2 January
Visually Immaculate! - NOSFERATU 
January 2, 2025 Visually Immaculate! - NOSFERATU
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"
The woman who introduced Yasar Kemal to the world: His wife, Tilda
A prominent man of letters, writer Yasar Kemal passed away at the age of 92. Leaving behind 26 novels, 11 essays, 9 interviews, 2 short stories and 1 poem, Yasar Kemal did not only make his mark in Turkish literature, but also in world literature.
Yasar Kemal did not only make his mark in Turkish literature, but also in world literature.
His first wife Tilda, was the most important factor in Kemal’s being well known in world literature.
Tilda Kemal, whose real name was Mathilda, was the grand daughter of Sultan Abdul Hamid’s chief doctor Jewish Jak Mandil and daughter of General Manager of Ottoman Bank.
Known for her modesty, intelligence and elegance, Tilda’s path crossed with Yasar Kemal in Cukurova. The couple married in 1952 and stayed married for 50 years.
Besides Turkish, Tilda was fluent in French and Spanish. She translated Yasar Kemal’s seventeen books to other languages. Thanks to her, the world recognized the Turkish literature master and his works. In 2001, in his article journalist Cengiz Candar described Tilda as:
“Thanks to Tilda, the world learned about Turkey’s master language goldsmith, the resonance of this nation’s lush wisdom. If Yasar Kemal was the spring streaming through this land of incantatory legends, then that spring babbled with Tilda.”
When Tilda died on Janurary 17, 2001 after a long battle with cancer, Yasar Kemal said goodbye to the love of his life saying, “Tilda once again beat me to it.”
When he talked about Tilda, Kemal used to say, “Tilda was my friend, my mate. She was my sibling, she was beyond a sibling. We used to talk about literature, politics, philosophy... We spent 50 years like this, by talking...”
Related Newsss ss
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.
