TEL : (301) 32 44 315 - 8
FAX : (301) 33 13 852
CABLES : KENISRAIL - ATHENS
E-MAIL : hhkis@hellasnet.gr

Athens, May 2000

Dear Sirs and Madams,

According to the Greek Law, the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece is the official representative body of the Jews of Greece.

Within the context of your special interest in cultural and historic issues, we would like to bring to your attention a very serious issue related to the Jewish religious tradition as well as to the Jewish presence in Europe.

The Greek Jewish Community is one of the most ancient in Europe, dating back to the 3rd century b.c. . Throughout a continuous historical course, the Jews of Greece have created an important cultural heritage which includes unique characteristics. World War II has wipped out the 86% of the Jewish population and destroyed many of the monuments of the Greek Jewish inheritance. At present only 5.000 Jews live in Greece, divided in 8 organized Jewish Communities. In 21 Greek cities -where prewar flourishing Jewish Communities used to function- there only remain the abandoned ruins of Jewish monuments, mainly Cemeteries and Synagogues.

If not properly and efficiently conserved, as time passes, the remaining monuments risk collapse, destruction, and trespass, as it has already occurred in many cases.

Within the last 50 years, our Board has been struggling to safeguard these monuments. Throughout legal actions we preserve our possession rights. We have fenced all the abandoned Jewish sites in order to prevent trespassing and vandalism. We have restored many endangered monuments to prevent further corrosion.

This effort is away beyond our finances, mainly because of the decreased number of the Jews in Greece. Additionally, as time goes by the needs for restoration and preservation are rapidly increasing.

At present our efforts focus on two basic fields: a) the preservation and maintenance of the Synagogues and Cemeteries functioning in the small in numbers but organized Jewish Communities and on a more important goal which is b) the restoration, preservation and safeguarding of those abandoned monuments shattered in cities where no postwar Jewish Communities exist.

With regard to the Jewish Cemeteries in particular, we have to stress out that the Jewish Law forbids the exhumation of the buried. Furthermore, the Cemeteries are considered as historic monuments of the Jewish presence in Greece. In fact, in many of them there survive ancient tombs of prominent Jewish Rabbis and scholars.

We appeal to the international community for the financial support of the restoration and preservation project of the Jewish monuments in Greece, appealing to your interest in safeguarding Jewish legacy around the world.

In this dossier you will find historical data, technical information and the budget for the restoration of every monument (Synagogues and Cemeteries).

Looking forward to the expression of your concern and support, I remain

Sincerely Yours,
Moses Constantinis