Early History Of Jews In Corfu

Early Documentations

Discover the history of Jews in Corfu.

Jewish communities have been around mainland Greece since ancient times. However, their presence in Corfu was first documented in 1148, by Benjamin of Tudela. The Jewish traveller recorded the interaction with a dyer called Iossif. No one knows exactly when the first Jews arrived in Corfu.

Back then, the island was under Roger of Sicily’s rule. Later on, it was passed to Michael I Komnenos Angelos of Epirus, only to go under Charles I of Anjou’s rule in 1267. It was under Angevin domination until 1386.
 
That’s when the first big settlement of Jews took place in Corfu. By 1267, there were a few hundred Jews settling in Corfu, many of them coming from the Byzantine Empire. Throughout the next century, their number increased.
 
The local population wasn’t very happy with the Jewish presence in Corfu, hence a few decrees in 1317, 1324 and 1370, meant to protect them from attacks and abuse. The Angevin rule wasn’t very involved in local politics though, leaving the Jewish community open to harassment.
 
That’s when the first Jewish neighbourhood was established.
 
Despite the unofficial persecution, the local community had a better situation than Jews in other parts of Europe. Some Jews have even reached administrative positions, especially during Charles III’s rule, when they were given a series of privileges.
 
David Semos was one of the six members sent in a delegation to Venice that requested annexation, but other Jews also took part in official delegations sent to other countries.

Jews In Corfu Under The Venetian Rule​

Corfu became part of the Republic of Venice in 1387. More Jews came in Corfu from the Iberian Peninsula in 1492, with even more coming from Naples throughout the next few years.
 
The population decreased in 1537, when the Ottomans tried to take Corfu over. Thousands of prisoners were taken away then.
 
By 1540, Jews from the Italian community were a majority among the local Jewish population. Two different communities emerged. The Pugliesi were Italians and Spaniards, while the Greci were actual Greeks. The Pugliesi gained even more people when Portuguese Marrano joined in 1589.
 
Each community had its own synagogue.
 
By 1622, another decree determined the limits of a neighbourhood that’s still known as Evraiki today, a reference to the Jewish religion. Previously, it was known as Yetto. Unlike modern ghettos in Europe, this wasn’t a closed ghetto, but just an area where Jews used to live.
 
Jews in Corfu were treated differently compared to Jews in Venice. Corfu had a financially strong community that could support Venice’s commercial interests. A doge issued a new decree that would forbid any type of discrimination against Jews, confirming their previous rights.
 
When Jews were expelled from Venice in 1571, Jews in Corfu weren’t affected. Furthermore, restrictions on Jews were minimal and they were allowed to own real estate. Some Jews also became lawyers in Corfu, which was forbidden in Venice.
 
However, Jews still had to wear a unique yellow mark.

Jews In Corfu Under The French Rule

​More than four centuries later, in 1797, Corfu was taken over by Napoleon Bonaparte. Again, Jews were seen equal to everyone else, which caused some discomfort among local Christians. The local rabbi was seen like any other head of a different religion.

Even after the Republican French lost power and the Imperial French took over, laws were unchanged. In 1808, the local police commissar conducted an investigation and concluded that Jews could be harassed by other locals, so he made a statement calling for peace and security for anyone in the Jewish religion.

Jews In Corfu Under The British Rule

​The British took Corfu over in 1814 and kept it for 50 years. There were around 4,000 Jews in Corfu at that time.

While the island saw great progress, Jews lost many of the rights they enjoyed over the previous centuries. New prohibitions were introduced for Jews. They were passed by the local parliament and ratified by the commissioner.

Jews lost their political rights in the process. Practising the legal profession was no longer allowed either. Instead of working as lawyers, they could only appear as sub-attorneys. Despite these problems, Jews managed to raise a new synagogue. They named it Nuova.

Jews in Corfu After the Union With Greece

​In 1864, Ionian Islands were recognized as Greek provinces. The islands united with Greece on the 21st of May, 1864.

At first, Jews were given full rights, just like all Greek citizens. Jews were allowed to study, start different careers and even run for elections. The community experienced a significant growth, both financially and culturally.

Corfu became a nourishing island for Jews. Many families became wealthy, not to mention the local nursing home and even a few schools.

A rabbinical school was also established in 1925. Destitute pupils weren’t overlooked either, as Rabbi Abraham Schreiber and teacher Moissis Chaimis established a night school. Despite the efforts of Rabbi Schreiber and Rabbi Yaacov Nechama, the two Jewish communities couldn’t come under one roof. The discord was muted, but it kept burning, keeping the Greci and Pugliesi separate. Even their institutions were kept separate.

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