The history of the Jewish presence in Athens dates back to antiquity and spans the centuries, marked by periods of growth as well as harsh trials. From the first references in the 1st century CE and the establishment of small communities in later times, to the reconstitution of the community in the 19th century and its development with the arrival of Jews from other regions of Greece, the Jews of Athens played an important role in the city’s economic and social life. During the Occupation, they suffered persecution and deportations, culminating in the mass arrest of March 1944 and their deportation to Auschwitz. After the war, the community was rebuilt and today it is the largest Jewish community in Greece, with active institutions, synagogues, schools, and cultural organizations that keep tradition and historical memory alive.