Before its opening - Edirne Synagogue in 10 questions; Its history, importance, congregation, Najara and Maftirim

1-Why is the opening of Edirne Synagogue so important?

Edirne Synagogue has been a symbol of the freedom of worship and religion for the Jews ever since the period of the Ottoman Empire and is one of the largest synagogues in Europe. It was opened to worship in 1907 with the name Kal Kadoş ha Gadol (Sacred Large Synagogue) (Another large synagogue is Sardes in the county Manisa dates from 133 BC.)

Edirne Synagogue is not only the birth place of freedom of religion in the Ottoman period, it is also the birth place of Maftirim (synagogue hymns) the fruit of the forgotten strong connections between Ottoman Sufism and Judaism.

This symbol was left on its own in a dilapidated state after the Edirne congregation left their home after the Thrace Incidents in 1934. 

2- In brief, what are the Thrace Incidents?

In the ‘Thrace Incidents’ of 1934, as a result of the rising wave of anti-Semitism in Turkey and Europe, in cities such as Tekirdag, Edirne, Kirklareli and Canakkale businesses and homes belonging to Jews were attacked and looted and minorities were subjected to physical assaults. As a result of these incidents, the congregation in Edirne emigrated from their homes and the Edirne Synagogue – that had witnessed history and culture – was left behind alone and dilapidated.

3- How old of a synagogue is the Edirne Synagogue?

Jews started settling in Edirne following the conquest of Edirne by Sultan Murat I. The congregation numbered approximately 17 thousand and had 13 synagogues. Unfortunately, as a result of Harik-I Kebir (large fire) thousands of homes burnt down and all of the synagogues were destroyed. Following the fire, the Jews in Edirne no longer had places of worship.

Following this, during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid, the Edirne Synagogue was reconstructed with the decree of 4 Zilhicce 1325 (6 January 1906). The Large Synagogue (Edirne Synagogue) was constructed by the French architect Depre and was modelled on the architecture of the Vienna Synagogue. The synagogue was opened to worship in 1907. 

4- How old is the Edirne congregation?

Following the Ottoman conquest of Edirne, the Sultan Murat I invited the Romaniote Jewish congregation (The Jews of Rome) who had been living in Anatolia since the time of the Romans, to settle in Edirne. The Sephardic Jews (Jews who had immigrated to Spain) who had been expelled from Spain in 1492 and who had come to Ottoman lands in a large wave of immigration also settled in Edirne. In short, Edirne became a valuable Ottoman town in which different cultures came together and different languages were spoken. 

Even though it was constructed in the 20^th century, the Edirne Synagogue represents the history, past and common culture of the Ottomans and Jews. Additionally, the synagogue is a combination and embodiment of the culture of the 13 synagogues belonging to the Romaniote and the Sephardic Jews that did not make it to our day due to the large fire.

5-What is the relationship between the Edirne Synagogue and the palace court?

Along with the musicians from the other religious minorities in the Ottoman Empire, the Jewish musicians were also brought up in the palace in order to perform to aristocrats who were not Jewish.

The central role played by the music of the hymns and the holy poetry within Jewish religious celebrations shows similarities at times with the Sema of the Sufis.

6-What is Maftirim?

Maftirim, is the name given to the synagogue hymns of the Ottoman Jews. They are not prayers. These hymns are unique to Sephardic Jews and were created in these lands. As stated by Karen Gerson, the Coordinator of the Research Centre for Ottoman –Turkish Sephardic Culture: “Maftirim is actually the expression of any feeling and thought such as the praise, thanks and reproach of God in the intonation of Turkish music. In essence, the names given to these poems were in time give to the groups who recited them.”

Nowadays, these hymns are still expressed in intonation with Turkish music. Below is a link for you to experience it:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqPmp0PuKXo

Sadly, many pieces that were composed with classic Ottoman music from the 16^th century to the beginning of the 20^th century remained unpublished until the 20^th century and only very few of these hymns lasted to our times by the means of oral tradition.

7- Who is Najara?

