Before the War
1. 1912-1941
Law 568/12-1-1915 (Government Gazette, issue Α, Number 15/12-1-1915) “On the teaching of the Greek language in Ottoman and Jewish schools of the new countries”
Muslim and Jewish schools of the “New Countries” are obliged to teach the Greek language.
Law 2400/1920 (Government Gazette, issue Α, Number 154/12-7-1920) “On expanding the exemption right under the decrees 1550 of 1917 and 2117 of 1917 to include Jews of Macedonian (geographical region) origin”
The Jews of Macedonia (geographical region) have the right to be exempted from military service upon payment of a fee. The Muslims had the same right since 1917.
Law 2456/1920 (Government Gazette, issue Α, Number 173/2-8-1920) “Jewish Communities”
The Jewish Communities are recognized as public entities. They have the right to establish and manage schools as long as they teach the Greek language and certain courses in Greek. Beth Din courts are recognized as competent for judging family law cases.
The law recognizes the members’ economic contributions («Pechia») to the Jewish Communities as a source of income for the communities. Each community may set the amount of the member’s contribution through its bylaws that are submitted for approval to the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs. Upon latency the community may apply for enforced payment of the contributions under the law “on payment of government revenue”.
Jews may keep their business books in Judeo-Spanish or French and close their businesses to observe Sabbath.
Royal Decree 3103/1924 (Government Gazette, issue Α, Number 165/21-7-1924) “On enforcing the regulation of the Royal Decree of 5th April 1914: Republication in a single text of the Laws on Sunday holiday in Thessaloniki and other cities with populations of diverse religions”
The law abolishes Art. 26 of the Law 2456/1920 that gave the Jews the right to observe Sabbath and as of 1 January 1925 Sunday holiday is universally enforced in Thessaloniki. The Sunday holiday may be enforced in other cities by decree of the Minister for Finance.
Law 3298/1925 (Government Gazette, issue Α, Number 69/20-3-1925) “On paying off for military duty etc..”
The law provides that the Jews of Macedonia (geographical region) that were considered evaders or deserters after the end of the Asia Minor campaign and the abolition of Law 272/1921 (Government Gazette, issue Α, Number 173/1921) may pay off their military duty in installments of a sum of 5.000 drachmas. From 1927 and on Jews were conscripted for military service without the right of exemption.
Law 3355/1925 (Government Gazette, issue Α, Number 170/10-7-1925)
“On redrafting the electoral rolls”
New electoral rolls are to be drafted all over the Greek territory which is divided in electoral districts per First Instance Court. Each electoral district is subdivided in equal divisions per Local Court. Voters are registered in their parish, settlement or uburb of residence. The rolls are drafted by three-member committees consisting of the First Instance judge as president, a priest and a warden of the parochial church as members and a teacher as secretary at the First Instance Court districts. In all the other electoral districts the committees consist of the Local Court judge as president, the mayor or the president of the community and a priest as members and a secretary. According to Article 28 the Jews of Thessaloniki and the Muslims of Thrace are registered in separate electoral rolls according to special provisions set by Decrees. The law provides that the Christians who follow a denomination other than the Orthodox are included in the general electoral rolls. In cases where the rolls are drafted per parochial church the non-Orthodox Christians are registered in their parish of residence.
The enforcement of the specific law monitored the Jewish votes by the creation of a separate electoral college. It was a deliberate discrimination.
Emergency Law 2544/1940 (Government Gazette, issue Α, Number 287/10-9-1940)
“On revising Law 2456 on Jewish Communities”
The Community Council of each Jewish Community is appointed by decision of the Minister of Religions and National Education after nomination of the relevant General Administrator where a General Administration exists or the Prefect. Each community is required to submit an annual report and a budget estimate to the aforementioned ministry and the Ministry of Finance.