Bet Avraam Synagogue
Bet Avraam, the only synagogue in the Historic Peninsula, which has been transformed into a full-fledged touristic center with its historical sites and museums as well as stylish and aspirational accommodation facilities after its traditional commercial center Sirkeci district was declared a 'protected area', is little known and recognized by most Istanbulites. The synagogue, which is set to celebrate its centenary in two years, still serves former Sirkecil residents or their children, who maintain emotional family ties with the synagogue despite residing in other parts of the city, and with its location within walking distance of the accommodation facilities in the area, it remains the preferred place of worship for Jewish tourists on Friday evenings or Saturday mornings. At the beginning of the 20th century, when the Jewish population of the region increased with immigrants from the Balkans and the Çorapçı Han and Unkapanı houses of worship became insufficient, the third floor of a building that was previously rented as a Talmud Tora was used as a midrash. When the crowds overflowed on feast days, green awnings were erected on the plot where the current synagogue building is located, chairs were rented from the coffee houses in the neighborhood or those who came to pray would bring their chairs with them. However, since the morning prayers in the midrash were often prolonged, which interfered with the Talmud Torah curriculum, a synagogue was built on the part of the plot where horse-drawn carriages were parked. As these were the years of war and occupation, the Chief Rabbinate was unable to provide financial support, and the construction was completed entirely with donations from the people of Sirkeci.
