4. The Yad Lezikaron Synagogue

From the Jewish Museum you go up Venizelou Street until you reach Vasileos Irakleiou Street that is the next parallel to Agiou Mina Str.and used to be an old shopping street. Then, you turn left. The meeting point is number 26, where you will find a multi-storey office building. On the ground floor is the Yad Lezikaron Synagogue (Memory Index).

The Yad Lezikaron Synagogue was inaugurated in 1984. Dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust, it was built on the place of the "Plasa" Synagogue, also known as the "Market Synagogue". The ruins from synagogues that have been destroyed, such as the altar (from the Sarfati synagogue) and the marble bimah (from the Baron Hirsch synagogue) were used for its reconstruction. Inscriptions on marble slabs mention all the synagogues existed in the past in Thessaloniki. The Yad Lezicaron synagogue operates daily and has recently undergone a major renovation. An extensive renovation was recently undertaken in the central synagogue of the city, the Monastirioton synagogue that was inaugurated in 1927 and is located on Syggrou Street. The building , which is of particular architectural interest due to its Byzantine influences, operated as a warehouse during the Occupation, a fact that prevented its destruction.

In 1905, a complex was built in Ravineia Square ("Plasa") that housed a doctor's office as well as various shops, the rents of which covered the expenses of the "Bikur Cholim '' medical institution. In 1918 the building complex and the square were destroyed because of the new urban plan. In order to replace these constructions, the Israeli community built a complex of shops with an inner courtyard, on the corner of the (new) Komninon and Vasileos Irakleiou streets, dedicated to "Bikur Cholim''. A small synagogue named “Plaza” was built inside the courtyard, for the morning prayer of the workers in the market. Above the synagogue, another house was built through the donation of jeweler Samuel Bourlas. During the German Occupation, both synagogues were turned into a tavern.

During the 16th century, the Jews from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, and Provence who had taken refuge in Thessaloniki formed communities based on their place of origin, language, and religious customs. It is indicative to note that by 1531, 28 communities and an equal number of synagogues existed. Until 1917 these synagogues were in their original position, since they were rebuilt following the same plan and design in case of earthquake or fire. During the same time, Thessaloniki numbered another 30 synagogues and places of worship. In 1918 and after the catastrophic fire of the previous year, the city was rebuilt. Following the new urban plan, all synagogues were abolished and moved obligatorily to the western and eastern districts of Thessaloniki. From that time on, the Beth Saul Synagogue on Exochon Avenue (now Vasilissis Olgas), built in 1898, was the official community synagogue in Thessaloniki that hosted the community’s main ceremonies. The Beth Saul Synagogue was destroyed during the German Occupation. It was also known as the Synagogue of Mrs. Fakima, as it was built with a donation from Fakima Modiano and was dedicated to the memory of her husband, Saul.