AIMS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE GREEK COMMUNITY OF JERUSALEM
The main aims of the Greek Community of Jerusalem, are to take care and preserve the movable property and the buildings of the Community and its historical club (“Hellenic Leskhi”), which was built in 1902 and renovated at the expense of the Community Fund in 2007 and to maintain and spare the flame of secular Hellenism and of the GREEK spiri
t and culture in the Holy City of Jerusalem, and to tight and strengthen the relations with both the Israelites and the Palestinians. To achieve these objectives, the Community performs at a regular basis the following cultural and community activities:
1. Weekly classes for learning the Greek language to foreigners. The students who will be interested, may apply for the official examinations of Greek language fluency of the Ministry of Education.
2. Weekly dance classes for learning Greek dances. In this activity dozens of Israelites are participating along with their Greeks hosts. The activity is open to all who love Greek music and dances, without racial or religious discrimination. As part of this activity, known dance instructors , artists and singers are invited from Greece and take part in the classes.
3. Organization of religious and national Events, such as the October 28 , Easter , New Year etc.
4. Tours, meetings and community events aiming to closer ties and social relations between the Greeks in the Jerusalemites.
5. Monthly financial assistance of the Greek Charity groups of Jerusalem, as well as financial support to the monastery of St. Simeon (Katamonas) and to students of the Patriarchal school of Zion.
6. Preservation, restoration and maintenance of the historic Euclidean Residence, the only Greek house that was rescued from the once thriving Greek Quarter (The Greek Colony), in New Jerusalem. The costs of renovation and daily maintenance are also covered by the Community Funds.
7. Attempts are made to establish a modern Greek literature library for locals and foreigners who learn the Greek language. Community efforts extend to the collection and distribution of educational Greek movies and DVD that deal with Greek cultural and tourism issues.
8. Organization of tours at the historic sites of the Greek club, for local and foreign visitors. Organization of lectures that highlight the historical importance of the Greek presence in the Holy City of Jerusalem.
9. Efforts to impart foreigners to philhellenism and general support to the Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
10. The Greek Café (“Kafeneion”) in every Saturday, offering traditional Greek breakfats pastries and Greek café every Saturday morning in the area of the “Leskhi” (The Cultural Community Center in Yehoshua Bin-Nun Street, Greek Colony).
11. Monthly lectures given by distinguished scientists of Greek origin, in the filed of Greek philosophy, Greek history, archeology and the presence of Hellenism in the area of Jerusalem through the ages (in The Cultural Community Center in Yehoshua Bin-Nun Street, Greek Colony).
