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The Sephardi Camondo family from the Iberian Peninsula settled in Istanbul in the 19th century, where they founded a large bank. In 1869, they moved the bank’s head office to Paris. The members of the family considered their Judaism a private matter, although they did extend frequent assistance to Jewish communities and organizations. They integrated into the Parisian elite society and French culture, which they perceived to be liberal and enlightened.
The illusion of integration was shattered in World War II: the Camondos’ status and wealth did not spare them from the fate of their Jewish brethren and they were murdered in Auschwitz.
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The Comando family’s business was established in 1802 by Isaac Camondo who opened the banking institute Camando & Cie. Throughout their years of business, the family was known to be generous and be involved in financing political movements, urban projects and war aid. In the 1850s they provided the necessary finances for the Ottoman Empire during the Crimean war.
The Comando’s discreet yet constant support and involvement of Jewish life earned them the nickname ‘Rothschilds of the East’. Abraham Camondo, among other family members, had an active role within the Jewish community in Istanbul, sitting in yeshivot and local community projects. Additionally, Abraham had influence in the courts of the Sultans (Abdulmecid and Abdulaziz) acting as an intermediary spokesperson of the Jewish people.
In 1869 the Camondo family relocated to Paris, France, where they lived up to the outbreak of World War II.