Deniz Nahmias
Deniz Machmais was born in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1924. She was raised in a prominent Sephardic Jewish family.
Deniz Nahmias and her brothers David and Solomon Angel
Early life
“On this photo you can see me with my brothers, David (in the center) and Solomon Angel. The picture was taken at Liontas and Mavridis studio in Thessaloniki in the 1930s. I was very close to my youngest brother and since I was a couple of years older I protected him. David was six years older than I, so he didn't really mix with us, whereas Solomon and I, exactly because we were so close as far as age was concerned, had a special bond, a unique relationship. We used to play together in the neighborhood; we use to do all the nutty things together.”
The visit of my grandmother Doudou Beza's niece from Skopje
Family heritage
“This is the house of my mother's mother and it is situated on Vassilissis Olgas Street, the so-called area of Exohes. Nice houses could be found there and the house in the picture is still situated there. It is among the few houses from pre-war Thessaloniki that is still left. My great-grandmother's niece from Skopje had come to visit her and this picture is a memoir. It is quite tragic that all the people standing in the photograph managed to escape the Holocaust and those sitting down were killed.”
Excursion with my cousin in Asveastohori
Childhood and school memories
“This is a picture of me (in center) with my cousin Liliana Menasse. It was taken during an excursion in Thessaloniki in 1932. The elementary school I used to attend was a private one and it was situated in the area of 25th Martiou, where we lived.”
Deniz Nahmias as a young woman
World War II and hiding
“This is a picture of me, taken in Athens in the 1940s. What was happening in Thessaloniki with the climate the Germans were cultivating against the Jews was definitely a bad sign. This is why my father decided that we should move to Athens to hide. So, we left Thessaloniki on 28th February 1942 just before the imposition of the Nazi measures on 15th March. The fact that we managed to escape was exceptional luck.”
Deniz and Albertos Nahmias's wedding
Post-war life
“This is my wedding picture, taken in Thessaloniki in 1949. Albertos and I got married on a Sunday, on 6th March 1949, in the big Synagogue on Suggrou Street and the same day my daughter's future mother-in-law got married. A lot of marriages were happening then. I mean after the liberation; a lot of group marriages took place. Another couple was to get married immediately after us.”
Deniz Nahmias with relatives from Mexico
Legacy and Reflection
“In this picture you can see my husband Albertos Nahmias and me with our relatives from Mexico at the railway station in Thessaloniki. The picture was taken in the 1960s. Also in this photo are: Sarina and Haim Boton and my son Iossif Nahmias.”
Deniz Nahmias at the Jewish community center
Resilience and cultural richness
“Here you can see me (first from right) celebrating with friends at the Jewish community center in Thessaloniki. Also in this picture are: my husband, Albertos, Leon and Tzina Benmayor and Eva Karasso and her husband. The photo was taken in the 1960s.”
