Grand Synagogue of Edirne

Grand Synagogue of Edirne
(Edirne Synagogue)
Edirne Büyük Sinagogu

Grand Synagogue of Edirne
Location of Edirne Synagogue in Turkey.
Basic information
Location Maarif St. 10, Edirne, Turkey
Geographic coordinates 41°40′18″N 26°33′06″E / 41.6716°N 26.5516°E / 41.6716; 26.5516Coordinates: 41°40′18″N 26°33′06″E / 41.6716°N 26.5516°E / 41.6716; 26.5516
Affiliation Orthodox Judaism
Rite Sephardi
Province Edirne
Status Active
Architectural description
Architect(s) France Depré
Groundbreaking 1906
Completed 1909
Construction cost 1,200 gold coins
Capacity 1,200
Interior of Grand Synagogue of Edirne.

Grand Synagogue of Edirne, aka Edirne Synagogue (Hebrew: Kal Kadosh ha Gadol‎‎, Turkish: Edirne Büyük Sinagogu) is a historic Sephardi synagogue located in Maarif Street of Edirne, Turkey. It was designed in the Moorish Revival style and restored in 2015.

History

The 1903 Great Fire of Edirne destroyed more than 1,500 houses and also damaged several synagogues in the city. The twenty-thousand strong Jewish community urgently needed a place of worship. Following the permission of the Ottoman Government and the edict of Sultan Abdul Hamid II,[1][2][3] the construction of a new synagogue began on January 6, 1906 at the site of the ruined synagogues Mayor and Pulya in Suriçi (Citadel) neighborhood. It was designed by the French architect France Depré in the architectural style of the Sephardi Leopoldstädter Tempel in Vienna, Austria. Costing 1,200 gold coins, it was opened to service on the eve of Pesach (Passover) in April 1909.[4][5] Capable of accommodating up to 1,200 worshipers, 900 men and 300 women, it was Europe's third largest temple and the largest in Turkey.[6][7][8]

In 1983, the synagogue was abandoned after most of the Jewish community left the city, emigrating to Israel, Europe, or North America.[8] In 1995, the temple by law came under the control of the governmental Turkish Foundations Institution.[4]

Restoration

Facade of the ruined Edirne Synagogue before restoration.

The abandoned and ruined synagogue as well as its outbuilding were restored by the Turkish Foundations Institution in five years spending 5,750,000 (approximately US$2.5 million). On March 26, 2015, the synagogue was reopened with a celebration and a Shacharit, morning prayer service, attended by a large number of Jews including Ishak Ibrahimzadeh, leader of the Jewish Community in Turkey, Rav Naftali Haleva, deputy to Hakham Bashi (Chief Rabbi) Ishak Haleva, Bülent Arınç, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, and some other Turkish high officials. The worship was overseen by Rabbi David Azuz, who had led the service on the closing day 36 years before. The Municipality of Edirne greeted the guests on a banner hang in the street of the synagogue with the words "Welcome home, our old neighbors".[1][2][3][7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Edirne Sinagogu 46 yıl sonra yeniden ibadete açıldı". Sabah (in Turkish). 2015-03-26. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
  2. 1 2 Ariel, Ben (2015-03-27). "Ottoman Era Synagogue Reopens in Turkey Following Restoration". Israel National News. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
  3. 1 2 "Turkey reopens restored Ottoman-era synagogue". The Times of Israel. 2015-03-26. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
  4. 1 2 "Press Release- The Restored 'GREAT Synagogue of Edirne' To Be Opened On Thursday". Directorate General of Press and Information. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
  5. ↑ Güleryüz, Naim (February 2013). "Viyana Türk Yahudi Cemaati ve Sinagogu" (in Turkish). 500. Yıl Vakfı. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
  6. ↑ Özmen, Engin (2015-03-25). "Edirne'de Büyük Sinagog açılışa hazır". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 2015-03-27.
  7. 1 2 "Büyük Sinagog'da 46 yıl sonra ilk ibadet". CNN Türk (in Turkish). 2015-03-26. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
  8. 1 2 "Great Synagogue of Edirne in Turkey, Europe's third largest synagogue, reopens after five-year restoration". Archinect News. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
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