The Antakya Synagogue is located in Antakya, Turkey near the border with Syria. It served the few remaining members of the once thriving, 2,300-year-old Jewish community of ancient Antioch (largely composed of descendants of Syrian Jews[1]), and which was one of the world's oldest Jewish communities, that by 2014, had shrunk to fewer than 20 members.[2][3][4]

The building was erected in 1890. Because Antakya is north of Jerusalem, the synagogue is built with the Torah Ark on the southern wall in a semi-circular apse. (Joel A. Zack, Historic synagogues of Turkey, 2008, p. 188)

The synagogue was badly damaged in the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake.[5] The leaders of the Jewish community were also killed in the earthquake, and the entire Jewish community, numbering 14 members, was evacuated from Antakya.[6][7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Zvi Bar'el, "Head of tiny Jewish community in Turkey: There's no love between Israeli citizens", Haaretz, August 12, 2013.
  2. ^ Danya Chudakoff, "Turkey's Jewish community longs for the past: With only 18 members remaining, Antakya's Jewish community struggles to hold onto its rich history and culture." Al Jazeera, May 14, 2014.
  3. ^ Shirin Ghermezian, "Only 18 Members Remain in 2,300-Year-Old Turkish Jewish Community Following Political, Economic Turmoil", Algemeiner Journal, May 19, 2014.
  4. ^ Michael Kaplan, "Jews Spent Centuries in Antakya, Turkey. Now, There's Only 17 Left.", The Jewish Daily Forward, October 28, 2014.
  5. ^ "Turkey earthquake: 2500-year-old Jewish presence in Antakya may come to an end". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  6. ^ Lazar Berban (2023-02-16). "14 Jews rescued from devastated Turkish city of Antakya, given shelter in Istanbul". Times of Israel.
  7. ^ "Antakya Jewish Community was also Destroyed by the Earthquake". Şalom. 2023-02-13.

External links

36°12′01″N 36°09′52″E / 36.20024242168357°N 36.16444491052476°E / 36.20024242168357; 36.16444491052476


Categories