ENGLISH CORNER, CON LINDA JIMÉNEZ – This week’s trivia question: What is a parochet?
Izmir is situated on the Aegean Sea of Turkey, and it was one of the largest Jewish communities within the Ottoman Empire. The presence of Jews there dates back to antiquity, with mentions as far back as the New Testament. The community began to flourish after the expulsion of the Jews from the Iberian Peninsula, emerging as an important religious and cultural hub for Sephardic Jews.
The city is home to a complex of adjacent ancient Synagogues constructed in a unique Sephardic architectural style, dating from the 16th century. Of 34 synagogues originally built in Izmir, just 13 remained, 9 of them in the old city of Izmir. These synagogues represent examples of various architectural styles and are a living monument to a Jewish community that once prospered.
The goal of the Izmir Jewish Heritage Project is to restore those ancient Synagogues in need of renovation and turn them, together with those that were beautifully maintained, into an open Museum of Izmir Jewish Heritage, promoting intercultural dialogue.
Nisim Benjoya is the Manager of the Jewish Heritage Project on behalf of the Izmir Jewish Community Foundation. We spoke with him about Izmir’s Jewish community and the Project.
