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Istanbul Insider

Istanbul travel guide and advice by locals.

The Jewish Community and Notable Synagogues in Istanbul

The vast majority of the Jewish community in Turkey (currently estimated at around 26.000 people) lives in Istanbul. This is only a fraction of the 500.000 Jews that once lived in Istanbul during the Ottoman Empire — a time when Jews and Christians made up 40% of Istanbul’s population. Read on for a short history about the Jewish community and an overview of notable synagogues in Istanbul.

Picture taken inside the Neve Shalom Synagogue in Istanbul, Turkey
Inside the Neve Shalom Synagogue in Istanbul. © Photo by Senia L

Rise of Istanbul’s Jewish Community

The current Turkish community is a remnant of the great influx that took place during the Spanish inquisition in 1492. Sephardic Jews (or Spanish Jews) were forced to convert to Christianity or flee their homes. Ottoman Sultan Beyazid II granted these Jews (with their European scientific and economic knowledge) to take refuge in the Ottoman Empire and allowed them to live on the banks of the Golden Horn.

Also Russian Jews fleeing the pogroms in the 19th century and the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 found refuge in Turkey. And in 1933 Atatürk invited famous scientists under threat in Nazi Germany and Austria to find shelter and settle in Turkey. Turkey also served as a safe passage for many Jews fleeing the horrors of Nazism during World War II.

Remains of those days can still be seen in the Balat area along the Golden Horn and the Galata district in Beyoğlu — the centers of the Jewish community in Istanbul.

Decline of Istanbul’s Jewish Community

Picture of the interior of the Neve Shalom Synagogue in Istanbul, Turkey.
Neve Shalom Synagogue

Unfortunately, a series of events triggered a massive emigration of Jews from Istanbul. First there was the wealth tax (Varlık Vergisi) of 1942. Although aimed at wealthy Turks, its effect on the Jewish community was catastrophic. An estimated 30.000 Jews, unable to pay their debts, fled the country.

Secondly there was the Istanbul pogrom of 6/7 September 1955 against the Greek, Jewish, and Armenian communities of Istanbul. Although more material then physical damage was done, this caused another massive emigration of these minorities, with some 10.000 more Jews fleeing Turkey.

Notable Synagogues in Istanbul

There are currently 26 active synagogues in Istanbul. Instead of listing them all, I decided to give an overview of the most notable ones from a tourist point of view.

  • Neve Shalom Synagogue – located in Karaköy, this is the central and largest Sephardic synagogue in Istanbul. It was inaugurated on Sunday March 25, 1951 and is open to service (see details on their website). Unfortunately, Neve Shalom has been the target of three terrorist attacks.
  • Ahrida Synagogue – one of the two remaining synagogues in Balat. It is the oldest and probably most beautiful synagogue in Istanbul. It was founded before the Muslim conquest of Istanbul in 1453 and has been in constant use ever since. Tourists can only visit by prior arrangement with a tour guide.
  • Ashkenazi Synagogue – located near the Galata Tower, it is the only currently active Ashkenazi synagogue in Istanbul open to visits and prayers.
  • Bet Avraam Synagogue – located behind the Sirkeci train station, it is the synagogue nearest to Sultanahmet.
  • Bet Israel Synagogue – located in Şişli, it is currently the most populated synagogue in Turkey. The synagogue can be visited after making appointments with Neve Shalom Foundation.
  • Caddebostan Synagogue – built in 1953 as a result of the increasing Jewish population in the Kadıköy district. It is the most populated synagogue on the Asian side of Istanbul.
  • Yanbol Synagogue – the second of the ancient synagogues in Balat.

Visiting Synagogues in Istanbul

You can visit the synagogues only by prior reservation via the website of the Turkish Jewish community.

For every visitor, you should fill in a Visitor’s Info sheet and make copies of the visitors’ passports. You then send the passport copies as well as the filled in forms minimum four work days prior to the planned visit to the fax number or mail address mentioned there.

