Through invitation by the Chair of Judaic Studies at the University of Munich, Prof. Michael Brenner, our director Nikos Stavroulakis was invited to speak on the Renovation of an Abandoned Synagogue. Funds for this were provided by the Kiessling Foundation of Munich and the lecture...
Read MoreTu Beshevet was made more memorable as central to the Seder we also planted a quince tree in the front garden of the Synagogue. Unfortunately our date palm that was planted in 1999, died from a strange attack of beetles allegedly from Egypt that has...
Read MoreHIGH ISLAMIC AND OTTOMAN ARCHITECTURE A series of lectures on the evolution of Ottoman mosque architecture - Many of you will have visited Istanbul or even Edirne where Ottoman architecture reached its full development in the mid 16th century through the collaboration of a great donor (Sultan...
Read MoreWe would like to wish everyone a Happy Chanukah [singlepic id=200 w=640 h=480 float=center] "What gain is there in my blood?" Psalm 30 Artwork: Nikos Stavroulakis ...
Read MoreThe multiple ethnic influences on Jewish identity have been evident here at Etz Hayyim in the character of various weddings that have been celebrated here. We have had Orthodox, Reform, Liberal and Conservative weddings to date...
Read MoreLecture by Prof. Dr. Michael Brenner “Martin Buber, Franz Rosenzweig and the German-Jewish Renaissance” On October first we were fortunate enough to host an evening with Prof. Michael Brenner who spoke to us about the German-Jewish Renaissance, a revival of Jewish life at the beginning of...
Read MoreThe now annual presence of Leon Asher from Tel Aviv for at least Rosh HaShannah obviated some of the challenges that accumulate prior to the Festival. Leon came across us some years ago when he arrived unknown and very quiet. Stavroulakis had only recovered from...
Read MoreSince 2000 we have annually commemorated the date of the action that led to the drowning of some 276 members of our Hania Jewish Community as well as a large number of Italian and Greek prisoners. Rather than lose track of Jewish lunar time we...
Read MoreA talk given by Lorenzo Ovadiah Garcia, on the occasion of Holocaust Remembrance Day. Good morning, my name is Lorenzo Garcia. My Hebrew name is Ovadiah which means, “Servant or Worshipper of G-d”. I am Jewish. I was asked to speak to you for the...
Read MoreRecently the poet and novelist (and naturalist), Ruth Padel gave a poetry workshop at the Synagogue. The following is her assessment and some new poems....
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