İzmir JCC Jewish Community Centre
A guide to the historic synagogues of İzmir.

Synagogues

A guide to the historic synagogues of İzmir

İzmir’s synagogues tell the story of a community moving through the city while holding on to prayer, study, welfare and memory.

Kemeraltı and Havra Street form the historic core: a rare cluster of synagogues, courtyards and communal institutions. Karataş reflects the later movement beyond the old Juderia, while Alsancak is tied to present community life.

  • Historic core: Kemeraltı and Havra Street
  • Later geography: Karataş and Alsancak
  • Visits: arranged in advance through the authorised visit route where relevant
  • Contact: Contact İzmir JCC

What connects them

Many İzmir synagogues share local features: a relationship between the main prayer space and the Midrash, a triple Ehal arrangement, and central-plan interiors shaped by the Tevah and columns.

Explore by area

Karataş

The community’s later move beyond the old Juderia

Alsancak

A central area connected with present community life