TURKEY

Gallipoli is in search of its history

Gallipoli is in search of its history

The dilapidated synagogue in Gallipoli, a town which once was home to a large population of Jews, is now seeking attention and care. 

Gallipoli, the first place in Europe the Ottomans set foot on, has great importance in history. It has also been home to a large population of Jews. Jews lived there until the 1970’s, however unfortunately today, there are no Jews living in Gallipoli.

The year the Gallipoli Synagogue was built is not known. The 337 m2 synagogue is located at Yazicizade Neighborhood, Havra Street, block 215 and lot 14. Today, the synagogue is dilapidated and greatly damaged.  At the office of register of deeds, the synagogue is registered to Avram Allavi’s son Semoil Bohor. However, even the elderly members of Gallipoli Jewish Community who are still alive today, do not know this family. 

Due to the hazard the building in its current condition poses, a restoration project has been requested for the synagogue which is registered as a religious and cultural structure by the General Directorate of Ancient Arts and Monuments. Also, Canakkale Cultural Heritage Preservation Board decided the immediate submission of relevant surveys and restoration projects and urged relevant institutions to take all necessary precautions for safety of life and property around the synagogue. 

The synagogue in question is a cultural treasure and heritage for both Gallipoli and Turkey. I filed an application to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on March last year, requesting the restoration of this historical and sacred structure before it totally fades away and to turn it into a museum or a cultural center. In my application, I also requested for the property rights of the synagogue to be transferred to the Treasury, since the owners are missing. 

Ministry of Culture and Tourism was not able to transfer the property rights to the Treasury since they did not have sufficient funds. I pursued the issue personally and as a result Gallipoli District Revenue Officer brought this issue to justice, on January 2017.  The lawyers representing the Treasury proceeded and filed a suit for the transfer of the property rights of the synagogue, thus initiating the judicial process. The trial is expected to last for 6-10 months. 

After this trial, I intend to apply to Ministry of Culture and Tourism, once again. As precedents, I will present Edirne and Begama Synagogue restoration projects and ask for the restoration of Gallipoli Synagogue. During the trial period, I will be in search for an architecture company who will support the restoration project by sponsoring the project’s design process.

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