Moshe Pesach facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moshe Pesach
Μωυσής Πεσάχ/Πέσαχ
Born	1869 Larissa, Greece
Died	13 November 1955 (aged 85–86) Volos, Greece
Burial place	Jerusalem
Occupation	Rabbi
Children	2

Moshe Pesach (born 1869, died 1955) was an important Greek rabbi. He served as the rabbi of Volos, a city in Greece, from 1892 until he passed away. Later, in 1946, he became the main or chief rabbi for all of Greece. He is famous for helping to save most of the Jewish people in Volos during the Holocaust, with the help of Greek officials.

Early Life and Work

Moshe Pesach was born in Larissa, Greece, in 1869. He studied Jewish writings and ideas in Thessaloniki. In 1892, he started working as a rabbi in the Jewish community of Volos.

In the early 1900s, Volos had a lively Jewish community. Around 500 Jewish people lived there in 1896. This number grew to about 2,000 by 1930. However, by 1940, the number dropped to 882. Many people moved to bigger cities like Thessaloniki and Athens, or even to other countries. In 1939, King George II of Greece gave Rabbi Pesach a special award called the Gold Cross of the Order of the Phoenix.

Saving Lives During World War II

After Germany invaded Greece in April 1941, Rabbi Pesach joined a secret network. This group helped Allied soldiers who were stuck in occupied Greece escape to the Middle East.

In the first years of the war, the Italian army controlled Volos. In 1943, the Germans began to send Jewish people from areas they controlled to concentration camps. Many Jewish people from Volos started to leave the city. They went to Athens or hid in the countryside.

German Occupation and Rescue Efforts

After Italy stopped fighting in September 1943, the Germans took control of Volos. On September 30, the German commander, Kurt Rikert, called Rabbi Pesach to his office. He demanded a list of all Jewish people and their property within 24 hours. He said this was to figure out food supplies.

Rabbi Pesach suspected the Germans had a different plan. He managed to get three days to provide the list. He immediately contacted local Greek leaders. These included the mayor, the police chief, and the bishop of Demetrias, Joachim Alexopoulos. The bishop spoke with the local German consul, Helmut Scheffel, who was a friend. The consul confirmed that the Jewish people should leave as soon as possible.

With false identity papers and a letter from the bishop, about 700 Jewish people from Volos scattered into the countryside. The bishop's letter asked local church leaders to help them. Many of these people joined the Greek Resistance, a group fighting against the Germans.

About 130 Jewish people, mostly those who could not leave, stayed behind. The Germans rounded them up on March 24–25, 1944. They were sent to death camps. Sadly, 117 Jewish people from Volos died in these camps. About 30 more died from hardship and hunger. However, Rabbi Pesach's actions saved 74% of the Jewish citizens of Volos. This was the second highest percentage saved in Greece. The island of Zakynthos saved all its Jewish community.

Rabbi Pesach himself survived by hiding with the partisans in the mountains. Sadly, his wife died from the difficult conditions. His two sons, who taught Judaism in other cities, were captured and killed by the Germans.

After the War

After Greece was freed, Rabbi Pesach returned to Volos. In 1946, he became the chief rabbi of all Greece. He received an award from the Allied Middle East Headquarters. In 1952, King Paul of Greece honored him with the Order of George I.

In April 1955, a strong earthquake hit Volos. The elderly rabbi had to live in a tent. Later, he gave up his own house to help build a new synagogue in the same spot. He passed away on November 13, 1955.

In 1957, Rabbi Pesach and his wife Sara were buried in Jerusalem. His large collection of books was moved to the Ben-Zvi Institute.

On April 16, 2015, Rabbi Pesach's important role was remembered. A special ceremony was held by B'nai B'rith and the Jewish National Fund at the Forest of the Martyrs in Jerusalem.