Kahal Shalom Synagogue

The Kahal Shalom Synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת קהל קדוש שלום‎, or Beit HaKnesset Kahal Kadosh Shalom meaning Synagogue of the Holy Congregation of Peace, Greek: Συναγωγή Καχάλ Σαλόμ) is a Sephardic synagogue in La Juderia, the Jewish quarter of the city of Rhodes on the Greek island of Rhodes. It is the oldest synagogue in Greece today. There has been a Jewish presence in Rhodes for 2,300 years. They were, at times, persecuted by Romans, the Knig... more

The Kahal Shalom Synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת קהל קדוש שלום‎, or Beit HaKnesset Kahal Kadosh Shalom meaning Synagogue of the Holy Congregation of Peace, Greek: Συναγωγή Καχάλ Σαλόμ) is a Sephardic synagogue in La Juderia, the Jewish quarter of the city of Rhodes on the Greek island of Rhodes. It is the oldest synagogue in Greece today. There has been a Jewish presence in Rhodes for 2,300 years. They were, at times, persecuted by Romans, the Knights Hospitaller, and other rulers of the islands. During Ottoman rule, however, the Jews of Rhodes prospered, and many expelled Sephardim settled there, particularly in the city of Rhodes, where they built many synagogues (there were six, including Kahal Shalom, in La Juderia, at one time). The Kahal Shalom Synagogue was constructed in 1577 (5338 in the Hebrew calendar), and has been in use ever since. The synagogue and its worshipers prospered under Ottoman rule into the twentieth century. However, the Kingdom of Italy took over the... less