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2 Aug, 10 tweets, 7 min read
Day 8 of #TurkeyJewishRoadtrip:

Bergama (Pergamon)

Guess who rebuilt this beautiful synagogue of #Bergama? Image
This is of course the beautiful synagogue of Bergama... Just a few years ago it was used as a barn, after most Jews have left the city.

While my friend Selim Ozturk was arranging the synagogue to open, @ChaimChitrik and I went up the acropolis to see the ruins of #Pergamon Image
The ruins of this once major city are still quite impressive now! But we were waiting for the keys of the synagogue to arrive... Image
Finally, Abdurahman and Mehmet from the Bergama Kaymakamlık bring the keys and bif smiles "Hoşgeldiniz" welcome to Bergama they say... ImageImage
They explained that the @bergamabel with support of @TCKulturTurizm have taken on this project - to restore the ancient Bergama Yabets synagogue to its former glory!

jewish-heritage-europe.eu/2015/01/11/syn…
Here you can see how it looked like just a few years ago... and how it looks now...

Teşekkür ederiz! And as we say here: Hazakim Beruhim! ImageImage
The Midraş right next to the Yabets synagogue was restored as well, and is used as a cultural center where people today learn about the unique Hand woven Ruggs of Bergama... ImageImage
Your messages of support and concern are very moving. Continue retweeting snd sharing these threads of #TurkeyJewishRoadtrip - to all. Together we will show friendship to the world!

As I mentioned @selimthe4th - I want to thank him for being so very helpful for the past 8 days!
As became customary on #TurkeyJewishRoadtrip we went to pray at the Jewish cemetery of Bergama on 2. Fabrika Sokak (across the police station).

Place needs better fencing (some of it was knocked down).

Thank you @bergamabel for the trees and your great work showing diversity! ImageImageImageImage
Where will we be tomorrow?! Image

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More from @mchitrik

Rabbi Mendy Chitrik Profile picture
4 Aug
Day 10 of #TurkeyJewishRoadtrip:

Gelibolu and Thrace

Driving through the Gallipoli Peninsula - I am thinking about the words that allegedly Atatürk said in 1934: Image
"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives ... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours ..."
Although some dispute the authenticity of this quote - never the less, after driving through the trenches, the cemeteries, seeing memorials for all those who fiercely fought here on both sides - one must only concur with the underlying message... ImageImage
Read 9 tweets
Rabbi Mendy Chitrik Profile picture
3 Aug
Day 9 of #TurkeyJewishRoadtrip:

Ayvalık/Troy/Çanakkale/Dardanelles Strait

Waking tp to the view of the Agean sea and #Cunda was quite amazing - not to say pretty relaxing... We are going to Çanakkale! Image
Last night me and Chaim were walking in Ayvalık - a coffee shop owner noticing the Kipah on Chaim's head walks over:

- "Are you guys Jewish by any chance?" - "Of course!" we say.
- "Let's have coffee, its on me. Last year I got stuck in Israel for 8 months during the pandemic."
He was excited to see Jews walking on the streets of his hometown, and is planning on opening an identical coffee shop in Tel Aviv...

Leave a comment if you prefer the Sunset over Sunrise...

Back to Çanakkale... Image
Read 18 tweets
Rabbi Mendy Chitrik Profile picture
1 Aug
Day 7 of #TurkeyJewishRoadtrip:

Ephesus, Priene, Milas.

Most people heard of Ashkenazi, Sefardi or Mizrahi Jews. Not many heard of Romaniote Jews: Image
Roughly translated as Jews of the Roman/Byzantine Empire - the Romaniote community preceded the Ashkenazim (est. 1250) and Sefardim (est. 1492).

Romaniote Jews lived, for thousands of years, in Asia minor - Anatolia - some Jews in Izmir and Istanbul are their descendents.
In day 4 of #TurkeyJewishRoadtrip we visited the #Sardis Romaniote synagogue, together with Imam @OsmanDe07800433



Today we went to see #Ephesus and Priene...
Read 27 tweets
Rabbi Mendy Chitrik Profile picture
27 Jul
Day 2 of #TurkeyJewishRoadtrip:

On the road from Bursa to Çeşme

While on road lets talk😊

Did you know that #Turkey is an important source of #Kosher food? Hundreds of manufacturers all over the country produce anything from raw material to ready to eat products.
By the way: Kosher food does not mean food that is blessed by a rabbi!

Rather it is food that has been prepared according to Jewish law - there are no mixtures of meat/milk, it is insect free, meat or chicken have to be prepared properly according to Jewish law and more...
The Turkish Jewish community @tyahuditoplumu through @DenetGida which certifies hundreds of plants, as well as the @OrthodoxUnion and @OKKosher have their field representatives inspect plants to assure they are fit for the kosher consumer.
Read 14 tweets
Rabbi Mendy Chitrik Profile picture
26 Jul
Day 1 of #TurkeyJewishRoadtrip:

Bursa!

"Every day one should work so that Judaism should thrive - and it will" says in a mixture of #Ladino and Turkish Mr. Leon Elnekave - the head of the 60 strong Jewish community of #Bursa...
Leon bey looks over the Geruş or Expulsion synagogue - named after the various Jews expelled to Bursa - first by the byzantines and later by the Sefardi Jews who arrived from Spain in 1492... Image
There are two "Bimas" at the beautiful #synagogue - one closer to the women section as Leon explains "so that they should hear" - I totally agree: "of course, the Torah is not only for the men!"
Read 18 tweets
Rabbi Mendy Chitrik Profile picture
26 Jul
Turkey Road Trip 2021:

Join me here for the next three weeks for a daily thread of #Jewish Heritage sites in #Turkey as we, inşallah, explore and discuss #History, customs, ancestry, origins and Jewish life in Turkey! #coexistance

#TurkeyJewishRoadtrip Image
We will also visit #Kosher food manufacturers on behalf of @DenetGida for the @tyahuditoplumu and the @OrthodoxUnion - we will visit ancient #synagogues and archeological sites

Follow me here for regular updates and recommend others too 😊

@TCKulturTurizm #diversity Image
Day 1: Bursa

Read 4 tweets

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