“We are here” for a brighter future

We are greeted by the names of those whom we lost on that horrific morning. Those who were victims of terror… Those we lost at November 15, 2003 simultaneous terror attacks on Neve Salom and Sisli Beth Israel Synagogues. Yona Romano, Avraam Varol, Israel Yoel Kohen Ulcer, Berta Ozdogan, Annette Rubinstein, Anna Rubinstein. And Yasef, Yasef Yahya… Who was murdered brutally on August 21, 2003 at his clinic just because he was a Jew. All those names are written in lights to greet us.

Before the ceremony, at the entrance, we plant little white flags with our names written on them inside a pool of white stones that spell “I am Here”. We are at the commemoration ceremony for those we grieved. We are at the same synagogue, Neve Salom Synagogue where 13 years ago we lost our loved ones. We are there for a commemoration ceremony organized by the young members of Yoel Kohen Ulcer Fund. Terrorism did not just take them away from us, it also took God knows how many more lives that those who died would bring into the world. On November the 1st, the same day we voted at the General Elections in Turkey hoping for our country to have a brighter future, we attended the commemoration ceremony to remember that dark day. We hoped that dark day we remember will be the last dark day we’ll ever have to remember. We commemorated those who lost their lives with the hope that the marginalization culture would transform into a culture of unity and with the hope to wake up to a brighter future where no bombs would explode in any part of our country and no attempts made on the lives of anyone, young or old. In this context, seeing young people among the crowded audience at the ceremony was promising. If the goal is to plant the seeds of peace for a brighter future, who else could be more effective than our young ones.

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26 February

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19 February

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13 February

Şalom Now on Mobile App

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8 February

The Great Loss of Turkish Literature

Mario Levi, the great author who had contributed many important works to Turkish literature, passed away. The famous author was bid farewell on his last journey on Thursday, February 1st, with a ceremony held along with his loved ones at the Acibadem Jewish Cemetery.

18 January

Sending Departed Hanri Benazus Off On His Last Journey

16 January

Hanri Benazus Has Passed Away

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9 January

UÖMO Middle School Students´ Success in the Innovation Competition

Ulus Jewish Schools Middle School´s young tech geniuses achieved great success in the 10th Başahşehir Living Lab Innovation Competition. In the competition where 220 projects from all over Turkey have competed with the "Innovative ideas are competing" motto, UÖMO students, standing out from their rivals with their "Natural Disaster Kit", came third in the middle school category.