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Visiting
the Synagogues of Istanbul
If you would like
to visit the Synagogues of Istanbul, or would like to attend services,
please read the following information. You can visit the synagogues
only after having secured an appointment - at the latest 24 hours before
the visit - by contacting the synagogue foundation or the office of
the Chief Rabbinate during office hours (Mon-Thu: 9:30-17:00; Fri.:
9:30-13:00).
Please accept this
routine as part of a very important duty - that of taking care of the
patrimony – where the synagogues and worshippers inside have in
the past been attacked. If you see below the contact number of the synagogue
foundation's please call them directly to take appointments for your
visit, otherwise call the office of the Chief Rabbinate to coordinate
your visit with the other synagogues whose contact numbers are unlisted.
Please send your
passport number and full name in advance to the relevant office and
carry your passport with you for security checks during your visits
to all synagogues.
Service
Times for Synagogues
- Daily prayers start at 7:30 AMin all synagogues.
- Shabbat services
start at 8:00 AM at all times.
- Friday afternoon
Shabbat services start according to sundown hours. Approximate hours
can be found below.
- If carrying a
passport on Shabbat is not possible, please point this out when contacting
the relevant Synagogue offices or Rabbinate.
- For eating kosher
in our city, please call the restaurant in advance for reservations
or call (within office hours) before 24 hours if you plan to eat in
one of our social aid institutions.
Approximate
Service Starting Hours
(*Daylight saving
time differences added)
| Month |
Friday Evening (PM) |
Saturday Evening
(Motsae Shabbat) |
| January |
4:30
- 5:00 |
5:15
- 5:47 |
| February |
5:05
- 5:40 |
5:50
- 6:20 |
| March |
5:40
- 6:10 |
6:21
- 6:52 |
| April* |
6:15
- 7:40 |
7:59
- 8:22 |
| May* |
7:45
- 8:15 |
9:01
- 9:07 |
| June* |
8:15
- 8:20 |
9:01
- 9:07 |
| July* |
8:20
- 8:15 |
9:07
- 8:54 |
| August* |
8:05
- 7:25 |
8:47
- 8:08 |
| September* |
7:20
- 6:40 |
7:57
- 7:21 |
| October |
5:25
- 4:55 |
6:10
- 5:30 |
| November |
4:50
- 4:25 |
5:27
- 5:05 |
| December |
4:25
- 4:30 |
5:03
- 5:10 |
You
con choose one of the following options for:
Eating
Kosher in Istanbul
- The Metsouyan
at the Merit Antique Hotel in Laleli
(0 212-513 93 00)
- The Cartoon Restaurant
at the Cartoon Hotel in Taksim
(0 212-238 93 28)
- Robelyu - A
Kosher snack cafe on the Asian side,
near the Caddebostan Synagogue
(0 216-385 71 81)
Or you can
have your Kosher meals at the:
- Or Ahayim Hospital
in Balat
(0 212-292 04 60)
- Ihtiyarlar Yurdu
in Haskoy
Old Age Home
(0 212-238 94 94 / ext 112)
-
Barinyurt in
Galata
Old Age Home
(0 212-249 79 37)
The
Neve Shalom Synagogue Go To Top
Built and opened in 1951 and the scene of a tragic terrorist attack
in 1986, it is the largest synagogue in Istanbul where most of the religious
ceremonies are held. The Neve Shalom is open to the public for morning
visits during the weekdays and for Shabbat prayers every Saturday morning.
Contact: The Neve
Shalom Foundation
Tel.: 0-212-293
62 23 or 0-212-244 15 76
The
Ashkenazi Synagogue Go To Top
Located near the Galata Tower, it is the only active Ashkenazi Synagogue
open to visits and prayers. Founded by Ashkenazim of Austrian origin in
1900, it is the last remaining synagogue among a total of three built
by Ashkenazim. Visits con be made during weekday mornings and for Shabbat
services on Saturday mornings.
Contact: The Ashkenazi
Syn. Foundation
Tel.: 0-212-243
69 09 or 0-212-244 29 75
Italian
Synagogue Go To Top
(Kal de los Frankos)
Built by the "Comunita
Israelitico-Italiana di Istanbul" in 1931. This Synagogue has been
rebuilt when the one initially built in the late 1800's was torn down
and it is active since then. Only open for Shabbat prayers on Saturday
mornings, it can be visited during weekday mornings as well.
Contact: The Italian
Synagogue Foundation
Tel.: 0-212-293
77 84
Maalem
Synagogue Go To Top
Located in the northern slopes of the Golden Horn near the Old Age Home
in Haskoy, it is the only remaining one of the many synagogues of the
area since the 1960's. It is open for visits only during weekdays and
Shabbat Services are held regularly.
Contact: Mr. Tastasa
Tel.: 0-212-225
28 78
Bet
Israel Synagogue Go To Top
Located in Sisli and part of the Neve-Shalom Foundation, it was initially
built in the 1920's and enlarged into its present size in the early
1950's due to the majority of the Jewish population moving to that area.
The most populated and active Synagogue today, the Bet-Israel can be
both visited or joined for prayers after taking necessary appointments.
