Via Social Media - Facebook post: Thessaloniki, often called the “Jerusalem of the Balkans,” was once home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the world. After the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492, thousands of Sephardic Jews settled in the city under Ottoman rule. By the early 17th century, around 1613, Jews made up nearly 68% of Thessaloniki’s population, shaping its economy, scholarship, and cultural identity. The city became a hub of Jewish printing, trade, and religious life, with synagogues and schools flourishing across its neighborhoods. Over the centuries, however, the community’s dominance began to wane. Fires, shifting trade routes, and political changes gradually altered the city’s demographics. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Jews remained a vital part of Thessaloniki but no longer held a majority. The most devastating blow came during World War II, when Nazi occupation led to the deportation of more than 45,000 Jews to Auschwitz. Few survived, ...
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