Jewish Heritage of Istanbul
This tour is designed for guests interested in the Jewish heritage in Istanbul. Today in Turkey, only two percent of the population is Jewish but they play a very important role in Turkey. Begin with a short drive to Balat; a very ancient part of the city, where you will see the oldest existing synagogue in Istanbul called the Synagogue of Ahrida (exterior view only), which dates back to 1400. The synagogue has an impressive Baroque design and was restored in the 17th century. The second place of interest will be to the very famous Neva Shalom Synagogue located in Sishane which you will see from outside. The name Neva Shalom stands for "Oasis of Peace". The synagogue was converted to its current situation after a renovation of the sports complex of a Jewish School in 1938 and was opened to public use as of 1951.
You will visit the Eskenazi Synagogue which is another important synagogue in Istanbul. A great synagogue and holy place in Jewish tradition. A visit to the Schneider Temple which is being used as a museum for Jewish tradition will be your next stop where is 5 minutes of walking distance to Eskenazi Synagogue.
The last visit of the tour will be Turkish Jews Museum, which aims to protect the cultural heritage of Turkish Jews and to display Jewish artifacts. With donations and contributions, local Jewish families and the Turkish Government converted the old Zulfaris Synagogue into the facility found today. The Museum is composed of three sections with the main section representing the integration of Jews with the Turkish society. In the Gallery section displays examples of the current Jewish arts. The Ethnography section consists of Jewish traditions (marriage, circumcision) and ways of life from a historical perspective up through today. Conclude your day of touring with a short drive to the exotic Grand Bazaar. Bazaar is composed of two sections namely the covered part and the modern part. You will have chance to explore the exotic atmosphere of the covered part for a brief period of time. You will also have the opportunity to visit the open and modern section of the Grand Bazaar which offers the best artworks and reliable shopping to your disposal. At this point you will have another period of time for shopping and a presentation about unique Turkish carpets and Turkish arts and products.
Duration : 4 Hours
Difficulty : Moderate
Meals : No meal