Monastir Synagogue (Thessaloniki)

The Monastir Synagogue (קהל קדוש מונאסטירליס, Judaeo-Spanish "Kal de los Monastirlis") is a former Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue of the once vibrant Jewish community in Thessaloniki, Greece.

History
Commenced in 1925, the synagogue was completed in 1927. The funding was provided by Jews from Monastir in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, chiefly by Ida Aroesti, in the memory of her late husband Isaac, and the families Camhi, Joseph Nahmias, Massot, Barouch, Halevi, Israel, Calderon, Faradji, and Meir. The synagogue was designed by Ernst Loewy (1878-1943) from Buchau, in Austria-Hungary. Loewye was based in Karlsbad, Czechoslovakia, visiting Thessaloniki often as the engineer for the Austrian company that built that railway line between Thessaloniki and Vienna. Loewy moved to Thessaloniki in 1938. The consecration by the locum tenens Chief Rabbi of Thessaloniki, Haim Raphael Habib, took place on September 24, 1927 (Eloul 27, 5687).

Families fled Monastir during the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) and World War I and established themselves in Thessaloniki creating their own kehila (community) within the greater Jewish Community.

The Monastir synagogue is the last traditional synagogue of Thessaloniki in the great tradition of Salonican synagogues bearing in their name the place of origin of the congregation members (Ashkenaz 1376, Majorka 1391, Provincia 1394, Italia Yashan 1423, Guerush Sefarad 1492, Kastilia 1492–3, Aragon 1492–3, Katalan Yashan 1492, Kalabria Yashan 1497, Sicilia Yashan 1497, Apulia 1502, Lisbon Yashan 1510. Portugal 1525, Evora 1535, Lisbon Hadash 1536, Otranto 1537, Ishmael 1537, Sicilia Hadash 1562, Italia Hadash 1582, Majorka Sheni 16th cent., Katalan Hadash 16th cent., Italia Sheni, 1606, Mograbis 17th cent.)

During World War II, the synagogue was saved by being requisitioned by the Red Cross. In June 1978, the structure of the building was severely damaged by an earthquake. It was restored by the Greek government and today is used primarily during the high holidays.

In 2016 the historic restoration of the synagogue was completed by architect Elias Messinas and KARD Architects, Dimitris Raidis and Alexandros Kouloukouris. The restoration project was supported by the Federal Republic of Germany.

The synagogue is no longer in regular function. There is a new synagogue shared with the Rabbinate and the offices of the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki at Tsimiski Street downtown. The Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki is also near the Tsimiski Street location.