Elda SASUN

The Israel Airline El Al that had to stop its scheduled flights in March 2007 due to financial reasons, landed on Istanbul Atatürk Airport this morning, after many years.

The documentary about the life of Erol Güney ´Wherever Life Takes You - Erol Güney’s Story´ was shown on Sunday, March 8th at the Quincentenial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews.

A beautiful Hanukkah celebration presenting Burstein Klezmer´s Basement and Cenk Rofe Concert was held in Neve Şalom on the eve of December 23rd, Monday, organized by the Turkish Ashkenazim Community and Neve Şalom Sephardic Synagogues Foundation.

Pera Film presented ‘Chosen Families: Tomer Heymann’, a selection of films by Israeli documentary producer and director Tomer Heymann.

Israeli author David Grossman, who criticizes government policies and is known for his pacifist stance, tells the journey of a mother who is worried about the fate of his son who went to war, in his book “To the End of the Land” published in 2008. ‘To the End of the Land’ has recently been released in Turkey in Turkish. We talked with Grossman about his book and his views on peace in the Middle East.

World famous Turkish pianist Fazıl Say, performed a concert together with Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO), directed by the greatest conductor alive, Maestro Zubin Mehta, on September 14th, in Munich.

In the context of the first ‘Violoncello Class Meeting’ in Turkey, hosted by Trakya University State Conservatory, the famous violoncellist Dan Weinstein performed an exquisite concert in Edirne Synagogue.

The photography exhibition where the wonderful photos of Akdamar Church by Izzet Keribar are displayed, was opened on July 23rd, in the Hagia Irene Church.

On February 3rd, 2019, Italian Jewish Community in partnership with Italian Cultural Center organized a concert on the occasion of ‘January 27th International Holocaust Remembrance Day’, at the Italian Synagogue.