Emigration

Young Rhodeslis leaving Rhodes at the end of 1938. (Period of Anti-Jewish laws). Rhodesli Jewish Calendar September 2013.

At the beginning of the 1900’s a growing number of Jews left the Island of Rhodes for other lands primarily in search of better economic opportunities. At first, most were young men who traveled with the intention of making some money and then return to pursue their family life on Rhodes. As time went by they tended to stay and then called for their family to establish a home in their new location.

The most popular destinations at that time were the Congo, Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) and the United States. A smaller number emigrated to South America, other countries of Africa and to Israel. Almost all of those that traveled to the United States passed through Ellis Island in New York.

A large number of Jews left Rhodes in 1938 and 1939 due to the War in Europe and as a result of the passing of anti-Jewish laws.

Postcard by Leon Levy. RJHF Archives.

The postcard image was sent from Rhodes by Haim Benveniste to a family in the Los Angeles. It was written in Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) handwriting called “Solitreo”. It says: “Kon este vapor parto el 12 de Desember”. English Translation: “I am leaving on this steamship on December 12”.

Audio Recoding

A portion of the audio recording of Joseph Capeloto emigrating from Rhodes to the United States in 1907 at 14. After arriving in New York, Joseph stayed in New York for 8 days and then traveled to Seattle, Washington, where his brother-in-law, Behor Joseph Alhadeff, had preceded him three years earlier. In Seattle, Joseph earned $8 per week and sent monies to his family that helped them immigrate to the U.S. in 1909. (Interview by Aron Hasson, April 26, 1972.)

A portion of the audio recording of Nissim (Nace) Treves emigrating from Rhodes to Africa. He boarded the ship, Giulio Cesare from Genoa to Cape Town in 1939. Due to the difficulties caused by the Italian fascist government policies, he obtained documents to travel and join his brother, Alex, who was living in the Katanga province of the Congo. (Interview by Aron Hasson, March 16, 1998, in Los Angeles). Read Stories of Emigration: Oral History Transcript – Nissim “Nace” Treves.

Images of Places Where the Rhodeslis Emigrated

Montgomery, Alabama

1912 photo in Montgomery, at the “brit milah” of Morris Rousso. In the center (each holding a baby): Mazaltov Piha holding Isaac, Baruch Cohen holding Diana (Polichar), Sol Cohen holding Victor, Sultana Capelouto holding Bolly, Sultana Rousso, a domestic helper holding Morris Rousso. Standing left to right: Emilie Franco, Bension Taranto, Elie Hanan, Victor Franco, unknown, Solomon Rousso, Sadie Taranto. Four men on the floor: Ralph Cohen (with mustache), Efraim Taranto (with white shirt), Abraham Franco and Joe Taranto.

Atlanta, Georgia

1912 in Atlanta of many immigrants from Rhodes of the wedding party of Ezra and Joya Touriel at the Cohen home. Guests included Rabeno Galanti, Leo Amiel, Morris Hanan, Behor Arogeti, Mazaltov and Moreno Benvenisty, Morris Capouano, Victor Benatar, Chilibi Amato, David Tourial, Behor Levy, Daniel Rousso, Jack Galanti, Abraham Franco,Joe Galanti, Victor Behar, Louise Behar Barocas, Sadie Behar Mardy and Jack Behar.

