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Ahrida Synagogue
A glorious example of the rich cultural life of Turkish Jews, the Ahrida has
its rightful place among major synagogues of the world. The oldest of Istanbuls
16 synagogues in use today, located in the neighborhood of Balat (Istanbul), the
Ahrida dates from the early 15th century.
A remarkable feature of the Ahrida is its Teva (Bima) which is in the shape
of the prow of a ship. The tradition says that it symbolizes either Noahs Ark or
the Ottoman ships which transported the Sepharadim from Spain to Turkey. Its
design is impressive and memorable. The Ahrida was badly damaged by a fire in
the late 17th century, which may even have destroyed it completely. The exact
year of the fire is unknown, but an imperial Ferman dated 1694 calls for the
rebuilding of the synagogue, which was done at the time in the Baroque style of
the Tulip Period. Kurkcu Cesme C.9 Balat
Tel: (212) 523-4729
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