The Jewish settlements started to move from Kuzguncuk in the middle of the 19th century. With the growth of the community in this area, a second synagogue was opened in this area in Caddebostan. The two synagogues directions were joined under the Hemdat Israel foundation. Later, a Talmud Torah school was opened by the Hemdat Israel foundation. The Talmud Torah teaches young Jewish children Hebrew and religion. The purpose is to increase the interest of the youngster to the religion. There are also two cemeteries under the control of the foundation. The Aci Badem Jewish cemetery and a section of the Nakkas Tepe cemetery in Kuzguncuk belong to the Kadikoy congregation.
1 Hemdat Israel synagogue
The temple located in the Yeldegirmeni district, was built in the 1880's to answer the needs of some 2000 Jewish families living in the area. The temple takes its name from the story behind its construction. The Greeks living in the neighborhood opposed violently to the construction of the synagogue and the construction could only start after the intervention of the Sultan Abdülhamid II's soldiers. To show their gratitude to the Sultan the temple was named Hemdat Israel (the gratitude of the sons of Israel).
The temple was designed by an Austrian architect. The 2000 Ottoman gold coins needed for the construction of the synagogue, were collected with donations. The synagogue opened on a Roshashana evening, the 3 September 1899. For the opening ceremony of the temple, a chandelier similar to the one in the Muayede hall of the Dolmabahçe palace was donated by the Chief Jewilmaker of the Sultan, Jak Bey de Leon. Baron de Rotchild and his family participated to the Yom Kippur praying in the Hemdat Israel synagogue in 1899.The synagogue was planed and constructed according to the Sepharad traditions. There are two entrances, one on the south and one on the north of the temple. The Tevah and the Ehal are face to face constructed towards the south. There is of course a space between the Tevah and the Ehal. The south entrance, used as the main gate of the temple is reached by large white marble stairs. The small hall on the left of the main entrance was constructed as a Yeshiva in 1920. Today the reunions of the board of directors are held in this room. The Ehal is reached, again according to Sepharad traditions, by three stairs. The door of the Ehal has mother of pearl ornaments like many synagogues in Istanbul. Like in the Ashkenazi synagogue, in this synagogue the roof of the Ehal represent the square dome.
