A Magnificent Concert at Edirne Synagogue

Edirne Grand Synagogue, which reopened its doors two years ago after an extensive restoration by General Directorate of Foundations, celebrated National Foundations Week with a unique event. World-renowned counter-tenor David D’eor gave a magnificent concert at the Synagogue to an audience of over 500 people as part of the activities. 

Besides hundreds of guests coming from Istanbul by shuttles and private vehicles, the concert also drew the attention of Edirne locals. The news of the concert was covered in media. Among those who attended the event was Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak. At his entrance, he was greeted with the orchestra playing “Katibim”. Kaynak gave a speech before the concert where he thanked Turkish Jewish Community for the invite. “We all have the same concerns and the same joys. We, as one nation always create such united memories. Jerusalem, Istanbul, these lands and the whole world is our common geography.”

Kaynak also stating that he is happy to be together with people from different faiths in Europe’s biggest synagogue said that geography is our common heritage. “Here in the biggest synagogue of Europe, we are living two joyous occasions at the same time together with our Jewish citizens. First of all, I would like to extend my good wishes to our Jewish brothers for their holiday. Also, today, the Turkish Jewish Community successfully held the election for Chief Rabbi. I congratulate Chief Rabbi Isak Haleva for his new term and wish him success. I would also like to thank Leader of Turkish Jewish Community Ishak Ibrahimzadeh for inviting me to all their special occasions and their holiday celebrations. This is who we are, we, all of us together, are the same wind from the same mountain. We all drink from the same fountain. We all have the same concerns and the same joys. We, as one nation, always create such united memories together. (…)  Our Edirne city with this splendid synagogue is making us the country to have the greatest synagogue in Europe. Our former capital Edirne, which is also one of the most important cities in our history, not only has the biggest synagogue in Europe, but also the spectacular Selimiye Mosque which is a great example of Islamic architecture. " 

After Kaynaks’s speech, David D’eor took the stage. He started his concert with the Sephardic song “Adios”. His repertoire included various popular songs in Hebrew and English and also famous opera tunes. D’eor received a standing ovation from the audience. At the end of one and half hour concert, Deputy Prime Minister Kaynak presented D’eor a special painting as a gift.  

Besides Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak, Edirne Governor Gunay Ozdemir, Director of General Directorate of Foundations Adnan Ertem, CHP Istanbul MP Safak Pavey, AKP’s Group Supervisor at Grand National Assembly of Turkey Halil Ergen, Edirne Representative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Murat Ahmet Yoruk, Edirne Chief of Police Armagan Adnan Erdogan and various representatives from Edirne city protocol attended the event. 

Also at the concert, Israeli Consul General Shai Cohen and the consul generals of Greece, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Hungary were present. Galatasaray University Faculty of Law Professor Ilber Ortayli was also among the audience. 

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