Nissim and Rahel (née Tarica) Cohen in Ottoman-styled clothing. Notice the sheshikus on the ground. From: Esther Cohen Shear
These photos represent a perspective of typical Jewish families of Rhodes. In many photos, you will notice the distinctive foreground of the graceful stone mosaic floors called “sheshikus” used throughout Rhodes’s Old City. These stones were used to pave the streets and flooring of the homes, shops, and even the synagogues.
The poses may appear to be more “stiff” than normal. That was because the camera lens was required to remain open for at least a few seconds—so the photographer would say the equivalent of, “OK, hold still.”
The men wore the “fez” which was the customary Turkish headwear, salvar (long wide trousers) and entari (robe). The women often wore the sayo (tunic or robe), entari (dress), jube (overcoat lined with fur) and the traditional head cover, called the “tokado”. A “rozeta” (ornamental pin) was fastened in the front center of the “tokado” which symbolized the woman’s married status.
The family photos also illustrate the fashion transition; it shows the change in European clothing styles. Older family members tended to dress in the costume of the Turkish traditions, while the younger family members would adopt the more European styles. The younger women wore shorter dress lengths, and some started wearing high heels and new hairstyles of curls and waves.
Below are some of the family photographs submitted to the RJHF Archives. If you’re interested in sharing family pictures and documents, please send the highest quality scan with descriptions to: info@rhodesjewishmuseum.org
1908 of Yacov Capelouto and Estrella Mizrahi. Their children: Amelie (left), Nissim (infant) and Rosa (standing). From: Elie, Corinne Soriano and Rina Soriano Hasson.
1909 Family Portrait of Heskia Franco and Reina Piha. From: Jeanie Franco Marx.
Circa 1910 of Behor Myer Huniu and Sarota Pilosof (sitting at the center). L-R sitting on floor: Morris Huniu, Catherine Huniu Benghiat and Flora Huniu Levy. Standing in back, L-R: Gabriel Pilosof, Luna Pilosof and Asher Huniu. From: Al and Rae Huniu.
Circa 1910 of the Angel family. The older woman in dark dress in center is Bulissa Esther Huniu married to Behor Yeudah Angel. The woman in white dress above Bulissa Huniu is her daughter Behora Victoria Angel and girl on right side of the second row is her daughter Luna Angel. The other children are Morris, Ralph, Joseph, Abner, Raymond and Victor. From: Leon Levy.
1913. L-R: Nessim, Sarah, Samuel, Isaac & Morris. Children in the front row: John & Bona (Hasson). From: Daisy Israel.
Seated: Rahamin Pizante & Palomba (Cohen). Standing L-R: Allegra, Victor, Esther. Front: Rebecca & Vida. From: Michael Policar.
(L-R) Rita, Sarina (back), Raphael, Isaac (seated), Djoya (seated) holding baby Allegra, Salvatore, Mathilda (back) and Rachel. From: Isaac Benatar.
Seated: Yeshua Shemarya and Desiada (Cohen). From: Al Shemarya.
Benun Family: Sara Benun Piha, Mazaltov Berro Benun, Nissim Benun and Rachel Benun Asfari. Two boys infront are children of Sara: Salvator and David. From: Rose Marie Callahan.
1917 of the Amato family. Standing L-R: Matilda, Morris, Yaacov, Edward and Marie. The young boy standing is Aron. Sitting in front wearing the fez is Albert (Behor). The woman sitting is Rahel (Capelouto) holding daughter, Esther. The young girl standing in front is Reina. From: Esther Amato Pergament.
1917 of the Benveniste family. L-R: Catherine (Hasson), Sarota (Arugheti), Moshe and Emily. From: Shirlee and David Peha.
1918 of the Rafael Hasson family. L-R: Jamilia, Mary, Rafael, Solomon, Salvator, Rachel, Victor (infant) and Amelie (Cohen). From: Amelie Hasson Cohen and Catherine Halfon.
1919 of the Fis family. L-R: Isaac, Miriam, Yacov and Bension Fis. From: Steven Benveniste Nemirovsky.
1922 of Caden Bili, Yacov Levy an child, Alberto Levy. From: Sonja Vansteenkiste-Bilé.
L to R: Giuseppe “Joseph” Codron (1909 – 1927), Rabbi Isaac Cordon’s sister (married last name: Benatar); Rabbi Isaac Codron and Rebecca “Rivke” née Franco and Scemtov (Santo) Codron (1913 – 1997). From: Cheryl Codron.
