The Complete Guide to a Kosher Trip to Rhodes

Rhodes was home to one of Greece's oldest and most significant Jewish communities — the Jews of "La Juderia," the Jewish quarter of the Old Town. Nearly the entire community was deported to the death camps in 1944, but Kahal Shalom Synagogue still stands, attesting to a rich past. Here's a short guide to planning your visit.

Kahal Shalom Synagogue

Kahal Shalom Synagogue, built in 1577, is the oldest active synagogue in Greece. It sits at the heart of La Juderia — the network of alleys that made up Rhodes' Jewish quarter — and also houses a small exhibit documenting the island's Jewish history.

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Chabad House and Jerusalem Restaurant

Chabad of Rhodes and Jerusalem Restaurant both operate in Ixia, the island's central hotel district — so guests staying in the area's hotels enjoy especially convenient access to prayers and kosher meals.

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The Old Town — a surviving medieval world

Rhodes' Old Town, surrounded by 14th-century walls built by the Knights Hospitaller, is the largest inhabited medieval town in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Practical tip: enter through the d'Amboise Gate and start on the Street of the Knights (Odos Ippoton) — the best-preserved street — before continuing into the narrower alleys of La Juderia.

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Between the ancient Kahal Shalom Synagogue and the wonderfully preserved Old Town, Rhodes offers a rare combination of moving Jewish history alongside one of Europe's most impressive medieval sites.