An unusual cluster of synagogues bearing a typical architectural style dating from the 15th and 16th century exists in Izmir - Turkey. Some of these synagogues are adjacent to each other, creating a historical heritage compound unique in the world and unknown even to world Jewry.
Following the expulsion of Jews from Spain and Portugal in 1492, some of the refugees’ descendants came to the city of Izmir, brought with them the Sephardic Jewish heritage, the Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) language , literature, arts, music, and the Sephardic traditions of worship and tefillah which are expressed in the Synagogues they built.
Of the dozens of magnificent synagogues built in previous centuries in Izmir, in the typical Sephardic architectural style, only 9 remain today around the old town of Izmir. Some are in ruins with collapsed ceilings and walls, their contents disintegrating, and some have thankfully been preserved. These synagogues constitute a living testimony to the history of the Jewish community in Izmir, which served as one of the most important spiritual, commercial, and cultural Jewish-centers in the diaspora throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.
These extraordinary synagogues were never exposed to the local or international public. There has never been a museum or a formal historic district managed by the State. Today, we are making that change. Through the Izmir Jewish Heritage Project, we are building a new museum and visitors center to welcome tourists, Jewish and Non-Jewish alike, from around the world - established in the old synagogue compound of Izmir.
We strongly believe that exposing our tangible and intangible Sephardic cultural heritages will have numerous impacts upon Izmir Jewish life, including building up our own communal pride in our Judaism, creating a basis for inter-religious dialogue and mutual respect, combating anti-Semitism through education, and creating a new commercial tourist destination for the city, empowering our current Jewish Community in the city’s decision making process.
It is obvious to us that without serious and quick intervention, many of these synagogues will deteriorate and unfortunately disappear from the world’s cultural history forever.
As a response to this critical need, the Izmir Jewish Community started to work in collaboration with external supporters to create the Jewish Heritage Visitors Center within the spaces of these 9 synagogues in the Old Jewish Quarter of Izmir. This project includes the major restoration of several of these synagogues for our community and its future generations.
Below is just a list of a few of the exciting restoration and cultural engagement projects that we’ve proudly accomplished thus far, thanks to the support of local and international partners. We can count the following, among our main achievements until today, towards establishing the Izmir Jewish Heritage Visit Center:
Beit Hillel Synagogue - After having burned down and collapsed in 2007, the synagogue has been restored by a collaboration between the Izmir Jewish Community and Izmir Metropolitan Municipality in 2014, and serves today as a memorial site to Great Chief Rabbi Hayim Palacci who lived from 1788 to 1868.
Etz Hayim Synagogue - Following stabilization funds from the Embassy of the United States to Turkey, the Etz Hayim synagogue was saved from a probable collapse and its conservation plans were drawn up in 2012. A grant from the Turkish Government through the Izmir Development Agency and financial support from the Izmir Jewish Community made the conservation of the synagogue possible. Completed in November 2021, the synagogue has been the main venue of the 3rd Izmir Sephardic Culture Festival.
Hevra (Talmud Tora) Synagogue - The roof of this synagogue, built in the 17th century, collapsed in 1999. Since then, the building remained untouched and rubble accumulated, trees grew in the synagogue, and it became impossible to enter the structure. In the summer of 2020, with the financial grant obtained from the German Republic Foreign Bureau, restoration work started. Rubble has been removed, the old floor tiles uncovered, the walls have been strengthened, and a temporary roof built to protect the synagogue from harsh climate conditions. The rescued synagogue served as another venue in our most recent Sephardic Culture Festival.
Forasteros Synagogue - Adjacent to the Talmud Tora synagogue and dating to the 17th century, this synagogue’s roof collapsed in a similar way in the 1970s. Until September 2021, it was maintained extremely poorly, and thanks to the German Consul General in Izmir, we were able to obtain another grant for the building’s restoration. We are in the middle of rubble removal and opening up the paths between the synagogues. At this stage, we plan to complete the rescue by building a temporary roof. This synagogue building will serve as a research center with a library, souvenir shop, and other amenities for the open air museum we plan to construct.
Senyora Synagogue - The Senyora synagogue is another site that is integrated with a cluster of adjacent synagogues. Not being used as an active synagogue, the Izmir Jewish Heritage Project offices are located in it’s courtyard. Within the framework of the Project, the Synagogue has undergone repairs and the old women’s gallery has been turned over into a functional conference room.
Parochet Collection - 325 various sized parochets (curtains that covers the Ark in a synagogue containing the Torah scrolls) and Tora mantels have been preserved and 50 restored with the collaboration of Metropolia University in Finland, the Economics University in Izmir, and Izmir Jewish Community between the years 2012-2019.
Digitization of the Jewish Community’s Records - Rare population registries from 1910 written in Solitreo (the written Ladino script in Hebrew-style letters) have been digitized with a collaboration of Salti Institute at Bar Ilan University in Israel. The registries will be accessible to visitors and the public.
Izmir Sephardic Culture Festival - Established in 2018, the festival is 3 years old and expanding each year. This year’s festival already included performances from abroad, walking tours of Jewish Izmir, Hanukkah celebrations, films, and much more. In the winter of 2019, we were honored to welcome a Delegation from the Sephardic Jewish Brotherhood of America for a special visit for the Festival. Supported by the Izmir Municipality and Izmir Jewish Community, the festival has attracted increased interest from local and international partners.
Although far from being finished, the restored sites, new events, and beautiful materials we’ve gathered already present a fascinating experience for visitors. Thanks to a major grant from the European Union, we will have a new visitors center completed by the end of 2022, so be sure to plan your trip to Izmir today. To learn more about visiting and all our exciting activities, visit our website at http://www.izmirjh.com/en/
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