Sephardic Jews and the Holocaust: In Search of Uncle Salomon, Devin Naar

Prof. Devin Naar, of the University of Washington's Stroum Jewish Studies and History Departments, explains the twist of fate that led him to piece together his own Sephardic Jewish family's experience in Salonica (Thessaloniki), Greece, during the Holocaust. His journey led him to the serious study of Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) and a new perspective on the stories that Jewish historians need to tell.
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[@selinaBARMAR2565]

In doing my DNA history I've just discovered that my Hispanic background consists of Sephardic Jews. This was helpful, feeling I could connect.

[@josefmendez2527]

Moises Abraham Nassi San Diego. My grandfather Moises Nassi haber came from Turkey during WWI he went to mexico. I am passionate about our people and overall we are all one. The oppressed are my people.

[@libyaview]

I thank you, for the fortification in this explanation. You so eloquently voiced how many of us Sephardim feels when we meet the other cultures and try to explain who we are & what we are.

[@BabylonianHebrew]

agreed

[@Meira750]

Agreed

[@AthanasiaOrtholady]

While living in Thessaloniki I dated a Spanish-Jew. In fact there’s lots of families still living there. A lot of them changed their names to Greek last names for the purpose of hiding. We need to talk. You should look into the city of Kastoria and Veria for descendants. My own family hid lots of Jews before they escaped to Canada I believe. My last year in Thessaloniki was 2012’’ before the crisis made us emigrate. when the city celebrated it’s100th anniversary of freedom from the Ottoman Empire. I do have a lot of stories for u my friend. Shalom lol

[@transplantednorth]

This is an incredible story, what dedication you had to uncover your family history. Thank you for sharing this.

[@Ozgur72]

I am from Izmir, Turkey which still has a sephardic community. My great grandfather was born in Salonica as part of its muslim population and immigrated to Turkey in 1917 after the great fire of Salonica. I did not know there was still a big sephardic population in salonica that were perished during the holocaust. I even might have ancestors from the muslim converto population of Salonica.Truly sad story.

[@user-yz8pw9dv2n]

Your big book about us Devin is a treasure on our heritage.

[@margaretmojica8190]

I always heard of the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492, but I never knew where they went.

[@wolfgang7812]

"Half of Europe's Jews were executed the Solonica Jews did not escape that fate..." a very interesting point.

[@matthewmann8969]

Sephardis suffered in the inquisitions, crusades, and reformations as did Ashkenazim and other Jews

[@junekroner6382]

Wonderful presentation! I am a genealogist, and I love hearing other's experiences in their research. However, I think your plight is a higher calling. Uncountable people are affected in the most positive ways, by your research, love of your family and hard work. Thank you.

[@Jorge17275]

www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/12/dna-reveals-the-hidden-jewish-ancestry-of-latin-americans/578509/

[@Tricotine83]

I am also searching for family in Salonika, my uncle Aaaron and his family, and his father who was buried before WWII in the city cemetery that was destroyed by the nazis. You are an inspiration for me to keep searching although I was told that there was no archives to be found because they would be in Russians hands still. Thank you and good luck in your search.

[@sonjak8265]

Many Russian archives are open for researchers.

[@AthanasiaOrtholady]

Isa Belle Greetings from Canada. You know that there’s still a Jewish cemetery in Thessaloniki? It’s located in the municipality of Stavroupoli. Plus there’s still a lot of families living there but with Greek last names.

[@maxberre]

Props for having figured out how to translate all of the letters

[@erldagerl9826]

My kids laugh at me because I am a groupie for a history professor. But what a story! What dedication!

[@calderondemorales2286]

Hello brother! My family is from Monastir. I have a similar situation. After Shabbat I will do some research.

[@erldagerl9826]

If a professor could have a fan club, I’d be president of Dr. Naar’s. Kol hakavod, sir.

[@dromgarvan]

Letter by letter. Well done!

[@rudyhoffman1683]

Among my ancestry, there are many Jewish names one of which is Zerrahn and I believe it must have derived from the original Sephardic name Serrano... the one from the sierra...

[@missjudacia7230]

It’s quite amazing how HaShem has,through this guy has/will brought/bring comfort,knowledge and depth to the Shoah. The Shoah has been predominantly Ashkenazi but recently the other traditions have been brought out of the shadows and into the fore.

[@Meira750]

There are now several groups on Facebook dealing with how the Shoah affected Jews in other countries of the Middle East and North Africa. Even Italian Jews were not all Ashkenazi or B'nei Roma. Many of us are Sephardi.

[@joelperes2216]

amazing!

[@marissakelly9399]

Wow what an amazing talk

[@samuelbenitez2137]

my people.

[@plenguene]

great ladino oral skills, congrats! Touching story

[@Hisloyalservantslistenlove613c]

Thank you

[@rageofaquariusofficial]

Well said

[@annafrankmusicofficial]

Well posted

[@isaacder3i121]

There were many ashkenazi families that looked like this in terms of skin color and facial features. Many were easy targets in the holocaust, but some still exist today, but are in the minority and are often wrongly assumed to be sefaradi.

[@koushikchakraborty97]

Where? in Jewish Salonica?

[@channelingjewishhistory8395]

koushik chakraborty I think he means that the Ashkenazim who were swarthy and “Semitic looking” had a lower chance of survival than fair skinned and light complexioned Ashkenazim.

[@jillburk8847]

Very fascinating! I am wondering what countries the Sephardic Jews of Seattle are from.

[@Meira750]

Greece, Turkey, other Balkan countries originally and later many others. Go to the Sephardic Bikur Cholim synagogue web site for some history.

[@michaelwright3351]

Never again

[@7.2]

Kol hakavod!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Long life to us.

[@newcivilisation]

You look like you could be a cousin, Professor. My ancestral relatives Isaac Montezinos and Jacob Nunes Vaz were deported from the Netherlands though.

[@bell1095]

See Elias Canetti, Nobel laureate,

[@JasonCWaite]

Israel is in the Americas, not Israel.