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140 BCE
First Jewish settlement in Macedonia
The first Jews settle in Macedonia, probably as merchants. Jewish colonies are formed in places such as Thessaloniki and other cities of northern Greece. -
50
Paul the Apostle preaches in the synagogue of Thessaloniki
Paul the Apostle preaches in the synagogue of Thessaloniki, where he spreads the Gospel, and the presence of the Jewish community is recorded in the New Testament. -
Period: 1300 to
Arrival of Ashkenazi and Romaniote Jews
With the expansion of the Ottoman Empire in Macedonia, Thessaloniki becomes a merchant centre and is home to Ashkenazi Jews and Romaniote Jews. -
1492
Sephardic Jews arrive from Spain
After the eviction of Sephardic Jews from Spain, Thessaloniki welcomes a large number of them, who soon dominate the city financially and politically. Thessaloniki earns the title “Mother of Israel”. -
Period: 1500 to
Thessaloniki as a Jewish centre
Thessaloniki becomes one of the greatest Jewish centres in the Ottoman Empire, with many synagogues, schools, and printing shops. -
The movement of Sabatai Zevi
The mystic Sabatai Zevi greatly influences the Jewish community of Thessaloniki. A large number of Jews follows him, before his movement collapses. -
Thessaloniki is freed by the Greek military
Thessaloniki is attached to Greece after the first Balkan War. The Jews in the city continue playing a big role in financial and political life. -
The Great Fire
The Great Fire destroys most of the centre of Thessaloniki, including many Jewish districts and synagogues. Many Jews lose their property. -
Treaty of Lausanne and population exchang
The population exchange between Greece and Turkey changes the composition of the population of Thessaloniki, with the arrival of thousands of Greek refugees and the change of social balance in the city. -
Period: to
Pre-war prosperity and antisemitism
Despite the financial and political growth, antisemitism is on the rise. Many anti-Jewish organisations are created and there are conflicts with the Jewish community. -
Period: to
Nazi occupation and the Holocaust
Thessaloniki is occupied by the Axis powers in 1941. In 1943 begin the mass arrests and the transportation of Jews to concentration camps. Around 50,000 Jews from Thessaloniki are murdered in the Auschwitz camps and in other areas. -
Post-war times and reforming of the community
The few surviving Jews return and try to rebuild the community. However, the Jewish population has been drastically reduced. -
The Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki
The Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki is founded in order to preserve the history and the heritage of the Jews in the city. -
Recognition of the Jewish genocide
The Greek government declares the 27th of January as the Memorial Day of the Holocaust and honours the victims of the atrocities committed by the Nazis. -
Holocaust Museum
The Holocaust Museum of Greece begins its construction near the Jewish railway station, from which thousands of Jews were transported to the concentration camps during World War II.