Greece is My Home, But …’ Ethnic Identity of Greek Jews in Thessaloniki

This article looks at the ethnic identity of Greek Jews in Thessaloniki. The findings of my fieldwork have shown that the notion of ‘private Judaism’ is one possible answer to the dilemma of being Jewish in the Greek nation-state. Judaism for the most part is not displayed publicly whilst the community maintains a very low public profile. ‘Private Judaism’ facilitates a very strong identification with Greece and reduces a potential conflict between the two identities. This study will highlight the historical changes which occurred in Thessaloniki during the 20th century and contrast the self-perceptions of community members from different age groups.