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On Sunday, April 22, 2018, with a beautiful and warm event, the Israeli Community of Larissa celebrated Yom Atzmaut, the 70th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. The event began with the memorial service for Israeli soldiers and victims of terrorism (Yom Azikaron) and was immediately followed by the joyous service by Rabbi Mr. Elias Shabetai, who spoke about this important day for Judaism.
"This day was chosen by our Community to honor Mr. Moses (Makis) Konstantinis, former President of KISE and to declare him an Honorary Member, in recognition of his many years of contribution to Greek Jewry and his undivided support to the Larissa Community said G.G. of the Community Mrs. Betty Magrizou, coordinator of the event. And she continued by talking about her collaboration with Mr. Konstantinis in the KISE Public Relations Committee, through which she met "a special person, dynamic, full of ideas, tireless and with incredible vitality, who neither jet-lag caught him, nor the hardships! A man with innate nobility, kindness and sweetness, with rare meekness, a man who with all his strength supported the cultural identity of Judaism".
Ο President of KISE Mr. David Saltiel in his greeting he referred to the life of M. Konstantinis and described his many years of progress in the ramparts of Greek Jewry and his most important contribution to KISE, the result of continuous work and love for Judaism,
saying characteristically: "The numerous books published by the KISE during his term, our cooperation for the establishment of the National Holocaust Remembrance Day, his actions for the Holocaust Memorials, the strengthening of the prestige of the KISE in Greece and abroad , are works beyond the ephemeral, they are cross-cutting works and valuable educational tools, emblematic works that will forever remain false witnesses of the contribution of Moses Konstantinis".
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Yesterday evening, 25.1.2018, the political and military authorities of Larissa, together with the representatives of the Israeli Community of Larissa, paid tribute to the victims of the Holocaust, in events held in the city, as part of the two-day dedication for the National Day of Remembrance of Greek Jewish Martyrs and Heroes of the Holocaust.
The events, co-organized by the Region of Thessaly, the Israelite Community of Larissa and the Regional Directorate of Education of Thessaly, began with the memorial service and the laying of wreaths at the Holocaust Memorial in Jewish Square Witnesses.
This was followed by the lighting of candles in memory of the 6.000.000 Jewish Victims of the Holocaust at the Synagogue of Larissa, while the keynote address was given by journalist Marianna Pyrgioti. Greetings were addressed by, among others, the mayor of Larissa, Mr. Apostolos Kalogiannis, the President of the Central Israeli Council, Mr. David Saltiel and the President of the Israeli Community of Larissa, Mr. Maurice Magrizos. A common point in all the speeches was "never again". May humanity never experience anything like it again.
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of Natasha Polygeni
On 15.10.2017 in Larissa, the events for the liberation of the city from the German Occupation began with the photo exhibition of Andrianos Lekkas and Roulas Silintzis entitled "Auschwitz against oblivion".
At the "Hatziyanneio" Spiritual Center, for fifteen days, a photographic journey will be hosted in a place painful for humanity.
During the opening of the exhibition, the general secretary of the Israelite Community of Larissa, Mrs. Betty Magrizou, the artist, Mrs. Roula Silintzi, and the vice-president of the Municipal Art Gallery of Larissa, Mrs. Annie Psarra-Perifanou, spoke.
Referring to the exhibition, Mrs. Magrizou noted that it is the second time that these photographs are exhibited to the public of Larissa and expressed her belief that this exhibition should continue to be exhibited over time, so that everyone can see it, especially children, perhaps and make the world a better place. "Both last year and this year when I saw her, I experienced exactly what I felt when I went there on a pilgrimage. It was like I was there. I still felt like I could smell the scents too! With their sensitivity and talent, Andrianos and Roula managed to convey that harsh reality to us very vividly. Of course I want to emphasize this too, through their exhibition the two artists highlight the good that always accompanies the bad. They also highlight the people who helped their fellow human beings in various ways." In a shocking way, Mrs. Magrizou narrated her experience from that trip to conclude "The trips - pilgrimages there, are done to remember their life, agony and death. And it is this memory, justification, honor and obstacle for yesterday's enemy, to kill his victims with a second death, oblivion, as Nobel laureate Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel said. The Municipality of Larissa contributes to this very important goal by exhibiting the shocking photographic documents of Andrianos Lekkas and Roula Silitzis-Lekkas. Those of us who saw them made a journey - a pilgrimage today. Encourage others to do the same. Especially the children."
More: OPENING OF A PHOTO EXHIBITION IN LARISA ON THE THEME OF AUSCHWITZ
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The last lesson for Hebrew School…
*"The main reason is the few children" the president of the Community Mr. Maurice Magrizos and the secretary Mrs. Betty Magrizos explain to "E"
It operated in the city of Larissa non-stop from 1931 until today. It was the oldest in all of Greece and the only public one. After 86 years, however, it closes.
The Hebrew School of Larissa in the period 2017-2018 will not operate, as with a recent decision of the Directorate of Primary Education of Larissa, its operation is suspended. The reasons are many and complex, but the result acted as a one-way street for this development. "We are left as children" say with one voice to "E" the president of the Israeli Community, Mr. Maurice Magrizos and his secretary, Mr. Betty Magrizos, who undertake to give us an analysis of the situation and the next steps, pointing out that this development has semiological significance since "it is the last public school not only in Greece but in all of Europe".
Our appointment at the Community offices is steeped in history. Photos from events, parades, excursions, celebrations. Children's faces everywhere. Smiles and Nazis. But now where are all these children? Didn't they have families? We wonder so that the voice of Mr. Moris Magrizou can answer our question "They left Larissa for various reasons and never came back. Some went to study and stayed there. Others left to find better working conditions." It's called globalization. Economic crisis its nickname. Uncertainty her hat.
"And we, the older ones, are left behind. We are a community of 150 families but we do not have the new world we would like. This is the truth. If you add to all this the factor of low fertility, then here is the result".
In the Community of Larissa, a Jewish school operated since the years of the Turkish occupation, where the students were taught only the Hebrew language and religion by rabbinic teachers. It also operated a famous university-level seminary ("Talmud Torah"), from which important rabbis, teachers and religious ministers graduated.
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The Israelite Community of Larissa expresses its satisfaction for the fact that the society of our city as a whole condemned in the most absolute and unequivocal way both the desecration of the Holocaust memorial by Father Kleomenis, as well as his anti-Semitic delusion.
The announcements issued by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece and the Metropolis of Larissa, by the Municipality of Larissa and the Regional Council of Thessaly, but also by associations, institutions, parliamentarians, journalists and individuals, prove that Larissa strongly resists brutality . Our democratic and open society is able to isolate people whose actions offend the history and culture of our city.
We hope that the extremist rasophore, who is unfortunately still at large, vandalizing Jewish monuments and making threats, will soon be arrested and brought to justice, because he is not only an enemy of the Jews, but of the entire healthy democratic society of our country.
Larissa, July 27, 2017
ISRAELI COMMUNITY OF LARISA
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