Ahrida Synagogue, also known as the Okhrida Synagogue
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The main building was rebuilt at the end of the seventeenth century and restored several times thereafter, each time keeping the general outlines of the original design. The large rectangular prayer hall is crowned by a wooden dome, and its ceiling is painted with elegant, typically Ottoman floral motifs. Resplendent with eight columns and ten large windows, the synagogue is luminous. The most recent large-scale restorations, completed in 1992, have returned the hall to its former design, most notably by getting rid of the women’s balcony. As in earlier times, women follow the service from an adjacent hall separated from the main worship space by perforated panels. A unique tevah stands in the center of the hall. Made of varnished wood in the form of a ship, it represents Noah’s Ark and also explicitly evokes the caravels that carried Jews fleeing Spain. The prow points toward the aron, which features magnificent ivory and mother-of-pearl inlaid wood doors. be sure to take a moment to admire the stunning interior adorned with intricately designed wooden balconies and vibrant stained glass windows.Two other buildings are located in the garden, the Midrash and a heavy stone and brick structure, the old odjara. The latter today serves as a hospice.
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Caffe Eden
Caffe Eden is a kosher restaurant situated in the Mecidiye neighborhood of Besiktas in Istanbul. It offers a variety of Middle Eastern and Israeli dishes, including kebabs, lahmacun, and pitas for eating in and for takeout. The restaurant is supervised by Denet Gida, ensuring adherence to kosher standards.
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Submitted by LR · Aug 25, 2025
Ahrida Synagogue, also known as the Okhrida Synagogue
The Ahrida Synagogue is the oldest continuously active synagogue in Istanbul. Founded in the fifteenth century by Jews from the Macedonian city of Ohrid and located in Balat district of İstanbul, the Jewish quarter of the city. The Ahrida Synagogue is incontestably the most beautiful synagogue in Instanbul and it has kept the name of the small Romaniote community that established it, even though this community was absorbed by Jews arriving from the Iberian Peninsula, who gave the temple its splendor. The main building was rebuilt at the end of the seventeenth century and restored several times thereafter, each time keeping the general outlines of the original design. The large rectangular prayer hall is crowned by a wooden dome, and its ceiling is painted with elegant, typically Ottoman floral motifs. Resplendent with eight columns and ten large windows, the synagogue is luminous. The most recent large-scale restorations, completed in 1992, have returned the hall to its former design, most notably by getting rid of the women’s balcony. As in earlier times, women follow the service from an adjacent hall separated from the main worship space by perforated panels. A unique tevah stands in the center of the hall. Made of varnished wood in the form of a ship, it represents Noah’s Ark and also explicitly evokes the caravels that carried Jews fleeing Spain. The prow points toward the aron, which features magnificent ivory and mother-of-pearl inlaid wood doors. be sure to take a moment to admire the stunning interior adorned with intricately designed wooden balconies and vibrant stained glass windows.Two other buildings are located in the garden, the Midrash and a heavy stone and brick structure, the old odjara. The latter today serves as a hospice.
Submitted by LR · Aug 25, 2025
Neve Shalom: Istanbul's Largest Synagogue
Istanbul, with 15.8 million residents, is Europe’s largest city. Approximately 17,500 Jews live in Istanbul, —the fabled and literal spot where East meets West along the Bosporus. Almost all are Sephardi, Rapprochement between Israel and Turkey culminated in the restoration of full diplomatic ties in August 2022, making trips to Istanbul and throughout the country more enticing. most Turkish synagogues feature a tevah (bimah) in the middle of the sanctuary, facing the hechal (ark), with benches wrapping around the main floor and balcony seating for women. Close to 20 Sephardi synagogues bearing this layout are scattered throughout Istanbul, the majority on the European side of the city. the largest synagogue in all of Turkey, Neve Shalom, in Instanbul's central Galata district, is open for Shabbat, holidays and special occasions. Built by Jews who came to the area along the northwestern banks of the Golden Horn in the early and mid-20th century, Neve Shalom features a lofty sanctuary graced with over a dozen stained-glass windows. It also houses a towering wooden ark atop a red-carpeted stage; a women’s gallery encircling the space from above; and a massive brass chandelier featuring a Magen David within its diameter.
Submitted by LR · Aug 25, 2025