturday, 11.5.2019, two events took place that had as their theme the Jewish culture of Corfu. At 19:00, inside the Synagogue, the choreographer and director Petros Gallias recited excerpts from the Song of Songs and at the same time the violinist Redona Kolla and the cellist Ambrosios Vlachopoulos presented musical themes by Jewish composers and film music from films with Jewish content.
The event was honored with their presence by the Mayor of the City, the Deputy Governor, the President of the Israeli Community, many local actors and a large crowd.
More: SHOWCASE THE JEWISH CUSTOMS OF CORFU AT THE GASTRONOMY FESTIVAL
The success of the cultural events for Albert Cohen and the international scientific conference on his work, which took place in 2010 in Corfu with the cooperation of the Municipality, the Israeli Community there and the "Memorial Albert Cohen" Foundation of Geneva, gave occasion and motivation for the creation of the Association "Friends of the Memoire Albert Cohen Foundation". The initiative and actions for the establishment of the Association in Corfu belong to the doctor Mr. Spyros Giurgas, who had a decisive role in the realization of last year's weekly dedication.
On 24 and 25.11.2001 events dedicated to the Jews of the island were organized in Corfu by the Municipality and the local Israeli Community on the occasion of the unveiling of the Jewish Holocaust Martyrs Memorial.
The events started on the evening of Friday 23.11.01, with the service of Kabalat Shabbat, which was held in the newly renovated Synagogue of Corfu. The prayers were recited by the Rabbi of Athens, Mr. Jacob Arar, assisted by Messrs. B. Ishaki and L. Gavrielidis. The fact that the Synagogue functioned moved the members of the Community as well as the representatives of the KIS and the Israeli Communities from all over Greece who attended the function.