WHISC Virtual Panel
November 25, 2026 | 19:00 Israel Time
Online Event | Zoom
This panel explores the lives and experiences of Jewish women in Greece before, during, and after the Holocaust. Bringing together perspectives on community life, persecution, survival, and resistance, the presentations place women’s voices and agency at the center of the discussion.
Through the testimonies of Holocaust survivors from Kastoria and the experiences of women partisans in the Greek resistance, the panel considers how gender, community ties, and personal initiative shaped women’s responses to extraordinary circumstances.
Prof. Dr. Lily Zamir
Mr. Clifton (Cliff) Russo
Donor of the Russo Fellowship in Holocaust Studies, established in memory of his mother and aunt.
Reconfiguring Gender and Community: The Jewish Women of Kastoria Before, During, and After the Holocaust
This presentation examines the history of the Jewish community of Kastoria, Greece, with a particular focus on the experiences of female Holocaust survivors. Addressing the relative marginalization of Sephardic Jewish narratives within Holocaust historiography, it seeks to contribute to a more inclusive understanding of the past by foregrounding voices often overlooked.
Drawing on oral testimonies from five survivors—Lena Russo, Boyena Mevorach, Nina Levy, Berry Nahmia, and Anna Saady—this study explores everyday life in Kastoria before the Second World War, the impact of Italian and Nazi occupation, and the aftermath of the Holocaust.
Methodologically, the presentation combines oral history with secondary literature in order to reconstruct lived experiences through personal memory while situating them within broader historical contexts. The analysis of testimonies reveals both shared and individual experiences of persecution, survival, and loss, while also emphasizing the importance of networks, language, and agency under extreme conditions.
Women Partisans in the National Resistance Movement in Greece
November 25, 2026 | 19:00 Israel Time | Zoom
Join us for an evening exploring Jewish women’s experiences of community, survival, and resistance in Greece during the Holocaust.