HalfDay Jewish & Half Day Sultanahmet Heritage Tour in Istanbul

Except Saturday and Sunday !!!!

A ) Advance Reservation Required !!!
B ) Photocopy of your passport picture page is needed in advance for visit permits.
C ) Passports requried for security during the tour..
D ) The times are given by the Rabbinate & Times can change According to Them.

Synagogue Visits In Istanbul

Jewish community have lived in the geographic area of Asia Minor for more than 2,400 years. In the later Middle Ages, Ashkenazi Jews migrating to the Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Empire supplemented the original Jewish population of Asia Minor. At the end of the 15th century, a large number of Sephardic Jews fleeing persecution in Spain and Portugal settled in Asia Minor on the invitation of the Ottoman Empire.

Despite emigration during the 20th century, modern day Turkey continues a Jewish population.The present size of the Jewish Community is estimated at around 26,000 according to the Jewish Virtual Library. The vast majority live inIstanbul, with a community of about 2,500 in İzmir and other smaller groups located in the rest of Turkey.

Sephardic Jews make up approximately 96% of Turkey’s Jewish population, while the rest are primarily Ashkenazic.Turkish Jews are still legally represented by the Hahambasi, the Chief Rabbi. Rav Izak Haleva, is assisted by a religious Council made up of a Rosh Bet Din and three Hahamim. Thirty-five Lay Counselors look after the secular affairs of the Community and an Executive Committee of fourteen, the president of which must be elected from among the Lay Counselors, runs the daily affairs.

THE SYNAGOGUE VISIT ;

Those are the Synagogues that we will visit during this tour.
08 : 30 Am Pick up from the hotel or from the cruise..
09.00 Am Ashkenazi Synagogue
10.00 Am Ahrida Synagogue ( Visiting Old Jewish Quarter )
11:00 Am Jewish Museum
12 : 00 - 12 :45 Pm Lunch ( KOSHER FOOD Optional )
13:00 Pm Neve Shalom Synagogue
14 : 00 -- 15 : 00 Pm Topkapi Palace Museum
15 : 00 -- 16 : 00 Pm Santa Sophia Museum / Mosque
16: 15 --- 17 :15 Pm Blue Mosque and Hippodrome
18 : 00 pm Return to the hotel or the cruise ship..

The times are given by the Rabbinate & Times can change According to Them.

NOTE : In Turkey because of the security reasons; we need to inform the visitors arrival to the Synagogues
and get a special permission from the rabbinate. In order to do this we need the passport copies of each guests, hotel adresses & ask our guests to fill our a special form that is given by the Rabbinate.

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.

The Neve Shalom Synagogue
Built and opened in 1951 and the scene of a tragic terrorist attack in 1986, it is the largest synagogue in Istanbul where most of the religious ceremonies are held. The Neve Shalom is open to the public for morning visits during the weekdays and for Shabbat prayers every Saturday morning.

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.

Etz Ahayim Synagogue
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.

If you want more information; you can send us an E-mail