Half Day Jewish Heritage and Half Day Bosphorus Tour

Description

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 zantine 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 in Istanbul, 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.

ISTANBUL SYNAGOGUE VISITS & JEWISH HERITAGE TOUR SCHEDULE ;

Half Day jewish Heritage – Half Day Bosphorus Tour Programme

* Pickup from The Hotel
* Ashkenazi Synagogue for Morning Service
* Galata Quarter Visit
* Balat jewish Quarter Walking Tour
* Ahrida Synagogue Visit
* Tea / Coffe Break in a local Patisserie
* Jewish museum- Zulfaris Synagogue
* Rustempasa Mosque Visit
* Local Markets or Spice Bazaar Visit
* End of the Tour and Return Back

( Museum can be replaced by Neve Shalom Synagogue upon request )

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. e-mail.