By TRACEY FRANCO
80 years have passed since the Jewish community from the idyllic Mediterranean island of Rhodos arrived at Auschwitz, at the hands of the Nazi occupiers of their treasured home. What ensued was a tragedy beyond comprehension: over 93% of this Jewish community perished within just a few weeks.
Cape Town’s Sephardi Jewish community commemorated this horrific event at a special service led by Rabbi Naftali Silver on Sunday, 1 September. Almost all of those in the community with Rhodesli roots – the original founders of this congregation – trace a record of family members lost in 1944 or 1945, victims of racism gone mad.
There was an extra poignancy to the memorial, held just a day or two after the news of the senseless murder of six Hamas hostages in Gaza. The congregation mourned the loss of Carmel, Eden, Hersh, Alexander, Almog and Ori, in the most recent atrocity against our people. In addition, the father of two soldiers currently serving in the IDF lit a memorial candle, honouring the victims of Hamas’s terror. Many other members of the congregation and visitors participated in the candle-lighting, so keeping the memory of the victims close.
And subsequent generations have taken on the mantle of keeping the story alive for the years to come. 4th Generation survivors, Eden Hessen and Olivia Closenberg, spoke of their Great-Nonas, Violette Fintz and Stella Israel, both survivors of the genocide, highlighting their strength, their joy and their resilience.
Others who spoke at the event include Jakub Nowakowski, the Director of the Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre, and 3rd Generation survivor, Stacey Closenberg.
Survivors from Rhodos who settled in Cape Town
Bella Sigura
Diamante Franco
Stella Israel
Asher Varon
Bella Rahmani
Suzanne Avzaradel
Bella Avzaradel
Ameli Algranti
Mercada Alhadeff
Ner Alhadeff
Clara Soriano
Lucia Amato
Guiseppe Cone
Sara Jerusalmi
Mathilde Hasson
Violette Fintz
Lucia Habib
Jacques Hasson
Lina Amato-Kantor
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