Honorary President of Turkish Jewish Community, Bensiyon Pinto, was Bid Farewell on His Last Journey

Translation by Janet MITRANI

The first and only Honorary President of the Turkish Jewish Community, Bensiyon Pinto, who had served our country and our community for years with devotion, faith, and love, was buried on Sunday, January 16, at 13:00, along with a crowded ceremony. The Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, Governor of Istanbul Ali Yerlikaya, Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Ekrem Imamoğlu, Mayor of Kadiköy District Şerdil Dara Odabaşi, Mayor of Beyoğlu District Haydar Ali Yildiz, former Prime Minister of Turkey Tansu Çiller, Provincial President of CHP in Istanbul Canan Kaftancioğlu, President of Galatasaray Sports Club Burak Elmas, Prof. Ilber Ortayli, Turkish Jewish Community Co-Presidents Erol Kohen and Ishak Ibrahimzadeh, Rabbis of Turkish Jewish Community, representatives and members of various foundations and institutions of the community, and many of his loved ones and admirers attended the funeral ceremony that took place in the Ulus Ashkenazi Jewish Cemetery in Istanbul.

Besides the prayers recited during the ceremony, our Chief Rabbi Isak Haleva, Co-President Ibrahimzadeh, and Bensiyon Pinto's son Hayim Pinto gave emotional eulogies telling about Bensiyon Pinto. The ceremony that took place in a rather crowded atmosphere ended dolefully and quietly. Later, Bensiyon Pinto was bid farewell on his eternal journey being buried in the Arnavutköy Jewish Cemetery.

Related News

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.