Kahal Shalom Synagogue, Rhodes (must see)

Completed in 1577, Kahal Shalom is the oldest surviving synagogue in Greece that remains in active use. Standing at the entrance to the synagogue complex, you step into a space that served a thriving Sephardic Jewish community for centuries under Ottoman rule. After the Dodecanese Islands passed to Italy in 1912, Jewish life continued, but conditions gradually changed. During the 1930s, particularly after the introduction of Fascist racial laws, many Jews of Rhodes began to emigrate, sensing growing hostility and uncertainty.

Entering the sanctuary, the central bimah stands directly ahead, positioned at the center of the prayer hall, in keeping with Sephardic tradition. Looking down, the black-and-white pebble mosaic floor, crafted from local stone, spreads across the interior and immediately distinguishes the space. Standing next to the wall opposite the entrance, there are the synagogue’s two Torah arks, set side by side, an unusual feature of Rhodes’ Jewish architecture.

Exiting the prayer hall into the courtyard, the atmosphere opens up. Here, slightly to the left side of the courtyard, stands a small fountain traditionally used for ritual handwashing, marking the transition between communal and sacred spaces. Nearby, mounted on the interior walls, a commemorative plaque honors the members of the local Jewish community who were deported and murdered during the Holocaust.

The former women’s gallery, located on the upper level of the synagogue building, now houses the Jewish Museum of Rhodes, where visitors can continue their visit by exploring photographs, documents, and artifacts that preserve the history, traditions, and daily life of the island’s once-thriving Jewish community.