Contact: The Neve
Shalom Foundation
Tel.: 0-212-293
62 23 or 0-212-244 15 76
Etz
Ahayim Synagogue Go To Top
Located in
Ortakoy, near the European leg of the Bosphorus Bridge. When the previous
synagogue burned down in 1941 with only the marble Aron-ha-Kodesh remaining,
the new synagogue was rebuilt on the location of the then midrash. Visits
can be made with previous appointments and both weekday and Shabbat
services can be attended likewise.
Contact: The Ortakoy
Syn. Foundation
Tel.: 0-212-260
18 96
Yenikoy
Synagogue Go To Top
Located in the north of the Bosphorus in the area called Yenikoy where
the Jewish population is lately increasing, this Synagogue, said to
be built by Kamondo in the late 1800's, has been lately activated by
the renewed presence of Jewish people in the area and only Shabbat prayers
are held.
Contact: The Chief
Rabbinate
Tel.: 0-212-243
51 66
The Ahrida Synagogue Go To Top
Located in Balat near the Golden Horn, built by Jews of Ohri (Macedonia)
more than 550 years ago and recently renovated during the Quincentennial
Celebrations in 1992, the Ahrida Synagogue is known foremost by its boat-shaped
bimah. It can only be visited during weekday mornings.
Contact: the Balat
Foundation
Tel.: 0-212
523 74 07 (during office hours)
Yanbol Synagogue Go To Top
Built by Jews of Yanbol,
Bulgaria, in the Byzantine period, the synagogue has been rebuilt in the
18th century. It is one of the two remaining ancient synagogues of the
Balat area.
Contact: the Balat
Foundation
Tel.: 0-212
523 74 07 (during office hours)
Bet
Avraam Synagogue Go To Top
Located just behind the Main Train Station in Sirkeci. It is the Synagogue
nearest to the Sultanahmet–Hippodrome area and can be reached by
foot easily for Shabbat services. Appointments should be secured from
the Chief Rabbinate.
Contact: The Chief Rabbinate
Tel.: 0-212-243 51 66
Kal
Kados, Corapci Han Synagogue Go To Top
Located in an historical office building and built by Russian Jews in
the 1880's with the help of Count de Kamondo, the Synagogue is open
for daily prayers during weekdays.
Contact: The Chief
Rabbinate
Tel.: 0-212-243 51 66
Bakirkoy
Synagogue Go To Top
This synagogue has been active since the late 1800's for the Jews of
the area, but with the decrease in the Jewish population it is only
open far Shabbat services.
Contact: The Chief
Rabbinate
Tel.: 0-212-243
51 66
Hemdat
Israel Synagogue Go To Top
Located in the area called Haydarpasa-Kadikoy on the Asian side, it
was opened in 1899. Visits and participation to prayers are possible
after contacting the Chief Rabbinate.
Contact: The Chief
Rabbinate
Tel.: 0-212-243 51 66
Bet Yaakov Synagogue
Go To Top
Located an the Asian side of the Bosphorus in the area called Kuzguncuk,
just beside a Greek Orthodox church, it was built in 1878. The Jewish
population of Kuzguncuk having moved away, it is kept alive by worshippers
whose families originated there. Shabbat services on Saturday morning
are held regularly. For visits please contact the Chief Rabbinate.
Contact: The Chief Rabbinate
Tel.: 0-212-243 51 66
Bet
Nissim Synagogue Go To Top
Built in 1840s in Kuzguncuk with its Ehal-ha-Kodesh dating from the
end of 18th century, it was restored and reopened to the public.
Visits are possible
through appointment from the Chief Rabbinate.
Contact: The Chief
Rabbinate
Tel.: 0-212-243 51 66
Caddebostan
Synagogue Go To Top
Built in 1961 due to the increase of the Jewish population in the area,
the Synagogue is the most populated one on the Asian side of the city
and visits and participation in prayers is possible by contacting the
Chief Rabbinate.
Contact: The Chief
Rabbinate
Tel.: 0-212-243
51 66
Hesed
Le Avraam Synagogue Go To Top
Located on the biggest of the Princes' Islands, called Buyukada (Prenkipo),
the synagogue is open only during the summer when the majority of the
Jewish population, of Istanbul comes to spend their summer months. Boats
and sea-buses commute regularly from various points in Istanbul to Buyukada.
For Information and appointments please contact the Chief Rabbinate.
Contact: The Chief
Rabbinate
Tel.: 0-212-243
51 66
Bet
Yaakov Synagogue Go To Top
Located an the island called Heybeliada (Halki), it was built in 1953
because in the 1940's there were more than 250 Jewish families passing
their summer months on the island.
Contact: The Chief
Rabbinate
Tel.: 0-212-243
51 66
Burgazada
Synagogue Go To Top
There were few Jewish families in the 1950's in Burgaz (Antigone), but
in the 60's the need to have a Synagogue arose and permission was taken
in 1968 to build one. It is open for services only during summer months,
like the other synagogues of the Princes' Islands.
Contact: The Chief
Rabbinate
Tel.: Contact:
0-212-243 51 66
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