As documents predating the 16^th century do not really exist anymore, it is known that the first official source of Ottoman Jewish tradition was Rabbi Najara (1555- 1625).

In the beginning of the 17^th century when Najara was alive, Jewish musicians became important people associated to court music.

In Istanbul in 1614, the traveller Pietro della Valle, described the reception held for the new Venetian ambassador Alomoro Nani as:

“After the meal, they left the palace for an hour or two to watch the Jewish musicians who were all dancing, singing and playing instruments in the Turkish style.”

8- Hymns that spread from Edirne to the world…

At the beginning of the 17^th century, Edirne became the centre of Ottoman-Jewish hymns. Hymns that were written in Edirne spread to Bulgaria, Bosnia, Venice and even Egypt.

9- Who did the Ottoman Jewish musicians perform to?

Ottoman Jewish musicians have a dual cultural identity: they serve both the Jewish community and audiences who were not Jewish.

10- Will the Edirne Maftirim tradition survive?

The 300 year old Maftirim tradition last flourished in the 1920’s. At first, Jewish immigrants from Edirne gathered in a private residence in Sirkeci. In the years of 1926 they tried to keep this tradition alive under the leadership of Rabbi Behor Papo in the Kneset Israel Synagogue in Sishane. 

The Centre for Ottoman-Turkish Sephardic Culture is working to create an archive for the survival of this tradition and efforts are continuing to transfer of this tradition to future generations. 

For more detailed information:

http://www.salom.com.tr/haber-73922-makamlarin_buyusu_maftIrIm_olumsuzlesti.html

Reference:

A General Historic Approach to the Concept of Maftirim; Prof. Edwin Seroussi (Hebrew University, Jerusalem)http://www.turkyahudileri.com/content/view/561/222/lang,tr/

Related Newsss ss

14 November

"Humor on the Margins: Cartoons in the Turkish Jewish Newspaper Şalom" by Rakel P. Meşulam

Rakel P. Meşulam signed her first book "Humor on the Margins: Cartoons in the Turkish Jewish Newspaper Şalom (1947-2016)" at Schneidertempel Arts Center.

7 November

The "Ottoman and Turkish Ketubbot" Exhibition

The Quincentennial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews is opening an exhibition of Ketubbot (Jewish wedding contracts), some from forgotten corners of our homes, some as already discovered works of art, some from the walls of the collectors, some from the Chief Rabbinate Collection, on November 7th, at Schneidertempel Arts Center, after they have been cleaned and maintained.

24 October

Izzet Keribar´s "Journey of Colors" Exhibition at Istanbul Modern

Istanbul Modern, Turkey´s first modern and contemporary art museum, is preparing to host photography artist Izzet Keribar´s solo exhibition "Journey of Colors".

5 September

Virna Gülzari´s ´Dream Rooms´ Exhibition Opened in Ayvalık

8 August

Kasadolu Draws Attention to the Increasing Hostility Towards Turkish Jews

The businessperson Doğan Kasadolu wrote a letter to AKP´s Ankara Member of Parliament Tuğrul Türkeş, drawing attention to the increasing anti-Semitism.

30 May

Annette Bat Mitzvah Club and Yoel Bar Mitzvah Club Year-End Ceremonies

The 2023-2024 "Collective Bat Mitzvah Ceremony" of the Annette Bat Mitzvah Club girls, founded in 2002 within the Chief Rabbinate of Turkey Education Commission (HEGKOM), was celebrated in the Neve Shalom Synagogue on Sunday, May 26th.

13 May

Renan Koen´s Brand-New Projects for Hatay

28 March

Democrat Party (DP) Visited Şalom

18 March

Moris Karmona Declared War On Bullying With His Book "Morhis"

Moris Karmona´s book "Morhis" in which he wrote his life story, has been published.

1 March

82nd Anniversary of the Struma Disaster

The Struma Immigration Ship had sailed from Constanza, Romania to take the Jews desperate to run from the Nazis to today´s Israel, and was sunk by a torpedo from a Russian submarine after anchoring off the coast of Istanbul for weeks.