Moisis Elisaf (Greek: Μωυσής Ελισάφ; 17 July 1954 – 17 February 2023) was a Greek physician, academic, and politician. He served as mayor of Ioannina from September 2019 to his death in February 2023, making him Greece's first Jewish mayor.
Elisaf was an physician and professor of internal medicine at Ioannina Medical School. He was the director of the school's Lipids, Atherosclerosis, Obesity, and Diabetes Department.[5][2] Between 1993 and 1994, he worked at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University. Several of his relatives live in Israel.[2] He was the president of the Romaniote Jewish community of Ioannina for more than a decade, and had previously served as the president of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece.[5][6] Elisaf also served on the city council and as the president of a cultural center.[2]
Running as an independent, Elisaf obtained 50.3% of the vote during the second round of elections for mayor of Ioannina in June 2019, winning the election with 17,789 votes, 235 more than his runoff opponent.[5][6] He took office in September, becoming the first Jewish mayor in the history of Greece.[5][6] He said that he was a centrist who aimed to build consensus around policies for the city's development, such as improving infrastructure and public services.[2] During his campaign, political opponents falsely claimed that he was a Mossad agent. He called the claims antisemitic, but reaffirmed his belief that antisemitism in Greece is not a serious issue.[2]
Personal life and death
Like most Jews in Ioannina, Elisaf was a non-religious Jew.[2] He died from cancer on 17 February 2023, at age 68.[7]
References
^Team, ΤοΒΗΜΑ (2 June 2019). "Ιωάννινα : Νέος δήμαρχος ο Μωυσής Ελισάφ". Ειδήσεις – νέα – Το Βήμα Online (in Greek). Retrieved 7 June 2019.
^ abcdefgPeklaris, Achilles M. (11 June 2019). "'They Claimed I Was Connected to the Mossad': Meet Greece's First-ever Jewish Mayor". Haaretz. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
^"Greek Jewish Communities Congratulate Country's First Jewish mayor, Moses Elisaf". The National Herald. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
^"Doctor Thought to Be 1st Jewish Person Voted Mayor in Greece". The New York Times. The Associated Press. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
^ abcd"Greece's First Jewish Mayor Appointed in Northwestern City". Haaretz. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
^ abc"Moisis Elisaf becomes Greece's first Jewish mayor | Kathimerini". Ekathimerini. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
^"Moisis Elisaf, Greece's first Jewish mayor, dead at 68". Ekathimerini. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
External links
Official website (in Greek)
Meet Moses Elisaf, The First Jewish Mayor In Greece, The Cradle Of Democracy, The Forward, July 2019
February 23, 2023
moses, elisaf, moisis, elisaf, greek, Μωυσής, Ελισάφ, july, 1954, february, 2023, greek, physician, academic, politician, served, mayor, ioannina, from, september, 2019, death, february, 2023, making, greece, first, jewish, mayor, moisis, elisafΜωυσής, Ελισάφe. Moisis Elisaf Greek Mwyshs Elisaf 17 July 1954 17 February 2023 was a Greek physician academic and politician He served as mayor of Ioannina from September 2019 to his death in February 2023 making him Greece s first Jewish mayor Moisis ElisafMwyshs ElisafElisaf in 2021Mayor of IoanninaIn office 1 September 2019 17 February 2023Preceded byThomas BegasPersonal detailsBorn 1954 07 17 17 July 1954Ioannina GreeceDied17 February 2023 2023 02 17 aged 68 Political partyIndependentResidence s Ioannina GreeceAlma materUniversity of AthensOccupationphysician academic politicianWebsiteelisaf wbr gr Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life and death 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditElisaf was born in Ioannina on 17 July 1954 1 the son of Romaniote Jews and Holocaust survivors who had escaped the Nazi roundup which saw all but 9 of Ioannina s Jews deported to Auschwitz After liberation survivors suffered discrimination for their involvement in communist resistance groups such as the Greek People s Liberation Army 2 3 Elisaf graduated from the University of Athens in 1979 4 Career EditElisaf was an physician and professor of internal medicine at Ioannina Medical School He was the director of the school s Lipids Atherosclerosis Obesity and Diabetes Department 5 2 Between 1993 and 1994 he worked at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University Several of his relatives live in Israel 2 He was the president of the Romaniote Jewish community of Ioannina for more than a decade and had previously served as the president of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece 5 6 Elisaf also served on the city council and as the president of a cultural center 2 Running as an independent Elisaf obtained 50 3 of the vote during the second round of elections for mayor of Ioannina in June 2019 winning the election with 17 789 votes 235 more than his runoff opponent 5 6 He took office in September becoming the first Jewish mayor in the history of Greece 5 6 He said that he was a centrist who aimed to build consensus around policies for the city s development such as improving infrastructure and public services 2 During his campaign political opponents falsely claimed that he was a Mossad agent He called the claims antisemitic but reaffirmed his belief that antisemitism in Greece is not a serious issue 2 Personal life and death EditLike most Jews in Ioannina Elisaf was a non religious Jew 2 He died from cancer on 17 February 2023 at age 68 7 References Edit Team ToBHMA 2 June 2019 Iwannina Neos dhmarxos o Mwyshs Elisaf Eidhseis nea To Bhma Online in Greek Retrieved 7 June 2019 a b c d e f g Peklaris Achilles M 11 June 2019 They Claimed I Was Connected to the Mossad Meet Greece s First ever Jewish Mayor Haaretz Retrieved 12 June 2019 Greek Jewish Communities Congratulate Country s First Jewish mayor Moses Elisaf The National Herald 3 June 2019 Retrieved 7 June 2019 Doctor Thought to Be 1st Jewish Person Voted Mayor in Greece The New York Times The Associated Press 3 June 2019 Retrieved 7 June 2019 a b c d Greece s First Jewish Mayor Appointed in Northwestern City Haaretz 4 June 2019 Retrieved 7 June 2019 a b c Moisis Elisaf becomes Greece s first Jewish mayor Kathimerini Ekathimerini Retrieved 7 June 2019 Moisis Elisaf Greece s first Jewish mayor dead at 68 Ekathimerini 17 February 2023 Retrieved 17 February 2023 External links EditOfficial website in Greek Meet Moses Elisaf The First Jewish Mayor In Greece The Cradle Of Democracy The Forward July 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Moses Elisaf amp oldid 1141073358, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
