History of the Jews in Kastoria

[1] Evidence of an organized Jewish community, residing within the fortress of the city dates back to the 6th century, the era of Justinian I, Emperor of the Byzantine Empire.

At the end of the 11th century, the community leader was Rabbi Tobiah ben Eliezer, author of the Midrash Lekach Tov.

After the conquest of Constantinople by Mehmed II, a population transfer was carried out for the purpose of accelerated Islamization of the new empire, thus, the city's inhabitants, including about half of the Jewish community members, were exiled.

In addition, the Greek national awakening did not spare the city of Kastoria and its Jews, who were often accused of collaborating with the Ottoman occupiers.

In 1937, some community members immigrated to Palestine and participated in the establishment of Moshav Tzur Moshe, one of the Homa and Migdal settlements.