Özet:

The Portugal Synagogue is one of the oldest synagogues in Izmir, built by the Portuguese Jews possibly in the 1630s, in the Ottoman Period. It is located within the Bazaar neighbourhood, one of the first places in Izmir where the Jewish community settled after the province was conquered by the Ottoman Empire. Being very close to the coast and the inner harbour, this area was very attractive for the Portuguese Jews as the majority of the community was engaged in trade. In addition, it seems that the Jewish Quarter of Izmir had evolved around the Portugal Synagogue in the Ottoman period. Probably due to the strong commercial activity in the area, the synagogue was located in the very centre of the city’s Jewish neighbourhood. The Portugal Synagogue witnessed disastrous fires (major ones in 1772 and 1841) and earthquakes (major ones in 1688 and 1778), and many historical events including Sabbatai Tsevi’s occupation of the synagogue. In the Turkish Republic Period, the synagogue was severely damaged by a fire in 1976 destroying the whole ceiling and all the woodwork. The building, which had mostly lost its authentic features in the fire and due to the interventions that followed, was restored in 2017-18 reviving the structure in its original form. The restoration works were carried out following a ground survey, in accordance with the layers under the existing plaster and by using evidence and information obtained from old photographs and from people who had seen the structure when it was still in use as a synagogue, including those who had once worked there. In this article, the historical and architectural features of Izmir Portugal Synagogue have been introduced in detail and have been given information about restoration works.

Anahtar Kelimeler: