Greek Jews, survivors of the Shoah: Difficult Return and Starting Anew

MODERN GREEK STUDIES

SPEAKER: Henriette-Rika Benveniste, University of Thessaly

The end of the war was not the end of suffering for the Greek survivors of the Shoah. Neither the joy of liberation nor the hopes of a new beginning can obscure their utter misery and isolation during the post-war years. Based on my research, the seminar will present aspects of a difficult return, both regarding the Jewish community and specific individuals: efforts to overcome trauma, to recover economically, dilemmas about immigration, the persistence of antisemitism, and the impact of the civil war.