Thessaloniki’s Armenian Minority and Jewish Past: A Shared History of Genocide
The Armenian Genocide took place 110 years ago and is still often dismissed as a consequence of the First World War. Despite this, the impact of the genocide continues to resonate deeply within communities around the world.
Thessaloniki, formerly known as Salonica, holds a significant historical connection between its Armenian minority and Jewish population, both shaped by experiences of persecution and loss.
One poignant reminder of this shared history can be found in a document preserved in a Thessaloniki museum. This document shows the papers used by individuals traveling from the city to British Mandate Palestine before World War II, highlighting the migration and survival efforts of these communities during turbulent times.
(Photo credit: Larry Luxner/JTA)