19 December
Becoming Your Own Apprentice and Master - Independent Learning 
December 19, 2024 Becoming Your Own Apprentice and Master - Independent Learning
December 16, 2024 Movie Review: A Real Pain
December 12, 2024 The Address of the American Rare Book Collection "Library of Congress"
December 5, 2024 New Exhibition from the Museum of the Princes´ Islands
The Abandoned Synagogue´s Gate Set on Fire
The gate of the historical Kasturya Synagogue, located in the Ayvansaray district in Istanbul, has been set on fire by unidentified people. The eyewitness Serhat Ersürel told what happened. March 22, 2021
Source: www.snobmagazin.com
Of the Kasturya Synagogue that had been built in 1893, and demolished on a large scale in 1937, only the historical gate and some remains have survived until this day. According to the report of Arif Hür from the Snob Magazine, the gate and some remains of Kasturya Synagogue were set on fire by unidentified people on Friday night (March 19th).
The eyewitness Serhat Ersürel said, "While I was passing by, I noticed smokes coming from the Kasturya Synagogue's gate. I took the fire extinguisher from my car and I took the first countermeasure. Then I notified the fire department. They put out the fire. However, the synagogue's gate was damaged."
The Kasturya Synagogue has been handed over to the Directorate General of Foundations in recent years. The restoration works have started in Kasturya Synagogue in September 2020. The excavations revealed some of the basic remains of the ancient synagogue building, as well as fragments from the walls that had been underground for many years.
After the work done, the empty space in the wall surrounding the land had been covered with a wooden panel, and the attendant there had left a while ago.
Later no work was done. The wooden panels installed and locked to protect the remains have been broken a few days ago and unidentified people started to enter.
The investigations will reveal who has set the gate of the historical Kasturya Synagogue on fire, whether it has been done intentionally.
It has been claimed that the fire which had quickly been put out, had been set by the homeless children around.
The Kasturya Synagogue had been founded by several Sephardic Jewish families coming from the city of Kastoria in the Macedonian region of Greece. Only the gate of the courtyard has survived to this day.
Related News
5 December
New Exhibition from the Museum of the Princes´ Islands
A new photography exhibition, "The Islands Were Here Before Bodrum, Marmaris Came Along!" is opened by the Museum of the Princes´ Islands, at the Historical Ferry Pier in Büyükada.
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".
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.
