Img. ID: 420136
Who is Commemorated?
The Jewish Community of Kos
Description
The former Kal Shalom synagogue of Kos was built in the 1930s and it remains in good condition. Immediately upon entering the synagogue is a small vestibule, and on the right wall of this is a rectangular polished and highly reflective metal plaque that lists the names of Jews from Kos deported to Auschwitz in 1944.
Inscriptions
ΣTHN MNHMH THΣ EBRAΪΚΗΣ KOINOTHTAΣ ΠΟΥ EKΔΙΩΘΗΚΕ
ΣTO AOYΣBITΣ AΠΟ TOYΣ NAZI ΣTIΣ 23 IOYΛIOY 1944
Translation: In Memory of the Jewish Community of Kos Deported to Auschwitz by the Nazis 23rd July 1944
In Memory of the Jewish Community of Kos,
Deported to Auschwitz by the Nazis 23rd July 1944
[Followed by three columns of names of the deported]
Together with the Community deported from Rhodes
אנחנו נזכור אותם לעולם ועד
Translation: We will remember them forever
“We Will Remember Them Forever”
Lower left corner
EKMEPOYΣ TOY KΩAKOY ΛAOY
O ΔHMAPXOΣ KΩ
MIATIAΔHΣ ΦAKKOΣ
23/07/01
Translation: On Behalf of the People of Kos / The Mayor of Kos / Miltiadis Fakkos / 23/07/01
Lower right corner
On Behalf of the People of Kos
The Mayor of Kos
Miltiadis Fakkos
23/07/01
Commissioned by
The people and mayor (Miltiades Fakkos) of Kos
Only twelve Jews from Kos survived the Holocaust. In the 1980s the Central Board of Jewish Communities of Greece sold the synagogue to the municipality which has maintained it as a Cultural Center. The contract of sale stipulated the types of uses to which the building could be put. This memorial plaque was installed by the municipality in 2001. The building has been used as a meeting hall for cultural events and may (2022) be rededicated as a functioning synagogue.