To mark the publication of the 100th anniversary issue of Alef, the Jewish Community of Athens organised a special event at the auditorium of the Benaki Museum on Pireos Street in Athens.
One hundred issues of the magazine, whose covers were projected on screen alongside photographs from articles, events, and interviews, took the audience on a journey through 21 years of the history of the Jewish Community of Athens and Greece, the wider international Jewish world, as well as Israel and Greek–Israeli relations.
The evening opened with remarks by Isaac Mordechai, President of the Jewish Community of Athens in 2004, when the magazine was first launched, followed by an introductory address from Alef’s first Editor-in-Chief, Aris Emmanuel, who spoke about the birth and identity of the publication.
This was followed by Victor Eliezer, who has steered the editorial direction of Alef since 2009, who, together with Aris Emmanuel, presented the major themes the magazine has explored throughout its publishing journey. Visual artist Rachel Balestra, responsible for the artistic direction of the issues, spoke about the beginnings of her work with the magazine and the creation of Alef’s consistently striking covers.
As the presenters vividly unfolded the passage of time through the pages of Alef, contributors, collaborators, journalists, and readers shared their own perspectives on their relationship with the magazine and its role.
Longstanding contributors Aliki Arouch Mordechai, David Moissis, Dorita Treveza, Rosa Roussou, Annita Tsopaneli, Sam Namias, and Moses Taramboulous spoke about their experience working with the publication, their regular columns, and the subjects they have covered over the years.
The importance of the printed publication as a voice of the Jewish community was highlighted by the Secretary General for Religious Affairs, Giorgos Kalantzis, and, in a written message, former Secretary General for Gender Equality, Vasso Kollia.
The Ambassador of Israel to Greece, Noam Katz, described Alef as a “bridge” between Israel and the Community. Benny Nathan, Professor at the Technion Institute of Technology, referred to the liberal spirit of the editorial team, open to all viewpoints. Raphael Moissi recalled landmark moments in history as illuminated through the archives of his father, Asser Moissis, first diplomatic representative of Israel in Greece, while Giorgos Kanellos, Director of the Jewish Elementary School of Athens, emphasised the magazine’s educational value in shaping communal identity.
Journalists Katerina Oikonomakou and Dimitra Grouss spoke about the magazine’s contribution to a broader public understanding of Jewish issues.
Finally, former Presidents of the Jewish Community of Athens, Benjamin Albalas and Minos Moissis, both of whom supported the publication during their terms in office, stressed the importance of ensuring its continuation. In a recorded message, the current President of the Jewish Community of Athens, Albertos Taramboulous, described Alef as a “living mirror and beacon of the community”, calling it authentic, detailed, and informative.
At the conclusion of the presentation, master of ceremonies Ester Pelossof invited to the podium the Treasurer of the Community Council, Annita Soussi, who presented commemorative gifts to the creators of Alef—Rachel Balestra, Aris Emmanuel, and Victor Eliezer—featuring all 100 magazine covers. The gesture expressed the Community’s gratitude for their dedication, consistency, and unwavering commitment to the magazine’s quality.
The event closed with remarks by Editor-in-Chief Victor Eliezer, who briefly reflected on Alef’s content and editorial principles, quoting the late Moses Elisaf, whom he described as a great teacher:
“Moses Elisaf often reminded us of something Shakespeare once said: applause has value when we leave the stage, not when we step onto it. I said this then and I repeat it now—mainly so that I may hear it myself: what is needed now is work, discipline, and effort, so that we may earn the applause at the end of the performance.”
He concluded by noting that these words remain the great challenge: to strive to make each issue better and more engaging than the one before. “I feel that we have achieved something,” he said, “and I hope that this effort will continue and accompany Jewish life in Greece.”
