Jews in Greece 06: "Christians" and Ottomans (Encyclopaedia Judaica)

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Encyclopaedia Judaica

Jews in Greece 06: "Christians" and Ottomans

Community places - Crete - "Christian" attacks and persecution of the Jews - immigration from Central and Eastern Europe - scholars, rabbis, trade, and products under Ottoman rule

from: Greece; In: Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971, vol. 7

presented by Michael Palomino (2008)

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<OTTOMAN (AND LATE VENETIAN) RULE (1453-1821)

[Jewish community places]

The important communities during the Turkish (and late Venetian) periods were, in the first place, Salonika, which was probably the largest Jewish community during the 16-18th centuries and which until the beginning of the 10th century was populated by a majority of Jews; Naupaktos; Patras, whose merchants were known as courageous travelers who went as far as Persia; Arta; and Thebes, which was "renowned for its wisdom" (responsa of Elijah *Mizrahi (Constantinople, 1559-61), No. 71).

[Jews coming to Crete]

On Crete the Jews played an important part in the transit trade; the island was also known for its rabbis and scholars, notably the *Capsali family, *Delmedigo, and others. There were also some Jews on Cyprus. After the conquest of Rhodes by the Turks in 1552, Jews from Salonika arrived on the island, where their (col. 875)

commercial role became an important one. The island also became a stopping place for pilgrims on their way to Palestine. It was widely known for its rabbis, especially the rabbinical dynasty of the *Israel family.

[1465: persecution of the Jews by "Christian" armies - destroyed Jewish quarters in Greece]

When Sigismondo Malatesta [[Rimini leader of the Venetian army]] conquered Mistra (Sparta) in 1465, he burned down the Jewish quarter.

In 1532 when the forces of Andrea Doria [[Genoa leader of the Emperor's army]] attacked the Greek towns which were in the hands of the Turks, the Jews of Coron, Modon, and Patras suffered greatly. Their property was confiscated and they were taken captive.

During the reign of Selim II (1566-1574) Don Joseph *Nasi was appointed duke of Naxos and the surrounding isles.> (col. 876)

[[...]]

[Jewish immigration in the 16th and 17th centuries - Jewish communities of the 16th century]

<During the 16th and 17th centuries the Jewish population increased with the addition of the Spanish Marranos, who fled to the countries dominated by the Turks, and after the persecutions of 1648, Polish refugees.> (col. 875)

[[...]]

[Attacks and persecution of the Jews by Venice]

<In 1669 the Venetian armies attacked the island of Chios. To commemorate the miraculous stand against their siege, the local Jews annually celebrated "Purim of Chios" on Iyyar 8.

With the Venetian invasion of the Peloponnesus in 1685, the Jews abandoned Patras in fear and fled to Larissa. They were also compelled to flee for their lives from the islands of the Aegean Sea.

[Greek "Christian" massacres on the Jews]

The Greeks of the the Peloponnesus, who often rebelled against the Turks, massacred the Jews whom they considered allies of the Turks. During this period of confusion in the 18th century the communities of Patras, Thebes, Chalcis, and Naupaktos were destroyed.> (col. 876)

<Religious culture under Ottoman rule.

[Scholars and rabbis besides Salonika]

Besides Salonika, which during the 16th and 17th centuries was a major Jewish center, there were also important rabbis and scholars in the smaller communities of Greece. During the 16th and 17th centuries these included:

-- Solomon Cohen (MaharSHaKH) of Zante and the Peloponnesus;
-- Samuel b. Moses *Kalai, the author of Mishpetei Shemu'el, of Arta;
-- Moses *Alashkar of Patras, the author of responsa;

during the 18th century:
-- Isaac Algazi, the author of Doresh Tov;
-- Isaac Frances of Kastoria, the author of Penei Yizhak;
-- Ezra Malki of Rhodes, the author of Malki ba-Kodesh and other works;
-- Jedidiah Tarikah of Rhodes, the author of Ben Yadid and other works;
-- Isaac Obadiah of Patras, the author of Iggeret Dofi ha-Zeman;
-- Eliezer b. Elijah ha-Rofeh ("the physician") Ashkenazi of Nicosia, Cyprus, the author of Yosif Lekah on the Book of Esther.

Economic Situation of the Jews.

[Jewish connections and trade products - poverty in Thessaly and on the Peloponnesus - Salonika port with Jewish dominance]

During the Turkish period (1453-1821) the Jews of Greece were principally engaged in the crafts of spinning silk, weaving wool, and making cloth. They also controlled an important part of the commerce, moneylending, and the lease of the taxes. In the Greek islands under Venetian rule the Jews only engaged in retail commerce, as the larger type of commerce was the monopoly of the Venetian nobility.

Under Turkish rule, however, the wholesale trade was concentrated in Jewish hands. The Jews succeeded in developing connections in Italy, France, Amsterdam, Hamburg, London, and in the Orient with Constantinople, Izmir, and Alexandria. The merchants of Kastoria traded in hides, furs, cattle, metals, and broken silver vessels.

The Jews of Naupaktos were engaged in the trade of palm branches. At a later stage the tobacco, grain, sesame, hashish, and raw hides trades became those of the Jews. However in Thessaly, the Peloponnesus, and the Balkans the Jews engaged in peddling and tin smithing, living in extreme poverty. In Salonika all the port activities were in Jewish hands and the port was closed on Sabbaths and Jewish festivals.> (col. 876)

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