Izmir Jewish Quarter
The Journey to the Jewish Heritage project, operated between 2002-2012, trained and sent fourteen delegations that included groups of young people from a variety of academic fields to document Jewish communities and Jewish sites around the world.
The story of the Jewish community in Izmir embraces many historical layers and landmarks that together make up a unique and captivating puzzle. The growth of the Jewish Quarter spans from the 16th to the 21th centuries. One of the most intriguing historical elements that exemplifies this richness is the unique aggregation of six synagogues at the heart of the historical Jewish Quarter. Bordering the old port, the complex boasts original ritual textile artifacts, engraved memorials, and headstones. Over the course of the past few decades as many as 21 synagogues, most of the public faculties and dwellings attributed to the Jewish community have been damaged or destroyed due to numerous natural disasters coupled with the demographic changes in the community over time. The remaining structures slowly fell into disuse and suffered from severe neglect. Today, the 13 surviving synagogues offer a testament to the rich historical community that once flourished in Izmir.
Journey into the Jewish Heritage project
This project operated between 2002-2012, training and sending out fourteen delegations all made up of a variety of participants from diverse academic fields to document Jewish communities and Jewish sites worldwide.
In August of 2002, an experimental expedition set out to document the city of Izmir. The group comprised of about twenty individuals. An eclectic mix of students, young graduates and lecturers from varied academic fields including architecture, geography, history, archeology and photography. A three-week documentation and study seminar was held in Izmir in collaboration with academics and students from “DUKUZ EYLUL” University, led by the architect Professor Tayfun Taner, who was engaged in documentation and urban historical research of the old Quarter of Izmir.
Conservation efforts
Between 2007 and 2020, we worked in collaboration with local, municipal and government officials in Izmir and professionals in a series of meetings, trips and joint work to promote the idea of preserving the district and establishing a visitors’ center in the ancient synagogues of the Jewish Quarter of Izmir – known today as the Kameralti District.
The culmination of these efforts proved successful and the preservation and restoration of several synagogues was completed all the while we endeavored to formulate a master plan for preservation. We have continued over the past few years to operate as part of a national steering team of volunteers, community members and professionals on the promotion of a comprehensive conservation plan and the construction of a visitor center.
As part of this work, an extensive historical research paper on the community’s history was commissioned and written by our firm, after which we formed a historical-geographic research paper that includes an architectural preservation analysis as well as applicable recommendations for the conservation of the synagogues in the Jewish Quarter. This conservational analysis binds the documentation of historical sources and an architectural survey and framework for the rehabilitation and revitalization of the Jewish Quarter.
