Izmir is home to a complex of adjacent ancient Synagogues constructed in a unique Sephardic architectural style, dating from the 16th century. Of 34 Synagogues built in Izmir, just 13 remained, 9 of them in the old city of Izmir. Some of these Synagogues which are still active today are in good shape and stand as an example of various architectural styles: Italian, Basilica, and Golden Age of Spain. A Living monument for a Jewish community that once prospered.
The “Izmir project” goal is to restore those ancient Synagogues in need of renovation and turning them, together with those beautifully maintained into an open Museum of “Izmir Jewish Heritage”, enhancing inter- cultural dialogue.1. The collection of 2000 holy books dates from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Part of the library is of well-known rabbis who lived in previous centuries in Izmir, and is a testimony of the religious importance of this community in the Jewish Sephardic world in those centuries, and its influence on European Jewish life.
The Jewish ritual objects of Izmir are not simply artistic or religious items; they tell the amazing story of once flourishing Jewish community in Muslim society.
Kiriaty Foundation President Judith Kiriaty Matalon, foundation architect Naor Mimar, International Relations Development Manager Uri Bar-Ner, İzmir Jewish Community Association President Samuel Azar and the coordinator of Synagogues of İzmir, Nesim Bencoya, all paid a visit to the office of Ekrem Demirtaş, chairman of the board of the İzmir Chamber of Commerce. Matalon said there is no other place in the world similar to Kemeraltı, as it is home to the biggest synagogues with some of the most beautiful architectural hallmarks. Highlighting the importance of the historical Kemeraltı region for tourism, Matalon continued by saying: "The tolerance that has been shown to the Jewish community in İzmir means so much to us. This tolerance was never shown to us anywhere in Europe. We, the Israelis, appreciate so much that we were allowed to protect our cultural heritage for centuries."
The most important thing for these old synagogues in İzmir is to protect their exteriors. Matalon said that they have already taken the exterior of Ets Hayim Synagogue[2], which is the oldest synagogue in the region, under protection. "We have prepared restoration plans for Ets Hayim," said Matalon. "We have made presentations about the restoration project in other countries in order to gather funding. We contacted other Jewish communities in Europe as well as in the U.S. Many Sephardi Jews have taken a close interest in the project. However, we are still in search of proper funding."
On the other hand, the president of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO), Demirtaş, indicated that İzmir University of Economics and the İzmir Promotion Foundation would support the project. He said that a total of 1,400 people in İzmir belong to the Jewish community and added: "Some of the synagogues of the Jewish community have been neglected. It is important to protect these buildings out of respect. The project will definitely contribute to tourism activities in İzmir."
[1] The Bikur Holim synagogue, for example, founded in 1724 by Shalom de Chaves, is a feast for the eyes. The interior design incorporates a vibrant mix of yellow and green shades, with fine wood and marble structures and fittings, and delightfully colored frescoes above the pillars of the bima (stage), and across the frieze-like ceiling partitions. The synagogue was devastated by fire twice in the 18th century and was dutifully restored by de Chaves’s descendants on each occasion.
The Shalom Synagogue, thought to have opened in the 17th century, is a somewhat more sober affair. Even so, the arched recesses running along the southern wall catch the eye, as do the unusual seating arrangements with cushioned benches set against the perimeter wall. The said house of prayer, like the vast majority of other synagogues in the now largely neglected Izmir quarter near the local market, served one of the numerous Sephardic factions.
The Shalom Synagogue also provided access to an Ashkenazi synagogue adjacent to it, which fell into disrepair in the early 20th century and was considered unsalvageable. There were, in fact, several groups of Ashkenazi Jews who immigrated to the Ottoman Empire from eastern and central Europe as early as the 15th century, but later, following the mass influx of Jews fleeing persecution in Spain and Portugal, many Ashkenazi Jews adopted Sephardic styles of prayer and customs.
With the aid of a €50,000 grant from the German Foreign Ministry, a first stage of restoration work on the long-ruined Talmud Torah (Hevra) synagogue is also nearing completion. The synagogue is believed to have been built in the 17th century, but was rebuilt in the 19th century, in particular after severe fire damage in 1838 and 1841.
An architectural survey before the restoration began stated that:
The building is dilapidated. There is no roof at all, the pillars have fallen down, the “Aron Kodesh” and the walls are in a very bad condition. The Synagogue is exposed to weather changes. […] The building is of masonry. The pillars, the roof, the ceiling, and the “Bimah” are made of wood. The floors are covered with ceramic tiles. It is not easy to recognize the unique elements in the synagogue, because of the bad condition of the building. “
Algazi Synagogue was built in 1724 and has been renovated several times.
[2] The Etz Hayim Synagogue is an ancient building – the oldest synagogue in Izmir (formerly Smyrna) - that dates back to the time of the Romaniot Jews who settled in Asia Minor during the Byzantine period. It was later rebuilt by Sephardic Jews who had been expelled from Spain and were welcomed by the Ottoman Empire.
The Synagogue forms part of a group of nine historic synagogues; a unique complex in the old city of Izmir which is itself a designated conservation zone.
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