Bet Israel Synagogue belongs to the Karataş chapter of Jewish Izmir. It is generally described as the city’s largest synagogue and is closely tied to the community’s movement into Karataş in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
- Area: Karataş (Second Juderia)
- Noted as: the largest synagogue in Izmir
- Built: 1905–1907; interior completed 1950
- Status: Active; small exhibition upstairs
History
As the Jewish middle class grew from the mid-nineteenth century, families moved from the old quarters to the southern coast and hills of the bay, in what became Karataş. The existing synagogues could not meet the needs of the growing population, so the community petitioned Sultan Abdülhamid II for a larger building. Construction began on 15 March 1905 and the synagogue opened for prayer in 1907, though economic difficulty delayed its interior, which was not completed until 1950.
What to notice
Bet Israel differs from the traditional Izmir style. It was not built on a central plan and has had a double Tevah from the start. Because of the site, the Ehal sits along the southern rather than the eastern wall. A planned large dome was reduced to a smaller central one for reasons of cost, and the mahogany woodwork, reminiscent of Italian synagogues, was made by Italian craftsmen. The building has two storeys, with men’s prayer below and the women’s section above. The upper floor now holds a small exhibition of religious objects, documents and photographs.
Visiting
Please read Visit before making any plans. Access to community or religious sites may require prior permission.
