The Bet Israel Synagogue is the largest and most elegant Synagogue in the city of Izmir, Turkey. It was built in 1907 and the most beautiful of all the Synagogues with its wooden decoration. The two piece of Tevah (Bimah) and the Ehal Akodesh Bloc have been made of massive mahogany by the most famous masters of that period. Upper gallery of the Synagogue serves as a museum.
Bet Israel Synagogue, Izmir was built by specially employed Italian artisans in the 1900s. It shows modern European influences, notably by the location of the tevah close to the Holy Ark towards the southern wall. By the end of the 19th century, there were in Izmir a total of ten Synagogues and eight prayer-houses.
The current religious life of the Izmir community is concentrated mainly around two synagogues: the Bet Israel Synagogue and Shaar Hashamaym, a new Synagogue located in the modern district of Alsancak that also houses the offices of the local rabbinate and community. The cultural activities are promoted by the Liga benevolent association established in 1909.
- Address:
- Mithat Paşa Cad. No:265 Konak Merkez, Konak, Izmir
- Tel: +90 232 425 16 28
Bet Israel Synagogue, Izmir
View Larger Map Beth Israel Synagogue, Izmir,
Beth Israel founded in 1905 in the Karatach quarter where an important Jewish community lived at the beginning of the 20th Century.
The two most recent synagogues used today for the important ceremonies are this last one and the new synagogue located in Alsancak-Izmir where the main part of the Jewish Community of the city now lives. The others are regularly used for daily prayers by some men.
There were many other synagogues or oratories founded by various families, but they all disappeared. Abraham Galante has given the list of the main family oratories in his book.
The still existing synagogues are in good state. The interiors are beautiful and there are often some marble slabs with the names of the donors. The Beth Israel synagogue, for instance, contains some slabs with the names of Yuda Leon Hodara ben Esterula, Ishak (Ferdi) Yafe ben Mazaltov. Some other slabs also bear a date : Binyamin Navaro ben Sara (30 Adar 5741 = 6 March, 1981), Yusef Pesah cen Ben Tamar (11 Sevat 5741 = 16 January, 1981)
Since the Jews in Izmir were relocated to the neighbourhoods of Goztepe, Karantina and Karatas towards the end of the 19th century, the Beth Israel Synagogue, the largest one in Izmir, was built in Karatas Neighbourhood upon an order by Sultan Abdulhamit II, the Ottoman Emperor of the time, on March 15,1905.
The interior decoration of the synagogue, which began service in 1907, was an ongoing process, achieving its present condition in the 1950’s. The wooden decorations made of solid mahogany are the works of the famous masters of the period. The synagogue was designed to hold 600 people, with its lower floor exclusively for men and the upper floor for women. It is a favourite spot for religious celebrations like the wedding ceremonies and Bar Mitzvahs.
Beth Israel Synagogue, Mithatpasa Bulvari no. 245, is a handsome Ottoman Victorian-style building dating from the turn of the century.
After visiting the Beth Israel Synagogue, walk one block inland and around the rear of the synagogue, turning left. About a hundred meters along this street is the Asansor very interesting buildings. It is an elevator and was built as a public service to help carry people and freight up the steep cliff in this part of the city. Beautiful views of the city from the top and a café there as well.
Beth Israel is one of the two most frequented synagogues used today for important ceremonies. The interiors of the synagogue are beautiful, wood works are very impressive, and there are marble slabs with the names of the donors. Lower floor is reserved for men and has a capacity of up to 600 people, and upper floor is reserved for ladies. Surprisingly, the Hakodesh is not to the east but to the south of the synagogue.
√was built in 1905 by Nisim Levi in the Karatas district where an important Jewish community lived at the time. At the entrance of the synagogue, there is the opening date of 5668 according to the Jewish calendar, and on the upper-left corner there is Shaday (God) name inscripted.
The interiors of the synagogue are beautiful and the wood works are very impressive. Lower floor is reserved for men and has a capacity of up to 600 people, and upper floor is reserved for ladies.
Beth Israel is the biggest synagogue iz Izmir and one of the two most frequently used synagogues today for important ceremonies in Izmir. Many other synagogues are rarely used.
Beth Israel Synagogue is the most beautiful of the synagogue is its wooden decorations. The two piece of Tevah and the Ehal Akodesh Bloc have been made of massive mahogany by the most famous masters of that period. Upper gallery of the synagogue serves as a museum.