Early 1920s. Standing L-R: Amelia, Sadoc, Mari, Victor holding Isahar (infant). Sitting L-R: Yakov “Pasha” Israel, Mazaltov Notrica and Abraham Bohor Avzaradel. From: Victor Avzaradel.
Standing: Yakir, Seated: Elie Benatar and Rachel Mizrahi, Sarina (back), on the right: Victoria and Bertha. From: Claude Benatar.
1921 of the Alhadeff family. L-R: Salvador, Masliah, Sol Leon, Allegra, Joseph (infant), Davidchon and Marie. From: Joseph D. Alhadeff.
1921 of Buena Leah DeLeon and Heskia Tarica. From: Henry and Renee Tarica.
1921 of the Cohen family. L-F: Olga, Ruben, Flor Tarica, Rahamim and Bertha. The boy sitting is Sami. From: Esther Cohen Shear.
Franco & Capouya family. Back L-R: Sol, Rachel Bohora Capouya, Joseph Hai Franco and Marie. Children In front L-R: Liv, Hertzel, Laura, Aron and Hillel. From: Esther Franco Gordon.
1922 of the Shemaria family: Jacob (sitting) with infant, Alberto, Moshe and Flor. From: Benny and Sarah Jason.
1922 of the Hazan family. Father sitting is Perahia, mother sitting is Rica Rosanes. The children are: Samuel, Hacco, Sarina, Reina, Rafael and Pepo. From: Lou Hasson.
1924 of the Levi family. L-R: Yehuda, Sarah, Renee (child in front), Miriam Notrica (sitting), Selma (Mizrahi) and Victor. From: Joseph and Victoria Hasson.
Sara “Giovanna” (née Hasson) and Jacob Surmani. From: Jack Surmani.
Joseph and Ester (née Tarica) Benatar. From: Laura Larsen.
L-R: Perla Levi, Rivca (née Rousso) Codron (sitting), Mousani Codron. Boy at the back, Isidore Sonsol holding baby Maurice Codron. From: Ketty and Norman Amato.
1924 of the Touriel family. L-R: Esther (Franco), Elie, Jacob (sitting), Reina (Menashe), Esther (Menashe) (sitting), Claire (Alhadeff-Peha) and Vida (Franco). From: Selma Franco Jaffe.
Seated in the middle: Chelibi wearing a fez next to a child and Rachel (Soriano) Alcana. From: Yoram Alcana and Rahamim Elkana.
1925 Sadis Family. From: Jake and Sylvia Tarica.
1925 of Caden (Benoun) Menashe with her nephews. At the far left is Sam. At the left, above is Albert, in front of him is Haim. At the right, above is Rahamin, in front is Jack. From: Aron and Sepora Benoun.
1927 Rhodes wedding of Israel “Harry” Benveniste and Rebecca Rousso. This photo was taken at the stairs of the Benveniste family home. From: Arthur Benveniste.
1928 Sam Piha and Missode Israel’s wedding at a hotel in Rhodes. From: Janine Eskenazi Hasson.
Circa 1930s of Aron and Marie (née Capeluto) Menashe. From Morris Menasche.
Circa 1930 of the Gaon Family. Standing: Dr. David Gaon, Maurice Gaon, Camer Fresco, Norman Fresco, Sam (Silvio) Gaon and Neileh Fresco Gaon. Sitting: Rebecca Fresco, Zelda Gaon and Moise Fresco. From: Cynthia Wexler.
Marie Ventura and Ezra Hanan with their children. Behind Ezra is Sara Hanan, the 2nd of six children and the sole Holocaust survivor in her family. From: Sara Hanan Gilmore.
1935 of the Modiano and Franco Family. Diana (née Franco), Lucia, Giacobbe and Sami in Rhodes. Sami is a Holocaust survivor. From: Selma & Sami Modiano.
1938 of the Benveniste and Cordoval Family. Standing L-R: Stella, Reuben and Nissim. Sitting: Sipora “Birdie” (née Cordoval) with 2 children (unknown). They were killed in Auschwitz, except for Stella who survived the death camps. From: Benny Leon.
Capouya, Piha and Franco Family. Seated: Miriam (née Piha) Capouya (died in Auschwitz); Rabbi Yakov Capouya (Capuya) with Rachel Behora Capouya Franco (standing). From: Esther Franco Gordon.
1938 of the Varon and Cohen Family. Standing L-R: Laura Varon Israel, Stella Varon Tarica and Asher. Seated L-R: Regina Cohen, Salomon Varon, and Joseph. All 6 were deported to Auschwitz; Salomon and Regina were killed in August 1944; All 4 children survived. From: Joseph Treves.
Rhodes Jewish Historical Foundation
