Sephardic Brotherhood Tour Explores the Jewish Heritage of Greece & the Balkans
- Magazine Staff
- Oct 9
- 2 min read
What an incredible journey it has been! This summer, 21 members of the Sephardic Brotherhood of America from across the United States—representing communities in New York, South Florida, Philadelphia, and Seattle—embarked on a remarkable 10-day heritage tour through Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Greece. Led by distinguished guides and community leaders, the trip offered an unforgettable mix of history, culture, and personal discovery.
Our adventure began in Bulgaria, with visits to Sofia and Plovdiv. The group explored the country’s beautiful synagogues, Jewish community centers, and historic sites, while also meeting young Jewish leaders and the Bulgarian Jewish Community’s Executive Director, Maxim Delchev. A highlight was attending a special Ladino concert with the Sephardic Community Choir—a moving celebration of the music and traditions that connect Sephardim across generations. The warmth and hospitality of the Bulgarian Jewish community left a deep impression, inspiring hopes for future collaborations.
From there, the tour crossed into North Macedonia, stopping in the cities of Skopje and Monastir (Bitola). Here, participants visited the Holocaust Memorial Center for the Jews of North Macedonia, toured the Jewish community center and synagogue, and walked the same streets their ancestors once knew. For some, this was an especially poignant moment—tracing family roots to the Calderon, Farhi, and Varsano families of Monastir. Between solemn moments of remembrance, the group enjoyed the vibrant local atmosphere, including the city’s old bazaar.
The journey then brought us into Northern Greece, where the rich tapestry of Sephardic and Romaniote Jewish history unfolded in Thessaloniki (Salonika), Ioannina, and Corfu. In Salonika, we celebrated a heartfelt Shabbat with the local Sephardic community, singing Ladino songs with Sepharadim from around the world. Some travelers even found the houses where their ancestors once lived, discovering family connections to the Esformes, Sciaky, Mordehai, Senor, and Varsano families of Salonika, and the Koen and Cantos families of Ioannina. In Ioannina, the group experienced the beauty and uniqueness of Romaniote traditions, a living link to one of the oldest Jewish communities in Europe.
Corfu offered a blend of history and leisure—walking through the Venetian-style old town, visiting the island’s Jewish community, and enjoying its stunning beaches. The final leg of the trip took the group to Athens, where they toured the Jewish Museum, met with leaders of the Jewish Community of Athens, and explored the city’s historic Jewish quarter. Of course, no visit would be complete without a stop at the iconic Acropolis.
Throughout the tour, moments of joy and reflection intertwined. Participants honored the memory of those lost in the Holocaust, celebrated the survival of Sephardic and Romaniote traditions, and deepened their bonds as a community.
Special thanks go to Jewish community leaders and guides Hella and Elias Matalon, Zacharias Matathias, Maxim Delchev, and especially Professor Joseph Benatov of Sephardic Balkans: Jewish Heritage Trips for their expertise and dedication in bringing this journey to life.
This tour was more than just a trip—it was a bridge across centuries, connecting people to their roots, their heritage, and to one another.