İzmir, Turkey – İzmir Jews Lobbying for Solution to Ownership Issue

İzmir, Turkey – The Jewish community of İzmir is planning to restore İzmir’s historical synagogues built in the beginning of the 16th century and open them to tourists. The community, which has 12 synagogues in İzmir, seven of which are open to religious practice, is waiting for the results of law suits they filed to determine the ownership of the synagogues.

İzmir Jewish Community Chairman Jak Kaya says there are 10 synagogues, historical mosques and churches in an area of 1 kilometer on the Havra Street in Kemeraltı district. “This street is the meeting point of three religions. Projects relating to religious tourism can be carried out there. Some synagogues are open to public use but most of them are ruined. We are planning to turn the historical Hevra Synagogue, which needs restoration, into Turkish Jewish Friendship Museum. Objects belonging to Jewish life, historical old testaments and documents will be on display in this museum.”

Jews want to establish a foundation Kaya says they want to make the historical scholar house a restaurant with the support of the İzmir Trade Chamber. “If old synagogues, which are national heritages, are restored and open to visitors, thousands of tourists will come to İzmir. [turkishnews]