Jewish Heritage

A brief history of Jews in Turkey

While the Sephardic Jews were invited to settle in Turkey by the Ottoman Sultan Bayezit II following their expulsion from Spain in 1.492 the Jewish history of Turkey naturally dates further back into the earlier periods such as the Hellenistic and Roman world. Remnants of Jewish settlement from the 4th century B.C. have been uncovered in the Aegean region. The historian Josephus Flavius relates that Aristotle "met Jewish people with whom he had an exchange of views during his trip across Asia Minor." Ancient synagogue ruins have been found in Sardis, near Izmir, dating from 220 B.C. and traces of other Jewish settlements have been discovered near Bursa, in the southeast and along the Aegean, Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts. A bronze column found in Ankara confirms the rights the Emperor Augustus accorded the Jews of Asia Minor. Jewish comunities in Anatolia flourished and continued to prosper through the Turkish conquest. When the Ottomans captured Bursa in 1324 and made it their capital, they found a Jewish community oppressed under Byzantine rule. The Jews welcomed the Ottomans as saviors. Sultan Orhan gave them permission to build the Etz ha-Hayyim (Tree of Life) synagogue which remained in service until 50 years ago.

On the midnight of August 2nd 1492, when Colombus embarked on what would become his most famous expedition to the New World, his fleet departed from the relatively unknown seaport of Palos because the shipping lanes of Cadiz and Seville were clogged with Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain by the Edict of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain. The Jews forced either to convert to Christianism or to "leave" the country under menace "they dare not return... not so much as to take a step on them not trepass upon them in any manner whatsoever" left their land, their property, their belongings all that was theirs and familiar to them rather than abadon their beliefs, their traditions, their heritage.  In the faraway Ottoman Empire, one ruler extended an immediate welcome to the persecuted Jews of Spain, the Sepharadim. He was the Sultan Bayazid II.

The Quincentennial Foundation Museum was created in 1.992 on the 500th anniversary of the Sephardic Jews' arrival in Turkey and has the aim to promote, both within the country and abroad, the story of 700 years of amity between Turks and Jews, beginning with the Ottoman conquest of Bursa (1326) ... continuing with Bayezid II's warm welcome of the Sephardic Jews who preferred expulsion from Iberia to giving up the faith and traditins of their ancestors ... and carrying on until today, to show through the past 700 years how the two cultures influenced each other, to display the humanitarian spirit of the Turkish Nation.

Synagogues that can be visited during a visit to Istanbul or incorporated into one of our tours

The Neve Shalom Synagogue  In the 1930s, with the increase in Jewish population living in the Galata and Beyoğlu, the community needed a new place of worship. The new project of architects graduated from Istanbul Technical University,   Elio Ventura and Bernard Motola was accepted and the Neve Shalom synagogue was opened on March 25, 1951 as Istanbul's largest synagogue. Neve Shalom means "Oasis of Peace" and at the Synagogue open for Shabbat prayers most importantly hosts Jewish ceremonies and commemoration of community members; such as Bar Mitzvahs, weddings, Brit-Mila (circumcision) and funerals and is the largest place of worship of the Jewish Community in Istanbul. When the primary school located adjacent to the synagogue was moved to its new location in Ulus in1994 the vacant building was transformed into the Neve Shalom Cultural Center in 1998. The Neve Shalom Synagogue is open for visits on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. except on official and religious holidays. Passport or ID. Card is required for entry. Your donations to contribute to our synagogue would reinforce our works.

Other noteworthy synagogues in Istanbul

The Ashkenazi Synagogue Located near the Galata Tower, it is the only active Ashkenazi Synagogue open to visits and prayers. Founded by Ashkenazim of Austrian origin in 1900, it is the last remaining synagogue among a total of three built by Ashkenazim. Visits con be made during weekday mornings and for Shabbat services on Saturday mornings.

Italian Synagogue (Kal de los Frankos) Built by the "Comunita Israelitico-Italiana di Istanbul" in 1931. This Synagogue has been rebuilt when the one initially built in the late 1800's was torn down and it is active since then. Only open for Shabbat prayers on Saturday mornings, it can be visited during weekday mornings as well.

Bet Israel Synagogue - Şişli Located in Sisli and part of the Neve-Shalom Foundation, it was initially built in the 1920's and enlarged into its present size in the early 1950's due to the majority of the Jewish population moving to that area. The most populated and active Synagogue today, the Bet-Israel can be both visited or joined for prayers after taking necessary appointments.

Etz Ahayim Synagogue – Ortaköy Located in Ortakoy, near the European leg of the Bosphorus Bridge. When the previous synagogue burned down in 1941 with only the marble Aron-ha-Kodesh remaining, the new synagogue was rebuilt on the location of the then midrash. Visits can be made with previous appointments and both weekday and Shabbat services can be attended likewise.

The Ahrida Synagogue Located in Balat near the Golden Horn, built by Jews of Ohri (Macedonia) more than 550 years ago and recently renovated during the Quincentennial Celebrations in 1992, the Ahrida Synagogue is known foremost by its boat-shaped bimah. It can only be visited during weekday mornings.

Yanbol Synagogue Built by Jews of Yanbol, Bulgaria, in the Byzantine period, the synagogue has been rebuilt in the 18th century. It is one of the two remaining ancient synagogues of the Balat area.