Open Learning

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Tour Global Jewish Life: Athens, Greece

Tuesdays December 12 - December 12
12:00pm Pacific Time | 3:00pm Eastern Time
Event Details
Explore the vibrant culture of Jewish Athens from antiquity to today.

Join Joseph Michael Vardakis to explore the rich history of Jews in Athens, Greece from antiquity to present day. Encounter the unique Greek-speaking Romaniote community, learn how the Greek Jewish population of 80,000 was decimated by the Holocaust, and celebrate the current resurgence of Jewish culture and preservation in Athens today.

Instructor: Joseph Vardakis

Joseph Michael Vardakis was born in Athens, Greece. He has a B.A. in psychology, an M.A. in psychobiology, and an M.Sc in clinical psychology. He has lived and studied in the UK, South Africa, and Israel and currently resides in Athens. In the past, he has worked as a student counselor for the Ministry of Absorption for new immigrants to Israel, in an educational framework for the Jewish community in South Africa before his studies, as a researcher, and in various mental health settings. He is currently working as a psychologist-psychotherapist, as well as teaching Greek to foreigners. In his spare time, he offers themed tours in Athens, including sites of Jewish interest.