The Neve Shalom Synagogue The Neve Shalom Synagogue was built to accommodate the increasing number of Jewish residents in the historic Galata area, now within Beyoğlu, during the late 1930s. By the close of 1937, the Keneset and Zülfaris Synagogues in the Galata and Beyoğlu areas could no longer adequately serve the growing Jewish community. As a result, alternative venues had to be rented temporarily to accommodate worship during major holidays such as Pesach (Passover), Rosh Hashanah, and especially Yom Kippur. As the Jewish population in Beyoğlu continued to expand, religious gatherings were moved to a room within the First Coed Jewish Primary School. In 1948, a decision was made to construct a new synagogue on the same property. Two civil engineers, Elyo Ventura and Bernar Motola, alumni of Istanbul Technical University, expressed their wish to be involved in designing what would be known as "the Great Synagogue." Just six months later, their proposal was unanimously approved by the community leadership. The synagogue officially opened its doors on March 25, 1951, with an inaugural ceremony that began with the Baruch Haba prayer by İzak Macoro and was presided over by Rav Rafael Saban, the spiritual leader at the time. The synagogue was named Neve Shalom, which means "Oasis of Peace" in Hebrew, symbolizing a commitment to harmony and peace for all people. If you have any questions or inquiries regarding The Neve Shalom Synagogue, please don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or simply message us via Whatsapp, and we will respond as soon as possible.