TURKEY

Honorary President of Turkish Jewish Community, Bensiyon Pinto, was Bid Farewell on His Last Journey

Elda SASUN
Honorary President of Turkish Jewish Community, Bensiyon Pinto, was Bid Farewell on His Last Journey

Translation by Janet MITRANI

The first and only Honorary President of the Turkish Jewish Community, Bensiyon Pinto, who had served our country and our community for years with devotion, faith, and love, was buried on Sunday, January 16, at 13:00, along with a crowded ceremony. The Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, Governor of Istanbul Ali Yerlikaya, Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Ekrem Imamoğlu, Mayor of Kadiköy District Şerdil Dara Odabaşi, Mayor of Beyoğlu District Haydar Ali Yildiz, former Prime Minister of Turkey Tansu Çiller, Provincial President of CHP in Istanbul Canan Kaftancioğlu, President of Galatasaray Sports Club Burak Elmas, Prof. Ilber Ortayli, Turkish Jewish Community Co-Presidents Erol Kohen and Ishak Ibrahimzadeh, Rabbis of Turkish Jewish Community, representatives and members of various foundations and institutions of the community, and many of his loved ones and admirers attended the funeral ceremony that took place in the Ulus Ashkenazi Jewish Cemetery in Istanbul.

Besides the prayers recited during the ceremony, our Chief Rabbi Isak Haleva, Co-President Ibrahimzadeh, and Bensiyon Pinto's son Hayim Pinto gave emotional eulogies telling about Bensiyon Pinto. The ceremony that took place in a rather crowded atmosphere ended dolefully and quietly. Later, Bensiyon Pinto was bid farewell on his eternal journey being buried in the Arnavutköy Jewish Cemetery.

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