The Bet Israel Synagogue is the largest synagogue in the city of İzmir, Turkey. It was built in 1907 and is in the Karataş quarter of the city. [1] It's one of the two major synagogues in İzmir, the other being the recently built Shaar Hashamaym synagogue. [2]
İzmir's Jewish community was granted state permission to build the synagogue in 1905; it opened two years later. [3]
After 1908, Rabbi Abraham Palacci served as the synagogue's hazzan. [4]
On April 4, 2019, an attacker threw a Molotov cocktail at the synagogue. Falling on the sidewalk, the bomb did not destroy the synagogue. The attacker claimed that they were trying to protest the state of Israel. A prominent member of the ruling Justice and Development Party immediately condemned the attack. The official said, "There is no difference between attacks targeting synagogues, churches and mosques; they all target social peace with their hate." İzmir's Jewish community praised local law enforcement for their quick action. [5]
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