Renée Molho
Renee Molho was born in 1918 in Thessaloniki, Greece, to a prominent Sephardic Jewish family. Her childhood in Thessaloniki was filled with the warmth of her family.
Renee Molho with her family's maid Sterina
Renee Molho was born in 1918 in Thessaloniki, Greece, to a prominent Sephardic Jewish family. Her childhood in Thessaloniki was filled with the warmth of her family. She grew up in a family with strong traditions. Her father, Joseph Samuel Saltiel, was a lumber merchant and her mother, Stella Abravanel, was known for her elegance. She had two sisters, Matilde and Edda. The family's cultural background and the rich heritage of Thessaloniki shaped her early years. Renée was an excellent student. She graduated from Alliance Israélite Universelle and American College (Anatolia). Her passion for books and reading followed her throughout her life.
Renee Molho's Certificate of Spanish Nationality
During World War II, Renée and her sisters secretly left and sought refuge in Athens, shortly before deportations began to Birkenau from Thessaloniki. In Athens, they met Mrs. Lembesis, who hid and took care of them. But someone betrayed them, and Renée’s sisters were arrested and taken to the Haidari camp. The Germans left Renée to take care of her father, who was dying of cancer, saying they would come back to arrest her. After his death, Mrs. Lembesis and the Spanish Ambassador Sebastián de Romero Radigales helped her to escape. Renée passed through Turkey and reached Palestine, where she remained safe, in Tel Aviv, till the end of World War II. When the war ended, Renée returned to Athens, where she found her sisters who had survived.
Renee Molho's wedding day
Renee married her longtime friend Solon Molho on March 17, 1946. They raised three children: Mair, Joseph and Nina Molho. Renée and Solon established a new era in their bookstore, which was in Solon’s family. With hard work and dedication, they managed to bring it back to the top. This bookstore became a central part of her life. She dedicated herself to the world of literature. Great writers passed through their bookstore, such as Umberto Eco and Harold Pinter, who won the Nobel Prize. In 1988, the French consul appointed them "Knights of Arts and Letters of the French Republic.” Solon Molho died in 1997. The Molho bookstore closed permanently in 2004. Renée remained actively involved in the bookshop until late in her life.
