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Grand Synagogue of Edirne

Coordinates: 41°40′18″N 26°33′06″E / 41.6716°N 26.5516°E / 41.6716; 26.5516
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Grand Synagogue of Edirne
Adrianople Synagogue
The synagogue following restoration, in 2015
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
RiteNusach Sefard
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSynagogue
(1906–1983; and since 2015)
StatusActive
Location
Location10 Maarif Street, Edirne, Marmara Region
CountryTurkey
Grand Synagogue of Edirne is located in Marmara
Grand Synagogue of Edirne
Location of the synagogue in the Marmara Region of Turkey
Geographic coordinates41°40′18″N 26°33′06″E / 41.6716°N 26.5516°E / 41.6716; 26.5516
Architecture
Architect(s)France Depré
TypeSynagogue architecture
StyleMoorish Revival
Groundbreaking1906
Completed1909; 2015 (restoration)
Construction cost1,200 gold coins
Specifications
Capacity1,200 worshippers
MaterialsBrick
[1]

The Grand Synagogue of Edirne (Hebrew: קל קדוש הגדול; Turkish: Edirne Büyük Sinagogu), also known as the Adrianople Synagogue, is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in Maarif Street, Edirne, in the Marmara Region of Turkey.

Completed in 1909 in the Moorish Revival style, the synagogue was restored following World War II, abandoned in the 1980s, and restored as an active synagogue in 2015.[1]

History

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The 1905 Great Fire of Adrianople [tr] destroyed more than 1,500 houses and also damaged several synagogues in the city. The twenty-thousand strong Jewish community urgently needed a place of worship. Following the permission of the Ottoman Government and the edict of Sultan Abdul Hamid II,[2][3][4] the construction of a new synagogue began on January 6, 1906, at the site of the ruined synagogues Mayor and Pulya in Suriçi (Citadel) neighborhood. It was designed by the French architect France Depré in the architectural style of the Sephardi Leopoldstädter Tempel in Vienna, Austria. Costing 1,200 gold coins, it was opened to service on the eve of Pesach (Passover) in April 1909.[5][6] Capable of accommodating up to 1,200 worshipers (900 men and 300 women), it was Europe's third-largest temple and the largest in Turkey.[7][8][9]

In 1983, the synagogue was abandoned after most of the Jewish community left the city, emigrating to Israel, Europe, or North America.[9] In 1995, the temple by law came under the control of the governmental Turkish Foundations Institution.[5]

Restoration

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The abandoned and ruined synagogue as well as its outbuilding were restored by the Turkish Foundations Institution in five years, spending ₺5,750,000 (approximately US$2.5 million). On March 26, 2015, the synagogue was reopened with a celebration and a Shacharit, morning prayer service, attended by a large number of Jews including Ishak Ibrahimzadeh (leader of the Jewish community in Turkey), Rav Naftali Haleva, deputy to Hakham Bashi (Chief Rabbi) Ishak Haleva, Bülent Arınç, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, and some other Turkish high officials. The worship was overseen by Rabbi David Azuz, who had led the service on the closing day 36 years before. The Municipality of Edirne hung a banner in the street of the synagogue and greeted the guests with the words "Welcome home, our old neighbors".[2][3][4][8]

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  • Facade of the ruined Synagogue before restoration
    Facade of the ruined Synagogue before restoration
  • Interior of the synagogue
    Interior of the synagogue
  • Interior of the synagogue
    Interior of the synagogue
  • Interior of the synagogue
    Interior of the synagogue
  • Interior of the synagogue
    Interior of the synagogue
  • Interior of the synagogue
    Interior of the synagogue
  • Administrative building backside Grand Synagogue of Edirne
    Administrative building backside Grand Synagogue of Edirne

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Great Synagogue in Edirne (Edirne Büyük Sinagogu)". Historic Synagogues of Europe. Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. n.d. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Edirne Sinagogu 46 yıl sonra yeniden ibadete açıldı". Sabah (in Turkish). March 26, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Ariel, Ben (March 27, 2015). "Ottoman Era Synagogue Reopens in Turkey Following Restoration". Israel National News. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Turkey reopens restored Ottoman-era synagogue". The Times of Israel. March 26, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "The Restored 'GREAT Synagogue of Edirne' To Be Opened On Thursday" (Press release). Directorate General of Press and Information. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  6. ^ Güleryüz, Naim (February 2013). "Viyana Türk Yahudi Cemaati ve Sinagogu" (in Turkish). 500. Yıl Vakfı. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  7. ^ Özmen, Engin (March 25, 2015). "Edirne'de Büyük Sinagog açılışa hazır". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Büyük Sinagog'da 46 yıl sonra ilk ibadet". CNN Türk (in Turkish). March 26, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  9. ^ a b "Great Synagogue of Edirne in Turkey, Europe's third largest synagogue, reopens after five-year restoration". Archinect News. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
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