Online Encyclopedia
Neve Shalom
Literally meaning Valley of Peace in Hebrew, Neve Shalom Synagogue (Neve Şalom in Turkish) is located in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul, Turkey.
When the Jewish population in the old Pera and Galata districts (today encompassed by Beyoglu district) increased in late 1930s, a Jewish primary school in the area was torn down in 1949 in order to build a new synagogue and the construction was completed in 1951. The architects were Elyo Ventura and Bernar Motola, young Turkish Jews . The inauguration with the presence of the Chief Rabbi of Turkey of the time, Rafael Saban, was on Sunday, March 25, 1951 (17 Veadar 5711, Jewish calendar).
Neve Shalom is the central and largest Sephardic synagogue in Istanbul, open to service especially on Shabbats, high holidays, Bar mitzvahs, funerals and weddings.
Neve Shalom suffered three terrorist attacks: September 6, 1986; March 1, 1992 and November 15, 2003 (see Istanbul Bombings).