Día de shabat, mi madre, la horika dando dos fuego salió salió al Agua Mueva, a Beyaz Kulé kedó. Tanto proves komo rikos todos semos un igual, ya kedimos arrastando por kampos y por kishlás. Mos dieron unos chadires ke del aire se volan; mos dieron un pan amargo, ni kon agua no se va. Las palombas van volando haciendo estruición, ya kedimos arrastando sin tener abrigación. Entendiendo, mancebikos, los pekados de Shabat, se ensañó el Patrón del mundo mos mandó a Dudular. Dio del cielo, Dio del cielo, no topates ké hacer, mos dejates arrastando, ni kamisa para meter.
Day of Sabbath, my mother,
at the little hour striking two,
fire broke out, broke out at Agua Mueva,
it stopped at the White Tower. Both poor and rich alike,
we all became the same,
we were left dragging ourselves
through fields and through barracks. They gave us some tents
that the wind blew away;
they gave us a bitter bread,
that not even with water would go down. The doves (planes) are flying,
creating noise and destruction,
we were left dragging ourselves,
without any shelter. Understand, young men,
the sins of the Sabbath,
the Master of the world grew angry,
He sent us to Dudular. God of heaven, God of heaven,
You did not find what to do,
You left us dragging ourselves,
without even a shirt to put on.
From Ventanas Altas de Saloniki, 2013.
The fires left a deep mark on the communities affected by the disaster; in the songs, there are numerous references to the events related to the destruction of Salonica. The most significant was the fire of 1917, which destroyed much of the Jewish quarter and forced the population to emigrate. Dudular, today known as Diavata, is a small town near Saloniki, which today as well has many refugees. Istiklal is a famous area in Istambul.
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025