BCLA Students Preserve History and Build Community Through Internships at Etz Hayyim Synagogue in Greece

In the summer of 2024, two students from the LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, Anna Tullie '24 and Tanya Rasheesa '25, had the privilege of spending their month-long internship at the Etz Hayyim Synagogue in Chania, Crete. Their time in this beautiful city, steeped in history and culture, allowed them to engage deeply with the Jewish community of Crete, its history, and the preservation of its rich heritage.

The Etz Hayyim Synagogue, which has become a vital hub for both religious and cultural activities in Chania, has played an essential role in preserving the legacy of the Cretan Jewish community. Since its rededication in 2000, the synagogue has been operated by a non-profit organization in partnership with the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (KISE). Despite lacking public funding, the organization has made significant strides in educating visitors and commemorating the tragic history of the island's Jews, particularly those affected by the horrors of World War II.

The Greek Romaniote Jews
For Tullie, a sociology major with a minor in classics and archaeology, the internship was a profound educational experience. The significance of the synagogue deeply moved her as both a living religious space and a center for memorialization. One of her most impactful moments came while helping with the opening of the "Faces From Our Past" exhibition, a project honoring the Jewish community of Crete and its history, including the devastating loss of life in the sinking of the Tanais, a German commercial vessel carrying Jewish Cretans, Italian prisoners of war, and Greek resistance fighters to German death camps. The ship was torpedoed by a British submarine in 1944, killing nearly everyone aboard.

During the exhibition, Tullie had the opportunity to guide visitors and share the heartbreaking story of the Tanais, which many were unaware of before their visit. "On numerous occasions, visitors would tell me about how they never knew about the sinking of Tanais or even about the Cretan Jewish community. The visitors would also mention how grateful they were to have learned about this community," she said.

Tullie also learned about the community's resilience, particularly through conversations with staff members Konstantin Fischer and Anja Zuckmantel, who shared their experiences working at Etz Hayyim during the arson attacks in January 2010. These attacks, which targeted the synagogue and its archives, were deeply unsettling. Despite the damage, the staff's determination to rebuild and preserve the space and its vital historical records spoke volumes about the strength of the community.

Commemorative Poetry
For Rasheesa, an English and classics and archaeology double major, the internship was equally transformative, though in different ways. Rasheesa, who had minimal prior knowledge of Judaism, was fortunate to be welcomed and onboarded by Tullie. Her experience began by attending a Bar Mitzvah. "I had never experienced a Bar Mitzvah before, and though I'm not Jewish, it felt like such an honor to witness this significant spiritual milestone," Tanya shared. The ceremony and her eagerness to learn and engage meaningfully with the staff and the visitors allowed her to gain a deeper understanding of the Jewish faith and its customs. Rasheesa soon thereafter led her own tours, sharing the history of the synagogue and the sinking of the Tanais.

In anticipation of her internship, Rasheesa met with her advisor, Professor and Chair of Classics & Archaeology Katerina Zacharia. Together they identified commemorative poetry as the subject of her interdisciplinary summer project combining her two majors and research interests. In July 2024, Rasheesa focused on the poetry of Iossif Ventura, a poet from Chania, whose work commemorated the Holocaust and the loss of the Cretan Jewish community to international acclaim. Ventura survived as a young child being rescued by his Greek nanny and transferred to Athens by boat. He was especially haunted by the loss of the 88 Jewish children from Chania aboard the Tanais and dedicated a poetic collection to their memory. Rasheesa studied the English translation of his poems by Elisabeth Arseniou, immersing herself in the sorrowful yet poignant verses that ensured the memory of the victims lived on.

Rasheesa's connection to the history she was helping to preserve grew deeper as she spent more time at the synagogue. "I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work at Etz Hayyim, especially to have read Ventura's poetry," she reflected. "Although the subject matter was tragic, the poetry served as a powerful reminder that these people, their stories, and their memories should never be forgotten. That's what Etz Hayyim represents-a place where the past is honored, and the future is built on the strength of that remembrance."

Both Tullie and Rasheesa found their summer internships at Etz Hayyim to be transformative. They not only contributed to preserving the history and culture of the Cretan Jewish community but also grew personally and academically from their exposure to new traditions, historical narratives, and cultural practices. For Tullie and Rasheesa, the lessons learned and the connections made will continue to resonate, shaping their understanding of history, faith, and the importance of preserving the past for future generations.

Holli Levitsky, the director of Jewish Studies, and Rabbi Mark Diamond lead the Etz Hayyim summer internship program and greatly value their collaboration with Professor Katerina Zacharia. Professor Zacharia's personal family connection to the WWII loss in Crete fuels her support for the program and attests to the transformative value of the summer internships.

The application for the summer 2025 internships will be announced soon.