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Neve Shalom Synagogue

Coordinates: 41°01′37″N 28°58′21″E / 41.02686°N 28.97254°E / 41.02686; 28.97254
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For other buildings or places named Neve Shalom or similar, see Neve Shalom (disambiguation).
Neve Shalom Synagogue
  • Turkish: Neve Şalom Sinagogu
  • Hebrew: בית הכנסת נווה שלום
The synagogue, with bollards, in 2009
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
RiteNusach Sefard
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue
StatusActive
Location
LocationBüyük Hendek Caddesi 61, Karaköy, Beyoğlu (Galata), Istanbul, Istanbul Province
CountryTurkey
Neve Shalom Synagogue is located in Istanbul
Neve Shalom Synagogue
Location of the synagogue in Istanbul
Geographic coordinates41°01′37″N 28°58′21″E / 41.02686°N 28.97254°E / 41.02686; 28.97254
Architecture
Architect(s)
  • Elyo Ventura
  • Bernar Motola
TypeSynagogue architecture
Groundbreaking1949
Completed1951
Specifications
Capacity2,000 worshippers
MaterialsBrick
Website
nevesalom.org
[1]

The Neve Shalom Synagogue (Turkish: Neve Şalom Sinagogu; Hebrew: בית הכנסת נווה שלום, romanized: Oasis (or Valley) of Peace) is a Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at Büyük Hendek Caddesi 61, in the Karaköy quarter of the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, in the Istanbul Province of Turkey.

History

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The synagogue was built in response to an increase in the Jewish population in the old Galata neighborhood (today encompassed by Beyoğlu district) in the late 1930s. The Neve Shalom Synagogue is the central and largest Sephardic synagogue in Istanbul, open to service especially on Shabbats, High Holidays, bar mitzvahs, funerals and weddings.[2]

A Jewish primary school was torn down in 1949 for that purpose and the synagogue was built on its ruins. The construction completed in 1951. Its architects were Elyo Ventura and Bernar Motola, young Turkish Jews. The inauguration of the synagogue was held on Sunday, March 25, 1951 (17 Adar 5711, Hebrew calendar), in the presence of the Chief Rabbi of Turkey of the time, Hahambaşı Rav. Rafael David Saban.

Terrorist attacks

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The Neve Shalom Synagogue has been impacted by terrorist attacks in 1986, 1992, and 2003.

On September 6, 1986, gunmen opened fire during a Shabbat service, which resulted in the death of 22 people. The attack was attributed to the Palestinian militant Abu Nidal.[3][4][5]

On March 1, 1992, a bomb attack was carried out by two men, causing no damage or casualties.[6]

On November 16, 2003, the synagogue was hit by one of four car bomb attacks carried out in Istanbul that week (see 2003 Istanbul bombings).[6] Even though a local Turkish militant group, the Great Eastern Islamic Raiders' Front, claimed responsibility for the attacks, police claimed the bombings were "too sophisticated to have been carried out by that group",[3] with a senior Israeli government source saying: "the attack must have been at least coordinated with international terror organizations".[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Neve Shalom Synagogue in Istanbul". Historic Synagogues of Europe. Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. n.d. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "Chief Rabbinate of Turkey (Türkiye Hahambaşılığı)". Archived from the original on March 29, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
  3. ^ a b Arsu, Sebnem; Filkins, Dexter (November 16, 2003). "20 in Istanbul Die in Bombings At Synagogues". The New York Times. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  4. ^ Reeves, Phil (August 20, 2002). "Mystery surrounds 'suicide' of Abu Nidal, once a ruthless killer and face of terror". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Bombings at Istanbul Synagogues Kill 23". Fox News. November 16, 2003.
  6. ^ a b "Neve Şalom'a ilk saldırı değil" [Not the first attack on Neve Shalom] (in Turkish). Hürriyet daily website. November 15, 2003. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
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