Crete 9: Etz Hayyim Synagogue

 Etz Hayyim is the only synagogue in Crete.  It is located in Chania. 

The building dates to the 15th century.  It became a synagogue in the 17th century.  After the Nazis deported the island's Jews the building was desecrated.

A local writer (and founder of two Jewish museums), Nikos Stavroulakis, led the movement to renovate the building.  It reopened in 1999. Unfortunately there were two arson attacks there in 2010, one destroying over 2000 books.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Different location... We stopped at the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Souda, with tombstones of thousands of soldiers and sailors from World War II. This was the only grave identifying a Jewish warrior.  We might have spotted more if we had thought to search for tombstones with stones piled on top.  (It's traditional to leave one when you visit a Jewish grave.)

Next stop: Rethymno