Greeks in Israel
 |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Jerusalem · Nazareth · Bethlehem | |
| Languages | |
| Greek and Hebrew | |
| Religion | |
| Greek Orthodox Church and Judaism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Greek people |
The Greeks have a long presence in Israel.[citation needed]
History
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2014) |
In the late 330s BCE, Alexander the Great invaded the Middle East (including the area which is now Israel), during his campaigns against the Achaemenid Empire. The landscape during this period was markedly changed by extensive growth and development that included urban planning and the establishment of well-built fortified cities. Hellenistic pottery, trade and commerce flourished, particularly in the most Hellenized areas, such as Ashkelon, Jaffa, Jerusalem, Gaza, and ancient Nablus (Tell Balatah).[1]
When the Hasmonean Kingdom was absorbed into the Roman Empire, the area remained under the influence of the Greek language and culture. Especially when the Byzantine Empire took the position of the Romans, Palaestina reached its greatest prosperity in antiquity. Urbanization increased, large new areas were put under cultivation, monasteries proliferated and synagogues were restored. The cities of Palaestina Prima and Teria, such as Caesarea Maritima, Jerusalem, Scythopolis, Neapolis, and Gaza reached their peak population, and the population west of the Jordan may have reached as many as one million.
Since the 7th century, when the Arabs transmitted Islam into the region, the Greek presence was reduced.[citation needed] Today there is a small Greek community in Israel.[citation needed] Also there are Greeks in charge of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.[2] There is also a large number of Romaniote and Sephardic Greek Jews who emigrated from Greece and live now in Israel. Some of who made aliyah over the previous centuries with most moving to Israel after the independence.
During the WWII some of the Greek community went to Greece voluntarily to fight against the Axis powers.[3]
Notable people
- Ofir Akunis, politician
- Yehuda Poliker, singer and musician
- Aris San, singer and nightclub owner who popularized Greek music in Israel
See also
References
- ^ "Palestine in the Hellenistic Age - My Jewish Learning". myjewishlearning.com. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
- ^ "Πατριαρχείον Ιεροσολύμων". jerusalem-patriarchate.info. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
- ^ The Greek Colony is testament to Jerusalem's changing demographics.
External links
- "Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III". Palestine-Israel Journal. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
- "Israel's International Relations:". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
- "Greeks in Israel - Greek expats in Israel". InterNations. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
| Old Greek Diaspora | |
|---|---|
| New Greek Diaspora |
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| Traditional areas of Greek settlement | |
| Europe | |
| Caucasus and Central Asia | |
| Middle East | |
| Africa | |
| Latin America | |
| Asia-Pacific | |
