Housed in the immaculately restored Zülfaris Synagogue (in existence since 1671, but dating in its present form to the early 19th century), a collection of well-presented objects, documents, photographs and storyboards (in English) tells the story of over 500 years of Jewish presence in Turkey. The Jews first arrived in the Ottoman Empire fleeing the pogroms of Christian Europe. They have made significant contributions to Istanbul life, particularly in the financial sector. An ethnography section presents costumes and accessories related to circumcision ceremonies, dowries and weddings.
To promote, both within the country and abroad, the story of 700 years of amity between Turks and Jews, beginning with the Ottoman conquest of Bursa (1326) ... continuing with Bayezid II's warm welcome of the Sephardic Jews who preferred expulsion from Iberia to giving up the faith and traditins of their ancestors ... and carrying on until today,
To show through the past 700 years how the two cultures influenced each other,
To display the humanitarian spirit of the Turkish Nation.