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June 23, 2025 "Make the World a Better Place by Making People Laugh and Think" - Interview with Martin Lewis
History of Jews revives in Edirne
The Grand Edirne Synagogue that went through renovation from 2010 until the beginning of 2015 with funding from General Directorate for Foundations will open its doors again on March 26th after a special ceremony. Jews lived for at least twenty centuries in Edirne, a city that once was the center of Jewish life in the Balkans Region. However, today there aren’t any Jews living in the city.
THE BIG CEREMONY
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc will attend the re-opening ceremony of the Synagogue that will be held on March 26th. Along with Chief Rabbi Isak Haleva, prominent representatives from other countries have been invited to the ceremony. A large group from Turkish Jewish Community is also expected to visit Edirne and attend the ceremony.
3.7 MILLION TL SPENT FOR RENOVATION
General Directorate for Foundations started renovating the Synagogue located at Edirne, Kaleici District, Maarif Street, in 2010. During the 5-year renovation, 3.7 million TL was spent. The Synagogue’s ownership had been transferred to Trakya University to be used for cultural purposes; however, upon objections from Turkish Jewish Community, the Synagogue’s ownership was later transferred to General Directorate for Foundations.
EDIRNE GOVERNOR HAD SAID “THE SYNAGOGUE WILL BECOME A MUSEUM”
Last November, in reaction to Al-Aqsa Mosque tension in Israel that started with Israeli soldiers entering the Mosque, Edirne Governor Dursun Ali Sahin had said, “I’m feeling a great grudge when saying this. We are cleaning their cemeteries, sending their projects to the board. Look at our approach and look at theirs. This renovated Synagogue will be registered as a museum, only.” Governor Sahin had later apologized to Chief Rabbi Haleva.
THE GRAND EDIRNE SYNAGOGUE
After the big fire in 1905 that burnt down 13 surrounding synagogues, leaving them all unusable, Sultan Abdul Hamid II gave an order to build a new synagogue, the Grand Edirne Synagogue. The Synagogue was opened to worship, in 1907. French architect Frence Depre designed the Synagogue inspired by Vienna Synagogue. After the Jewish population in the region decreased, the Synagogue was abandoned. The ownership of the Synagogue that has not been used since 1983 was transferred to General Directorate for Foundations, in 1995.
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