The Ahrida Synagogue is one of the oldest synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey. Located on the Golden Horn in the Fatih district, in the quarter of Balat, the synagogue was built by Jews originally from the city of Ohrid, now located in the Republic of Macedonia. This historical temple is one of two ancient synagogues in Golden Horn, and was renovated in 1992 in celebration of the 500th anniversary of Sephardic Jews' arrival in the Ottoman Empire. According to historical accounts, the temple suffered fire damage in the 17th century, but went through extensive repair.
Today, the synagogue is the oldest of all the synagogues in Istanbul, and is open for worship among the small Jewish community of Istanbul.
The outside of the Ahrida Synagogue is rather low key, and barely recognizable as a Jewish house of worship. The district is rather bare, and quiet, as it now houses poorer families and historic buildings.
When arriving their, it is distinct only by its doors, which are within the long barrier wall alongside the street. Unfortunately, there is no sign of Hebrew marking the territory.
The interior of the synagogue is beautifully restored, and features aspects of Judiasm which are strictly Sephardic. One feature inside the synagogue that is unique is the Teva, where the rabbi holds prayers from). It's in the shape of a prow of a ship, which is the far front of the ship that cuts through the water. Tradition has it that it symbolizes the Ottoman ships that took the Sephardic Jews from Spain (as they were expelled due to the Alhambra Decree by the Catholic Church) to Turkey, where they were protected as a religious minority.
Before going with the intention of seeing the interior of the temple, contact the Chief Rabbinate of Turkey (212-243 5166, fax 212-244 1980, info@musevicemaati.com) within 24 hours before your visit. You'll need to fax a copy of your passport identification papers. You can also call between 9:30am and 5:00pm Monday to Thursday, 9:30am and 1:00pm Friday.