Los Angeles, California

1920 picnic at Griffith Park (L-R): Front row: Joseph Mayo, Marco Tarica, Jack Menashe, Joseph Behor Hasson, Reuben Israel, Solomon Israel, Victoria Israel Levy (young girl sitting in front), Morris Capelouto, Isaac Shemaria. 2nd row: Mrs. Tovil, Haim Tovil, Samuel Israel, Nahman Hanan, Mike Hasson, Joseph Benveniste, Rosa Benveniste, Mr. Perikle (Greek), Jack Benditcha Israel, last person is blurred. 3rd row: Morris Conae (with “ud”), Joseph (“Piloto”) Hasson, Louie Cohen, Morris Hasson, Nissim Franco, Aslan Cohen (with daughter in front), Rosha Capelouto Cohen (with Beulah Cohen Moore in front), Behora Mosafir Soriano, Vital Soriano (with Regina Soriano sitting in front), Hermana Caden Alhadeff, Haim Benditcha Israel and Rosa Hasson Israel (holding infant, Morris). 4th row (starting from middle of the photo): Ruben Pizante, Sarina Altabet, Victor Pizante, Lena Pizante, Ricucha Menashe and 3 children: Regina Nassie Hasson, unknown child and Victor Cohen. 5th row: Miriam Israel, Rose Israel Cadranel (little girl), Boulisa Angel, Rosa Capelouto, Victoria Angel, Gracia Hasson, Victoria Hasson, Rahel Tarica, Behora Berro, Rahel Tarica Hasson, Behora Benveniste, Luna Hanan Nassie, Mazaltov Hanan Mayo and Yuda Nassie. Back row: Lou Angel, Mike Angel, Yehuda Angel, Clara Hasson, girl unknown, Rose Pizanti Israel, Mike Capelouto, David Capelouto, Nissim Angel, Jack Angel, Mary Hasson, unknown child, Victor Hasson, unknown child, Louie Benveniste, Isaac “Bob” Benveniste, unknown, Esther Israel.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

1922 photo: Left to right, standing: Moises Hana, Benjamin Hana, unknown, Alejandro Hana and Hanula Berro. Left to right, sitting: Jose Capeluto, Rachel Cohen, Samuel Hana, Esther Hana de Capeluto, Alejandro Capeluto, Rebecca Mizrahi de Berro, Roberto Berro, and the baby “Muicu” (Moises) Capeluto. Photo from Nora Graciela Cohen.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

1923 photo of the Musafir Family in Rio de Janeiro. Standing: Jacques Israel, Mussani Musafir, Jair Musafir, Ricardo Rahamim Musafir and Victor Musafir. Sitting: Bulissa Musafir Hazan, Rosa Musafir Israel, Rosa Barki Musafir, Lea Alhadeff Musafir, Rebecca Menache Musafir and Leonor Soriano Musafir. Front: Leonard, Charlotte and Josue Hazan. From: Jacques & Ricardo Musafir.

Seattle, Washington

1924 photo in Seattle of the wedding of Morris Israel and Gentil Levy on the steps of the synagogue of the immigrants from Rhodes called, Ezra Bessaroth. The two flower girls in front are Bona Israel Hasson and Sarah Levy.

Portland, Oregon

1929 groundbreaking ceremony in Portland of the Ahavath Achim Congregation. People in photo include Ezra Menashe, Zimbul Eskanazi, Fannie Eskanazi, Rabbi Fain, Isaac Hasson, Ojen Babani, Samuel Babani, Benjamin Selling, Rebecca Hasson, Abraham Hasson, Joseph Hasson, Mordechai Menashe, Isaac Cordova and Abraham Hunio.

Harare, Zimbabwe

1933 photo at the Hunyani river near Harare, Zimbabwe. In the center, standing left to right: Violette Hasson Mizrahi (child at her right hand is Elsie Menasce Mizrahi), Flo Galante Benatar and Hermana Behora Almeleh Hasson. On the ground in front, left to right: Morris Almeleh, Ida Alhadeff Hasson-Lebovitz, Lucia Almeleh Habib (holding Raymond Hasson), Sarina Capelouto Tarica, Victor Capelouto, Sarah Almeleh Rousso and the boy at right is Jacky Ferrera. Child sitting in the “Austin 7” automobile is Solly Benatar, child next to auto is unknown. (3 men in the background are unidentifiable.)

Katanga, Congo

1933 photo of a picnic in the Katanga province of the Congo. Sitting, left to right: Mr. Capelouto, Marco Benatar, Sammy Tarica, a Belgian, Eliachon Piha, Isidore Levy, a Belgian, Selma Benatar, Rosa Soriano, Moreno Soriano, Sam Hasson and Moise Rousso. Standing, left to right: a Congolese, Salvatore Israel, Alfred Habib, Yedid Alhadeff, unknown, and Isaac Levy.

Jerusalem, Israel

1934 wedding of Caden Berro and Masud Dudaie in Jerusalem.

New York, New York

1935 photo in New York of a banquet held by the Brotherhood League of Rhodes. It was originally organized in 1910 and incorporated in 1912. Similar to the experience in other U.S. cities, a group would be formed to aid the new immigrants regarding burial requirements as well as to conduct religious services and organize social affairs.