In an atmosphere of emotion and respect, the Central Jewish Council of Greece (KISE) and the Civic Society HIPPOKRATIS organized, on Monday, July 21, 2025, commemorative events for the Holocaust of the Jews of Kos. The series of events took place in emblematic places on the island, highlighting historical memory and the need for constant vigilance against the phenomena of anti-Semitism.
The first stop of the day was at the Jewish Cemetery, where a memorial service was held. Gathered, those present paid tribute to the souls of the Jews of Kos who were exterminated in the Nazi concentration camps, recalling the horrors of the Holocaust.
The ceremony was held by the Rabbi of Athens Gabriel Negrin, in the presence of His Eminence Metropolitan of Kos and Nisyros Mr. Nathanael and Imam Irfan Trampas, the mayor of Kos Theodosis Nikitaras, the deputy mayor Panagiotis Hadjichristofis, as well as the Commander of the 80ADTE Taxiarchos Dimitrios Kouletsis, the Harbormaster of Kos Giorgos Margaris, the new commander of the Navy, Victor Eliezer, general secretary of KISE, Daniel Benardout, general treasurer of KISE, Moysis Manouach, president of the I.K. Larissa, Akis Robisas, vice president of the I.K. Rhodes and member of the Board of Directors. of KISE, Jews of Rhodes and abroad and a large number of people.
Central Holocaust Remembrance event at the Kaal Shalom Synagogue in Kos
The central memorial event for the Holocaust of the Jews of Kos took place in the historic space of the Synagogue, honoring the victims of the Nazi atrocity and highlighting the importance of historical memory. The event was opened by the Scientific Director of the HIPPOCRATIS Civic Society, Dr. Dimitris Geroukalis, who read the greeting of the President of the Board of Directors and the Society, Ms. Dionysia Telli, who was absent due to commitments. In her greeting, Ms. Telli underlined the importance of collective memory as a foundation for historical consciousness and democratic awareness. This was followed by the speech of the Secretary General of the Central Jewish Council of Greece, Mr. Victor Eliezer, who emphasized the need to preserve historical truth. The event concluded with the reading of the text “Holocaust and Trauma” by Dr. Geroukalis, a deeply reflective text that focused on the psychological and collective implications of genocide and the necessity of reworking the trauma within the public discourse and memory of the community. The event was not only an act of honor in memory of the victims, but also an essential call for historical awareness and social responsibility, so that tragedies like the Holocaust will never be repeated again.
Unveiling of a Votive Plaque for the Victims of the Holocaust, at the Kos District Headquarters
Immediately after the memorial service at the Jewish Cemetery, the series of events commemorating the Holocaust of the Jews of Kos continued with an extremely symbolic event: the unveiling of a new votive plaque in the courthouse grounds, in the historic building of the Kos District Court. The choice of this particular spot was not accidental. The arrested Jews of Kos were held in the courtroom on 23.7. 1944, before their deportation from the island to Auschwitz. The modest ceremony was coordinated by the scientific director Dimitris Geroukalis, in the presence of the mayor of Kos Theodosi Nikitaras, the prefect of Kos & Nisyros Dina Svynou, Imam Irfan Trampa, the Rabbi of Athens Gabriel Negrin, as well as the Commander of the 80ADTE Taxiarchos Dimitrios Kouletsis, the Harbormaster of Kos Giorgos Margaris, the new commander of the Navy, Victor Eliezer, general secretary of KISE, Daniel Benardout, general treasurer of KISE, Moysis Manouach, president of the I.K. Larissa, Akis Robisas, vice president of the I.K. Rhodes and member of the Board of Directors. of KISE, the president of VAKUF Kos Elvan Kotzaoglan, Jews of Rhodes and abroad and many people from all over the world.
From the speech of the Mayor of Kos, Theodosis Nikitaras:
"...The hanging of the votive plaque, in this modest ceremony, is the minimum tribute to their memory... The presence of a Jewish community in Kos has been recorded since the 2nd century BC. If the dark years of Nazism had not intervened, I am certain that the Jewish community would be flourishing on our island today. We are called to preserve historical memory. So that the Nazi atrocity and the annihilation of human existence for reasons of diversity are not forgotten. So that humanity does not experience such events again. We owe it to the divine gift of human life and the noble ideals of equality, brotherhood and peaceful coexistence to promote everything that unites people. Everything that brings creation and progress. As the municipal authority of Kos, we are moving in this direction...".
From speech by the Secretary General of KISE, Viktora Eliezer:
“…It is the responsibility of all of us to preserve this place of remembrance, so that citizens and visitors to the city can see the place of martyrdom, remember and learn how easily a society can be led down the path of barbarity if oblivion prevails. And today, we all must protect memory from all kinds of “willing” people to rewrite history, to trivialize the Holocaust, to demonize the Jews again. The commemorations therefore remind us of what can happen again to humanity if memory is erased by oblivion and if hatred prevails as a tolerated norm in a society. Because “absolute evil” did not start in Auschwitz. It started in hate speech and ended in Auschwitz.
[With data from Aegeannews.gr, 21.7.25]
SEE HERE VIDEO OF SPEECHES FROM THE EVENTS