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Kosher and Jewish Life in Crete

TJT’s guide for kosher and Jewish travelers in Crete. Information about kosher restaurants, cafes, shops, bakeries or delis, kosher near me location based (GPS) search, & Jewish points of interest, such as shuls, mikvahs, kosher and observant friendly hotels and Jewish community centers in Crete, Greece.

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Kosher Eateries
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Kosher & JOFY* Hotels
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Jewish Communities
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Kosher & JOFY* Vacation Rentals
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Mikvahs
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Synagogues

*JOFY - Jewish Observant Friendly, not necesessarily kosher.

About Crete

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and is in the Mediterranean Sea between the Sea of Crete and the Libyan Sea, south of the Peloponnese. Crete, with a population of approximately 650,000, is not just sun, sea and sand; it is a quite distinct place full of vitality, warmth, hospitality, culture and of course an excellent infrastructure. Crete is well known for its seas and beaches but it has a very contrasting landscape. The island goes from fertile coastal plains to rugged mountains and from busy metropolitan cities to very peaceful hillside villages. If you travel throughout Crete you can clearly see remnants of Roman and Turkish aqueducts and architecture from when these people invaded the island long ago. You will also find ancient Minoan ruins around the island. The atmosphere can be quite humid, depending on the proximity to the sea, while winter is fairly mild.

Jewish History, POI & Kosher Establishments in Crete

There was a Jewish community on Crete since before the Hasmonean empire started in 160BCE, and apart from a short period around 400CE this community remained until 1944 when the 263 Jews left were imprisoned. At the beginning of the Greco-Turkish war of 1897 there were 225 Jewish families in Crete, or 1,150 persons in a total population of 250,000, distributed among the three cities: Khania (200 families), Candia (20 families), and Retimo (5 families). They were engaged in commerce and in various manual occupations. Between the end of the war and 1994 many of the local population did their best to remove any traces of a Jewish community. It was decided in 1995 without a Jewish presence to rededicate the Etz Hayyim synagogue, by 1999 the synagogue had been rebuilt and rededicated, today the synagogue is the only remnant of the long history of the Jewish community on the island.

Weather In Crete

31 Mar

Shabbat Candlelighting Times for Loading...

Crete

Please note:

Shabbat times on this page are based on the common Candle lighting formulas - in most locations it is 18 minutes before sunset. If you have any comments or questions regarding Shabbat Times on this page, please contact us

What Is *JOFY?

JOFY, or "Jewish Observant Friendly" Establishments are lodging establishments offering special services for Jewish Observant guests such as Shabbat meals, accommodation on lower floors and regular keys for the rooms. It can also be a NON KOSHER establishment located in walking distance from the local Shul, community or kosher restaurants area.

Please note - *JOFY does NOT mean that KOSHER food is served on the premises!

Are you a kosher establishment, restaurant, or tour operator looking to reach a wider audience? List your business for free