Turkey

LEARN ABOUT THE RICH AND VIBRANT JEWISH HERITAGE OF TURKEY!

As early as the 2nd and 3rd centuries, Jews were living in prosperous communities in Anatolia, the area which makes up the modern state of Turkey. Jews lived much more comfortably under Ottoman rule than under Byzantine rule, prompting persecuted Jews in other countries to move to Turkey. In 1492, when Spain expelled its Jews, Sultan Bayazid II invited the Sephardic Jews to settle in his empire. Under Ottoman rule, Jewish culture and learning flourished and Jews took part in all aspects of Ottoman society.

The Ottomans ruled over Palestine from 1517-1917. Under Ottoman rule, the city of Safed became a center of kabbalah study in the 15th century. Though the following centuries were a time of poverty for the Jews living in Palestine, the 19th century brought the first stirrings towards a Jewish state. It was under Ottoman rule that the Hebrew language was revived and the first Jewish agricultural settlements were built.

During WWII, Turkey remained neutral and served as a haven for many Jews fleeing Nazi Europe. Today, about 18,500 Jews live in Turkey with the majority living in Istanbul. The community is served by several synagogues and rabbis, Jewish schools, and kosher stores.

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