Jewish Museum of Turkey

Picture of the Jewish Museum of Turkey, located in Istanbul.
© Jewish Museum Istanbul

Jewish Museum of Turkey is a cultural center inaugurated on November 25, 2001. In 2015, it moved to Büyükhendek Cad. No. 39, Şişhane, Beyoglu, next to Neve Shalom [Oasis of Peace] Synagogue.

The Museum collects, preserves, and exhibits knowledge about the cultural heritage of the Turkish Jews from the Ottoman Empire to the modern Turkey. It has three different sections:

  1. the history of the Jews in Anatolia
  2. a Judaica section which exhibits liturgical sacred artifacts including Torah scrolls, Megilat Ester and other ritual objects
  3. an interactive touch-screen map which shows all the synagogues and settlements of the Jewish life in Turkey

Visitors can visit the Neve Shalom Synagogue and sample Sephardic delicacies in the Habib Gerez Cafe. The museum is open daily, except on Saturday and religious holidays.

Further Recommended Reading

  1. Istanbul Tour in Balat Including Chora Church, City Walls and the Patriarchate
  2. What (Not) to Do In a Mosque
  3. Top 10 Things to Eat in Istanbul

Filed Under: Attractions, Places to Visit Tips, Religion, See & Do, Things to Do, Top Lists, Travel Tips, Trip Planning Tagged With: Ahrida, Jewish, Jewish Community, Jewish Museum, Jews, Neve Shalom, Synagogues

Comments

  1. Michael Goncher says

    May 22, 2022 at 3:45 pm

    We will be overnighting on our cruise in Istanbul in October of this year. My Grandfather lived in Istanbul until 1920. He was a conductor for the Orient express and his father was an attorney for the same. My grandfather had told me their heritage in Turkey goes back to 1492. I would like to see their synagogue when we are there. How do we go about making an appointment for a tour it. They were Sephardic their last name was Bension. Thank You.

    Reply
    • Erlend says

      May 23, 2022 at 5:46 pm

      Hi Michael,

      The best option is contacting the people of the Jewish Istanbul community. There is a link on the article.

      Best of luck.

      Reply
  2. Lara says

    May 12, 2022 at 12:28 am

    Sephardic Jews came with their Andalusian, not European, knowledge as you wrote..

    Reply
  3. robby israel says

    April 6, 2022 at 1:16 pm

    Dears , I am the official representative of the company CEDEV ( european wine center ) located in Antwerp . Our company produces and export kosher wines in france , italy and spain . We are looking for an turkish importer who would like to import our kosher wines to turkey , directly from us and not an intermediary .We can provide our complete catalogue .
    Thank you

    Reply
  4. Joanna Weinberg says

    February 16, 2022 at 2:16 am

    Do you know anything about Gracia Nasi Mendes who was given shelter from the Inquisition in Constantinople ? I am visiting in 2023 and very interested in any information you may have .
    Joanna

    Reply
    • Erlend says

      February 17, 2022 at 2:27 pm

      Hi Joanna,

      I’m afraid I don’t have any information on that.

      Reply
    • Susana Behar says

      March 26, 2022 at 7:38 pm

      Hello Joanna, you can find a lot of information about Doña Gracia Nasi on the web Also, there are a few good books about her life and contributions. I hope you’ll find all you want to know about this formidable jewess! It is really fascinating, good luck! Susana
      susanabehar.com

      Reply
  5. Sarah says

    July 10, 2019 at 4:51 pm

    I met many sefardic Jews in Israel. One was my uncle who often had his sisters visiting and I spoke in Ladino to each one of them.

    Reply
  6. Daria says

    May 2, 2019 at 9:04 am

    The Revolution in Russia took place in 1917 not 1971.

    Reply
    • Erlend says

      May 2, 2019 at 7:57 pm

      Thanks for drawing attention to the typo. I corrected it.

      Reply

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