Several synagogues in Istanbul have been named Neve Shalom or "Oasis of Peace." As the Jewish…read morepopulation rapidly increased in the Galata and Beyoğlu districts in the 1930s, the smaller existing neighborhood synagogues could not meet the demand especially at religious holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. As special venues had to be rented, the religious leaders planned the building of a new synagogue. The "new" Neve Shalom synagogue was designed by Elyo Ventura and Bernar Motola, two young Jewish graduates of Istanbul Technical University. One of the biggest challenges they faced was to plan a dome that could support the massive weight of a beautiful Star of David chandelier. They also had beautiful stained glass windows created. The synagogue open its doors in 1951. It is the largest Sephardic synagogue in Istanbul. Today, the synagogue is open to the public, but security is high due to several brutal attacks that claimed lives during Shabbat services. The first attack occurred during Shabbat services on September 6,1986. 22 Jewish citizens died as terrorists opened fire during the services. Bombings on November 15, 2003, again during Shabbat prayers, killed six people who were in the synagogues, five security guards, one police officer and eleven citizens who were on the street. The synagogue also has a chandelier that survived an attack on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires in 1992. Bring your passport if you visit Neve Shalom Synagogue or the Jewish Museum of Turkey.

This Synagogue is also known as Ashkenazi Synagogue of Istanbul…read more Such a surprise to see a synagogue threaded in the tiny urban valley between tall buildings in a tiny near Galata Tower. I found this between Galata Tower and Karakoy Tramway Station. Really cool neighborhood. Steep streets and steps to-from Galata Tower and the Ashkenazi Synagogue. It is relatively new, built around 1900, and can be visited on some days.

Interesting to see Beth Yaakov Synagogue in the charming Kuzguncuk neighborhood on the Asian side…read moreof Istanbul. Also known as little Jerusalem, there are several synagogues, churches and a mosque all coexisting within a few blocks of each other. İcadiye Street is a tranquil street where Jews have lived peacefully alongside Armenians and Greeks for over 400 years. Visits must be prearranged with the Rabbi. We just saw the synagogue from the outer gates.