La Bos Sefaradi
The Sephardic Voice
Newsletter – 21
January 20, 2017
The Sephardic Jewish Brotherhood of America
Announcements & Upcoming Events
A Message from Our Executive Director
Dear Friends,
As we traversed Istanbul, the days seemed to be longer than normal, because each day we were able to see so many places and meet so many people. On our first day we visited the famous Neve Shalom synagogue, which today also houses the Jewish Museum.The synagogue is located in the old Jewish section of Galata and was built in the 1940’s in response to the growing Jewish population. The synagogue was inaugurated in 1951 under the leadership of the Chief Rabbi, Hakham Bashi Rafael David Saban. For many years, the synagogue served as the central place of worship for the community, but over time, most of the Jewish population moved away from Galata to newer neighborhoods in Istanbul.
Upon entering the synagogue, we saw that it was designed in a modern style. The Teva, where the Hazan reads, sits at the front of the sanctuary. The Hekhal, where the Torahs are stored, is wooden and there is no curtain in front of it. The stone wall that surrounds the Hekhal is yellow and gold, and the stage has a beautiful red carpet. Indeed it has a very elegant design. The seating is all wood and above is the women’s gallery and the magnificent dome and chandelier. We were very moved to visit this historic spiritual center.
After walking through the main sanctuary, our guide gave us a description of the two terrorists attacks perpetrated at the synagogue. The first occurred in September 1986, when gunmen opened fire during a Shabbat service, killing 22 people. The second attack occurred in November 2003, when two trucks carrying bombs slammed into the Bet Israel and Neve Shalom synagogues. The explosions devastated the synagogues and killed 23 people and injured more than 300 others. Today, the synagogues have been fully restored and two plaques with a memorial are placed at the entrance of the sanctuary with the names of the victims.
Although there are not as many Jews in the Galata neighborhood today, Neve Shalom remains central to many of the activities of the community. It is the largest synagogue in Istanbul and continues to hold services as well as Bar Mitzvahs, weddings, and other occasions. To learn more about Neve Shalom, you can visit the synagogue’s website here.Shabbat Shalom,Rabbi Nissim Elnecavé
Executive Director |
|
Holocaust Remembrance Day at The Greek Consulate |
|
January 20, 2017 – La Boz Sefaradi – The Sephardic Voice Nro. 21
eSefarad Noticias del Mundo Sefaradi
