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Zvi Koretz
Zvi Hirsch Koretz (Greek: Σέβη Κόρετς; 2 June 1884 – 3 June 1945), also written as Tzevi or Sevi Koretz, was an Ashkenazi Jew who served as the Chief Rabbi of Saloniki's Jewish community from 1933 to 1945. His role as president of the Judenrat during World War II has been called into controversy, with many accusing him of being a Nazi collaborator.
Koretz was born on 2 June 1884 in Rzeszów, Galicia, Austria-Hungary. He would study in the Higher Institute for Jewish Studies in Berlin, where he received a doctorate in philosophy and Semitic languages, writing his thesis on "The Description of Hell in the Quran and its Prototypes in Jewish Literature." Following this he would receive semicha from this same institution. In 1927 he would marry a woman named Gita, a fellow native of Galicia, in Hamburg.
In 1933 Koretz, an Ashkenazi Jew who followed a 'liberal tradition,' was made Chief Rabbi of Salonika, a Sephardic community that mostly spoke Ladino. His office was given, on the condition that he would be able to learn Ladino and Greek within three months, and after doing so he would begin to make a name for himself by working with the government on their behalf. His politicking would make him an ally to several prominent members of the military, government, and the King, among whom he would often make public declarations of support.
Despite his connections outside of the community, Koretz had many detractors due to him not practicing Orthodox Judaism and living lavishly. His first actions in office would make this apparent as his first priority had been to secure the community funds and establish a large salary for himself. His lack of familiarity with Sephardic traditions would result in much of the responsibilities normally held by the spiritual office being delegated to local rabbis. Because of these strained relations he would bring several Ladino newspapers to civil court in 1934 for defamation, rather than the Beth Din, for attacks against his taking a large personal salary and desecrating the Sabbath. His choice to forgo the Beth Din, would raise questions of whether the institution needed reform. While his predecessor focused the office on resolving matters of halacha for the community, his first communal acts would update census information for the government; this would go into effect in 1934 and would be the basis for neighborhood lists that would be handed over to the Nazis by Koretz.
He would receive letters of reassurance from General Metaxas that the Jewish people would continue to be welcomed in Greece during the 1930s and would successfully petition funding for two new Jewish schools in Salonika. In March 1937 Koretz was able to negotiate an additional 500,000 drachmas for the local Jewish schools, however in June the community adopted measures to dismiss educators due to the threat of bankruptcy.
Despite the personal criticisms and ongoing financial struggles of the community, he was chosen to continue serving as the Chief Rabbi in 1938 at the directive of General Metaxas.
World War II saw Greece thrust into the conflict as they were invaded in 1940. During this period Koretz would write an appeal to the American Jewish Congress, relating to the international community and protesting how the Axis forces bombed civilian targets, such as the local Hagia Sophia Cathedral, in air raids, as well as heavily affecting the poor Jews of the city. During the war he would also be called on by the Archbishop of Athens to assist in the memorial service for several Jewish military men who were killed during the conflict, notably among them being Col. Mordechai Frizis. Koretz would be honored as the first Jewish member of the Parnassos Literary Society following the memorial service.
After Greece was conquered, Koretz was to be charged by the Nazis for anti-German propaganda. He was arrested in Athens on 15 April 1941 and deported to Vienna where he was held in a gestapo prison for nine months. He was released the following January and would return to Salonika, where he continued to serve as Chief Rabbi of the community before being imprisoned again for coming into conflict with, then Judenrat president, Shabbetai Saltiel, despite the president previously approving him to continue serving the community.
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Zvi Koretz
Zvi Hirsch Koretz (Greek: Σέβη Κόρετς; 2 June 1884 – 3 June 1945), also written as Tzevi or Sevi Koretz, was an Ashkenazi Jew who served as the Chief Rabbi of Saloniki's Jewish community from 1933 to 1945. His role as president of the Judenrat during World War II has been called into controversy, with many accusing him of being a Nazi collaborator.
Koretz was born on 2 June 1884 in Rzeszów, Galicia, Austria-Hungary. He would study in the Higher Institute for Jewish Studies in Berlin, where he received a doctorate in philosophy and Semitic languages, writing his thesis on "The Description of Hell in the Quran and its Prototypes in Jewish Literature." Following this he would receive semicha from this same institution. In 1927 he would marry a woman named Gita, a fellow native of Galicia, in Hamburg.
In 1933 Koretz, an Ashkenazi Jew who followed a 'liberal tradition,' was made Chief Rabbi of Salonika, a Sephardic community that mostly spoke Ladino. His office was given, on the condition that he would be able to learn Ladino and Greek within three months, and after doing so he would begin to make a name for himself by working with the government on their behalf. His politicking would make him an ally to several prominent members of the military, government, and the King, among whom he would often make public declarations of support.
Despite his connections outside of the community, Koretz had many detractors due to him not practicing Orthodox Judaism and living lavishly. His first actions in office would make this apparent as his first priority had been to secure the community funds and establish a large salary for himself. His lack of familiarity with Sephardic traditions would result in much of the responsibilities normally held by the spiritual office being delegated to local rabbis. Because of these strained relations he would bring several Ladino newspapers to civil court in 1934 for defamation, rather than the Beth Din, for attacks against his taking a large personal salary and desecrating the Sabbath. His choice to forgo the Beth Din, would raise questions of whether the institution needed reform. While his predecessor focused the office on resolving matters of halacha for the community, his first communal acts would update census information for the government; this would go into effect in 1934 and would be the basis for neighborhood lists that would be handed over to the Nazis by Koretz.
He would receive letters of reassurance from General Metaxas that the Jewish people would continue to be welcomed in Greece during the 1930s and would successfully petition funding for two new Jewish schools in Salonika. In March 1937 Koretz was able to negotiate an additional 500,000 drachmas for the local Jewish schools, however in June the community adopted measures to dismiss educators due to the threat of bankruptcy.
Despite the personal criticisms and ongoing financial struggles of the community, he was chosen to continue serving as the Chief Rabbi in 1938 at the directive of General Metaxas.
World War II saw Greece thrust into the conflict as they were invaded in 1940. During this period Koretz would write an appeal to the American Jewish Congress, relating to the international community and protesting how the Axis forces bombed civilian targets, such as the local Hagia Sophia Cathedral, in air raids, as well as heavily affecting the poor Jews of the city. During the war he would also be called on by the Archbishop of Athens to assist in the memorial service for several Jewish military men who were killed during the conflict, notably among them being Col. Mordechai Frizis. Koretz would be honored as the first Jewish member of the Parnassos Literary Society following the memorial service.
After Greece was conquered, Koretz was to be charged by the Nazis for anti-German propaganda. He was arrested in Athens on 15 April 1941 and deported to Vienna where he was held in a gestapo prison for nine months. He was released the following January and would return to Salonika, where he continued to serve as Chief Rabbi of the community before being imprisoned again for coming into conflict with, then Judenrat president, Shabbetai Saltiel, despite the president previously approving him to continue serving the community.