Friday, February 9, 2007

First a word about the Romaniotes (as distinct from the Bene Roma)

According to Wikipedia:

The Romaniotes (Greek: Ρωμανιώτες) are a Jewish population who have lived in the territory of today's Greece for more than 2000 years. Their language is Greek. Large communities were located in Thebes, Ioannina, Chalcis, Corfu, Arta, Corinth and on the islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Rhodes and Cyprus, among others. The Romaniotes are historically distinct from the Sephardim, who settled in Greece after the 1492 expulsion of the Jews from Spain.


The Romaniotes have unfortunately been lumped together with Sephardim (as have most non-Ashkenazim Jews such as the Mountain Jews and Yemenites) but they are a distinct group who are neither Sephardim nor Ashkenazim. They do have a Cutural and genetic affinity however with Ashkenazic Jewry, genetic testing several years ago on Romaniote Jews in senior citizens home has confirmed the latter.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do you have any connections to http://www.kkjsm.org/ ?

Been there ?

Joels W. said...

I have no connection to any organization or institution, I am merely a student with many interests.

I have perused through that site in the past, thanks for providing the link, looks interesting.

Anonymous said...

Have you been to visit the syngaogue ?

You might want to consider that, esp. when they have one of their public programs.

Joels W. said...

Yes, I am familiar with the Janina Synagogue and their museum and programs, always wanted to go but never had a chance. I am hoping to go soon though.

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I am an independent research historian and genealogist and currently working on my first book that will explore the Sephardic origin of many Eastern European Jews. I hope to correspond on this blog with like minded individuals and learn more about the subjects being discussed as well as impart some of my own knowledge to others. Please be considerate and give proper credits when reproducing anything from this site. Thank you.