COMMUNITY

60 years later for the first time, Hanukkah has been celebrated in Kilis Synagogue with an organization of 40 people also joined by Chief Rabbi Isak Haleva, Rabbi Naftali Haleva, Rabbi Mendy Chitrik, and Ishak Ibrahimzadeh.

On Sunday, December 5th, a ´Galata through Abrahamic Religions at Festival of Lights´ tour will be organized.

Starting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, many mayors and political party leaders sent greetings for the Hanukkah Festival which has started on the evening of Sunday, November 28th, and will last until the evening of Sunday, December 5th.

Hanukkah, the festival of lights, was celebrated with the hanukiyahs (menorahs) lit all around Turkey on the first night of the Hanukkah. Just like last year, Ortaköy Etz Ahayim Synagogue in Istanbul, connected live to 10 synagogues in Anatolia and 34 different locations in Istanbul, and let thousands of people experience the joy of Hanukkah, while revealing the vibrant and rich life of the Jewish community in Turkey.

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan conveyed a message on account of the Hanukkah Festival.

The third edition of the Izmir Sephardic Culture Festival, which had been organized for the first time in 2018 in order to protect and preserve the cultural heritage and diversity of Izmir, will take place between the dates of November 28th and December 6th.

The ´Galata, In the Footsteps of Abrahamic Religions´ Tour organized by the Quincentenial Foundation Museum of Turkish was greatly appreciated by the participants.

The Shaar Ashamayim (Şaar Aşamayim) Synagogue located in Göktürk district of Istanbul has opened its doors on November 13th with a brand-new look.

According to the statement made by the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, President Erdoğan had a telephone conversation with the President of Israel Isaac Herzog.

Yesterday marked the 18th anniversary of the November 15th terror attacks. During the attacks towards Şişli Beth Israel and Neve Shalom Synagogues of Istanbul in 2003 and of which al-Qaeda had assumed responsibility, 28 people had lost their lives, more than 300 people had been injured. 18 years after the attack, one of the witnesses Mois Gabay, told CNN Türk what had happened.

Jews of Ankara came together in the Historic Ankara Synagogue, after 40 years, on Sunday, November 7th to reminisce their memories.

Şalom newspaper´s columnist, the famous writer and director Ferhat Atik´s documentary with 17 international awards, ´Psychology of Migration´ is now going to be screened by the United Nations.

In memory of the Vienna Synagogue formerly established for the Sephardic Jews who had immigrated from Turkey, but had been destroyed during the Kristallnacht (the Night of the Broken Glass), a commemoration ceremony was organized on November 8th, by Michael Ludwig, Mayor and Governor of Vienna.

Today we commemorate our nation´s great leader, founder of the Turkish Republic, Atatürk, on his 83rd year death anniversary, with respect, gratitude, and longing.

A documentary film, a book, and an exhibition have been prepared in the framework of the ´What Our Judaic Past Has Taught Us´ Project.

The Turkish Republic Embassy in Tel Aviv Temporary Charge d´Affaires Mehmet F. Şekerci and his wife gave a civic reception in their residence in Kfar Shmaryahu on the evening of Thursday, October 28th, in celebration of the 98th anniversary of our Republic.

The Museum of Turkish Jews, as a groundbreaking development in Turkey, is bringing together the archeology and history professionals and enthusiasts, with a new exhibition shedding light on the 2600-year history of Jewish existence on the Anatolian lands. ´Jewish Identity Engraved on Stones´ Exhibition is being opened on November 4th (today) at the Zülfaris Synagogue.

Emre Aviyente is qualified to join the Turkish National Team for the strategic mind game ´Go (Weichi)´.

The Quincentenial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews organized a ´Parochet Workshop´ on October 10-17, with the support of the International Shalom Corps, contributions of Ulus Jewish High School (UOML) and led by Nisya Isman Allovi, the Head and Curator of the Museum, and artist Eti Koen.

Şalom writer Bahar Akpinar will be the first Turkish citizen to present her work at the University of London.