Reflecting on Rhodes: Where My Nonnie’s Story Began

The author Madeleine Roer, watching a recording of her grandmother Stella Varon Tarica give her survivor testimony at the Jewish Museum of Rhodes

My Nonnie, Stella Varon Tarica, was born in Rhodes and lived there until she was just 13 years old, when she and her family were deported to Auschwitz. After spending nearly a year there, she was liberated and reunited with her uncle, brother, and sister in the Belgian Congo. Eventually, Stella immigrated to the United States and settled in Seattle's Seward Park neighborhood, where she met and married my Papu, Morris. Together they built a life and raised two daughters, my aunt Phyllis and my mother, Jackie.

Just a few weeks ago, I had the privilege of traveling through Jewish Greece on a trip organized by the Greek Jewish and Sephardic Young Professionals Network. The trip was an unforgettable experience to reconnect with my heritage alongside other Sephardic Jews. We started in Thessaloniki, and from there we visited Kastoria, Veria, Ioannina, Athens, and finally Rhodes. This was my first time visiting the island where my Nonnie’s story began. As the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, visiting Rhodes was far more than a trip. For me, it was an opportunity to walk through the places that shaped my family's history and deepen my connection to a community that was devastated by the Holocaust.

As I reflect on what was a deeply personal experience, I am left with an even stronger connection to my family's roots and to the vibrant Jewish community that once flourished there. Walking through the narrow cobblestone streets behind the great stone fortress walls felt like stepping back in time. It was impossible not to imagine the lives that were lived there, the families, the traditions, and the sense of community that once filled those streets before it was all shattered by the Holocaust.

The most moving moment for me was standing in front of my Nonnie’s family home. Although the house still shows damage from bombings during the war, a tree has grown in the yard over the decades. To me, that tree became a powerful symbol. It reminded me that even after unimaginable destruction, life has the capacity to endure. Our family, our traditions, and our stories have continued to grow because survivors like my Nonnie chose hope over despair and built new lives despite everything they had lost.

The author sitting outside her grandmother's childhood home on the island of Rhodes

After seeing her childhood home, we visited the Kahal Shalom Synagogue and museum. There, unexpectedly, I came across a video recording of my Nonnie sharing her Holocaust testimony. I had no idea it would be there.

My Nonnie rarely spoke about her experiences during the Holocaust. Like many survivors, she carried much of that pain quietly. This recording was especially meaningful because it was the last time she formally shared her testimony before she passed away. I still remember the day it was recorded and how our whole family was there because we knew how significant it was that she had agreed to tell her story.

I had seen earlier recordings of her testimony from years before, but this one was different. In those earlier interviews, it often felt as though she was saying so much without fully revealing the depth of what she had endured. In this recording, I could hear the emotion in her voice. Standing in the very place where her story began and listening to her speak those words was overwhelming. It felt as though she was bringing me back to the Rhodes she once called home and reminding me that these stories are not simply part of the past. Rather, they are a living legacy that we have the responsibility to carry forward.

Being in Rhodes transformed the stories I had heard into something tangible. I was no longer just learning about my family's history—I was standing where it happened. It reinforced for me the importance of remembering not only how this community was destroyed, but also how richly it lived.

Reflecting on this journey reinforced that we carry the responsibility of preserving these stories and passing them on to future generations. Memory is one of the greatest acts of resistance against hatred and indifference. By remembering the Jews of Rhodes, we ensure that their lives and their traditions are never forgotten.

Participants on the 2026 Young Professionals Tour of Jewish Greece visiting Athens