CULTURE

Memorial day for Jewish-Greek martyrs and heroes

A day of events to mark a memorial day for Jewish-Greek martyrs and heroes of the Holocaust is being organized by the Athens Prefecture and the Central Council of Greek Jews on Tuesday, February 4. At noon, the president of the Central Jewish Council of Greece, the presidents of the Jewish communities of Greece, the president of the Greek Survivors of Nazi Concentration Camps, the Israeli ambassador, representatives of the governments of Italy and Spain, political parties and Parliament will lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Sq. A minute of silence will be observed at 1.30 p.m., followed by the National Anthem and a presentation of arms. At 6.45 p.m. President Karolos Papoulias will arrive at the Athens Concert Hall for a memorial ceremony. Candles will be lit in memory of the 6 millions Jews of Europe who were slaughtered, 67,000 of them from Greece. Athens Prefect Yiannis Sgouros will deliver the keynote speech, followed by Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, Central Jewish Council of Greece President Moisis Constantinis, Thessaloniki Jewish Community President David Saltiel, Athens Jewish Community President Beniamin Albalas, and Union of Greek Survivors of Nazi Concentration Camps President Beri Nahmia. The ceremony will continue with an acknowledgement of the part played by Spain and Italy in saving Jewish lives. Among the speakers will be Rachel-Lola Angel, who was saved by the Spanish consular authorities, and Armando Modiano, whose life was saved by Italian consular authorities. The pupils of the Athens Jewish Community’s primary school will present a play at 8.30 p.m. The Jewish Museum of Greece has set up an exhibition, «The Holocaust of Greek Jews: 1941-1944: Personal Testimonies,» in the foyer of the Athens Concert Hall.

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