The Ahrida Synagogue Situated in the Balat district of Istanbul, the Ahrida Synagogue is one of the city’s oldest places of worship. It was constructed by the Romaniotes, a community originating from North Macedonia, who were Greek Jews of Orthodox Christian descent dating back to the 15th century. This group migrated to Constantinople, part of the Ottoman Empire, around five centuries ago. In 1492, a significant wave of Sephardic Jews fleeing from the Iberian Peninsula, particularly from Spain and Portugal, also settled in the Ottoman Empire, bringing with them their unique Jewish cultural practices, traditions, and religious rituals. Over time, the Romaniotes in Istanbul, similar to many other communities such as those in Thessaloniki, became integrated into Sephardic culture, adopting their liturgical practices and language. The Ahrida Synagogue, one of the two historic synagogues located in Istanbul’s Golden Horn, underwent a restoration in 1992 by the Quincentennial Foundation to mark the 500th anniversary of Sephardic Jews’ arrival in the Ottoman Empire. The Ahrida Synagogue is particularly notable for its boat-shaped tevah, also known as a bimah in Ashkenazi traditions. It is the only synagogue in Istanbul where Sabbatai Zevi, the founder of the Sabbatean movement within Judaism, once led prayers. If you have any questions or need further information about The Ahrida Synagogue, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or simply send us a message on WhatsApp. We will get back to you as quickly as possible.