The Ashkenazi Synagogue (Turkish: Eşkenazi Sinagogu) is an Ashkenazi Synagogue located near the Galata Tower in Karakoy neighborhood of Beyoglu in Istanbul, Turkey. It is the only currently active Ashkenazi synagogue in Istanbul open to visits and prayers.
The synagogue was founded by Jews of Austrian origin in 1900. It is also the last remaining synagogue from a total of three built by Ashkenazim, as the population of Ashkenazi Jews accounts for 4 percent of the total Jewish population of Turkey.
Visits to the Ashkenazi Synagogue can be made during weekday mornings and for Shabbat services on Saturday mornings.
The Ashkenazi Synagogue holds weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and other religious ceremonies in the Ashkenazi tradition. Rabbi Dr. David Marcus, who also established the Jewish school Bene Berit, served as Rabbi and spiritual leader until his death in 1938.
Rabbi Mendy Chitrik has served as the rabbi of the Ashkenazi Synagogue since 2003.
Ashkenazi Synagogue, Istanbul Turkey
I am looking to visit Istanbul next month and need the e-mail address of the Neve Shalom Synagogue or the Office of the Rabbinate.
I am also looking for the address of any Jewish museum or place of interest. Can you help me please.
Thanks, Rita Lewis
We booked a full day tour and were taken round the Synagagues.The guides knowledge was excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed the day.
El tour nos llevo al bosforo e hicimos un tour duro mas de media hora y a jn precio muy razonable
I would recommend either the Neve Shalom Synagogue (the largest Sephardic synagogue) or the Ahrida Synagogue (generally perceived as the most beautiful synagogue).
You can find the offices of Turkey’s Chief Rabbi (Hahambaşı) at Yemenici Abdullatif Sokak No. 23, which is not far from Tünel Square in Beyoğlu, Istanbul. You can mail them via info@musevicemaati.com or by filling in a contact form on their website.
Alternatively, you can reach them at +90 212 243 51 66.
Since you need to get permission to visit the synagogues from the Chief Rabbinate, I suggest you contact the offices first and tell them what you would like to visit. They will then provide you with the details you want.