Zülfaris Synagogue

This article is about the former synagogue building. For the current museum, see Jewish Museum of Turkey.

Zülfaris Synagogue
Turkish: Zülfaris Sinagogu
The ehal of the former synagogue, in 2007
Religion
Affiliation	Judaism (former)
Rite	Nusach Sefard (Eastern)
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue (1823–1985) Jewish museum (since 2001)
Status	Closed (as a synagogue); Repurposed
Location
Location	39 Büyük Hendek Street, Beyoğlu, Istanbul
Country	Turkey
Location of the former synagogue, now museum in Istanbul
Geographic coordinates	41°01′36″N 28°58′22″E
Architecture
Type	Synagogue architecture
Completed	1823; 1904 (reconstruction)
Materials	Stone

The Zülfaris Synagogue (Turkish: Zülfaris Sinagogu), also known as the Kal Kadoş Galata Synagogue, is a former Jewish congregation and synagogue located at 39 Büyük Hendek Street, in the Beyoğlu neighbourhood of Istanbul, Turkey. Completed in 1823 and used as a synagogue until 1985, the building was repurposed in 2001 as a Jewish museum.

History

There is evidence that a synagogue building existed in 1671, and its foundations suggest that another structure was built during the colony of the Republic of Genoa. It was recorded as "Holy Sinavi (Synagogue) in Galata" or "Kal Kadoş Galata", it was named as "Zülfaris" which is thought to have derived from the Persian word "Zülf-ü Arus", meaning "the fringe of a bride". However the actual building was re-erected over its original foundations presumably in the early 19th century, probably in 1823.

See also

• History of the Jews in Turkey
• List of synagogues in Turkey

External links

Media related to Zülfaris Sinagogu (İstanbul) at Wikimedia Commons