Active Synagogues:

Balat Neighborhood:

Ahrida Synagogue:

The Ahrida synagogue was completely destroyed in the fire of 1690 and reconstructed. The last restoration took place between 1990 and 1992 by the Turkish architect Hüsrev Tayla. The temple was reopened on the 16th November 1992. This restoration was based on the plans of 1694 reconstruction and the decoration trends of the same period. The synagogue has two entrances. The south entrance is usually closed and the north entrance is used as the main gate. The main building was constructed from bricks and stone. The floor is made from Marmara marble. The praying deck, called "Tevah" is at the center of the synagogue according to Sephardic traditions. According to Sephardic traditions, the Tevah is built at the center of the synagogue. According to Ashkenazim traditions, the Tevah is constructed next to the Ehal. In most of the Sephardic synagogues constructed after the 18th century, the Tevah is built next to the Ehal like in an Ashkenazi synagogue. This is probably due to the fact that the Ashkenazi community was very small and in most of the neighborhood, there were no Ashkenazi synagogues. To honor the Ashkenazim, to make them feel at home, the Sephardim synagogues were constructed according Ashkenazim traditions.) The Tevah reached by two steps, ahs the shape of the back of a boat. According to some historian the Tevah represent the Arch of Noah. According to others, it represents the first ship coming from Spain during the Inquisition. The possibility of the Tevah being added to the synagogue during the restorations of 1694 makes both theories accurate. The Ehal of the Ahrida synagogue is reached by three steps. The wooden door of the Ehal is decorated with mother of pearl. The women section, the "Azara", of the temple is at the west. The fact that the Azara is separated by a glass from the rest of the synagogue proves that the community of the Ahrida synagogue was very orthodox. read more >>

Yanbol Synagogue:

The Yanbol synagogue was founded by the Jewish congregation migrated from the Yanbol (Nigbolu or Necropolis) of Bulgaria. A document dated 21 May 1693 proves that the synagogue was active during the Byzantine period. There are still constructions from that period in the complex of the synagogue. The main building used as synagogue is made of wood. According to the traveler Schneider the synagogue was restored in 1709 by Yakov bin Yaseh. read more >>

Sirkeci Neighborhood:

Corapci Han Synagogue:

This temple was constructed inside the corapci business building belonging to Kaptan-i Derya Piyale Pasa. With the financial support of the Kamondo family, it was built in 1880 by the Russian immigrants. On the marble plate mounted on the wall the names of those who contributed to the construction of the temple are marked. read more >>

Hesed Beth Avraam Synagogue:

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Jewish congregation of Sirkeci was using the corapci Han synagogue. With the efforts of the younger generation, on the land located behind the train station and donated to the Jewish community by Avraam Geron a three stories building was constructed as Talmud Torah. When, at in 1919, the corapc? Han synagogue was insufficient, the Talmud Torah building started to be used as a synagogue during high holidays. The upper floor, today used a Midrash, was used as a temple. Later the whole building was converted to a synagogue. read more >>

Haskoy Neighborhood:

Maalem Synagogue:

The synagogue, still active today, was constructed at the end of the 17th century or at the beginning of the 18th century. It took its actual shape during the restoration works of the 19th century. The building was surrounded by high walls to protect it from fires. The courtyard has two entrances, one on the west and another one on the north. The round dome of the temple is hidden under a roof and can't be seen from outside. The dome is decorated with a golden sun motif. read more >>

Galata Neighborhood:

Neve Salom Synagogue:

The meaning of the name is Oasis of Peace. There was another synagogue with the same name in the history of Istanbul's Jewry. In 1923, during the opening ceremony of Apollon (Knesset) synagogue, the leader of Galata Jewish community, Abraham Botton made the promise to open a big and modern synagogue. A new land was bought for that purpose in 1926 on Refik Saydam Street by Elia Kadori and donated to the community. read more >>

Ashkenazi Synagogue:

The synagogue was constructed by the Ashkenazi Jews who came to Istanbul from Austria. The architect of the synagogue was Gabriel Tedoschi. The biggest financial support to the construction of the temple was given by Herman Goldenberg. The synagogue was opened to service 23 September 1900. The opened prayers were told by the Hazan Valdovski. read more >>

Italian( Kal de los Francos) Synagogue:

This synagogue, known as Kal de los Francos or le synagogue des etrangers, was constructed by the Italian Jewish community separated from the Sepharad community. There are several different informations about the separation of the Italian Jewish congregation from the Istanbul Jewish community. According to a document dated 14 February 1858 in the achieves of the historian Abraham Elmal?k, the separation is due a funeral. The community asked an outrageous amount of money from the Gestro family. The disagreement resulted the separation of the congregation. read more >>

Bakirkoy Neighborhood :

Bakirkoy Synagogue Synagogue:

After the Balat fire, during the Balkan War, for about 80 families who migrated to Yenikoy, a synagogue was constructed. This temple, located next to the Yedikule police station was on the upper floor of a house. Closed at the beginning of 1964, the building was sold at May 1964.

Sisli Neighborhood :

Beth Israel Synagogue:

The Beth Israel synagogue was opened the second day of pass-over. The architects of the synagogue were Fram Deragobyan and Jak Pardo. The building used today as the synagogue was a yarn factory. The building was converted to a synagogue between 1950 and 1952. The sign in Hebrew on the exterior façade of the synagogue, Kal Kado? Beth Israel was written by Fram Deragobyan, one of the architects of the temple. He explained many years later in an interview that he was not satisfied with the work of a professional calligrapher and decided to do it himself. read more >>

Kemerburgaz Neighborhood :

Shaar Ashamayim Synagogue:

From the beginning of the year 2000, Kemerburgaz became a very popular area among the Jewish community. The Chief rabbinate decided to build a temple for the families who moved to Kemerburgaz. On the 21 September 2006, with the presence of Chief Rabbi ?zak Haleva, the Kemerburgaz Shaar Ashamayim temple opened to service. read more >>

Ortakoy Neighborhood:

Etz A Hayim Synagogue:

The Etz A Hayim synagogue is located on the main street of Ortakoy. Its name, meaning the Tree of Life was used for several synagogues during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. A synagogue with the same name is still active in Bursa. Before the construction of this building, the synagogue was located in another building with the same name. Even some documents give the construction date of the synagogue as 1825, the Jewish population who lost their homes during the Bedesten fire of 1618, found refuge in the Etz A Hayim synagogue. The synagogue went through a major restoration in 1825. Some historians take this date as the construction date of the synagogue. read more >>

Yenikoy Neighborhood :

Tiferet Israel Synagogue:

This small stone temple's construction was financed by the Kamondo family in 1870's. The temple is located on the corners of the Çifte Fabrika Street and Koybasi Avenue. The building's exterior was completely restored in 1957. The interior of the temple went through major reparations in 2000. It was reopened to service the 3 June 2001. read more >>

Kadikoy Neighborhood :

Hemdat Israel Synagogue:

The temple located in the Yelde?irmeni 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).