Ahrida Syangogue

According to a document dated 16 may 1693; the Ahrida synagogue is active since 1404. The synagogue was built by the Jewish community coming from Ohri, Macedonia. The name of the synagogue comes from the home town of its builders. The actual shape of the building has nothing to do with its original shape. According to a not very credible theory, the building of today is actually to buildings joined together.

The Ahrida synagogue was completely destroyed in the fire of 1690 and reconstructed. The last restoration took place between 1990 and 1992 by the Turkish architect Hüsrev Tayla. The temple was reopened on the 16th November 1992. This restoration was based on the plans of 1694 reconstruction and the decoration trends of the same period. The synagogue has two entrances. The south entrance is usually closed and the north entrance is used as the main gate.

The main building was constructed from bricks and stone. The floor is made from Marmara marble. The praying deck, called "Tevah" is at the center of the synagogue according to Sephardic traditions. (According to Sephardic traditions, the Tevah is built at the center of the synagogue. According to Ashkenazim traditions, the Tevah is constructed next to the Ehal. In most of the Sephardic synagogues constructed after the 18th century, the Tevah is built next to the Ehal like in an Ashkenazi synagogue. This is probably due to the fact that the Ashkenazi community was very small and in most of the neighborhood, there were no Ashkenazi synagogues. To honor the Ashkenazim, to make them feel at home, the Sephardim synagogues were constructed according Ashkenazim traditions.) The Tevah reached by two steps, has the shape of the back of a boat. According to some historian the Tevah represent the Arch of Noah. According to others, it represents the first ship coming from Spain during the Inquisition. The possibility of the Tevah being added to the synagogue during the restorations of 1694 makes both theories accurate. The Ehal of the Ahrida synagogue is reached by three steps. The wooden door of the Ehal is decorated with mother of pearl. The women section, the "Azara", of the temple is at the west. The fact that the Azara is separated by a glass from the rest of the synagogue proves that the community of the Ahrida synagogue was very orthodox.

The Ahrida synagogue burned down in the big fire of 1690 and was reconstructed by the order of the Sultan. It was reopened on the 10 May 1694. The synagogue was restored again in 1709, 1823, 1840, 1881, 1893, 1926 and 1955. During the restoration of 1840, the Midrash was added to the complex. The main entrance gate was renewed during the restoration of 1881.

The 16 September 1987, the Ahrida synagogue was declared "cultural asset worthy of protection", in 1989, a reproduction of the building was added to Miniatürk open air museum. Another reproduction of the synagogue is in Beth Hatefatsoth museum in Tel Aviv.

A tunnel was discovered under the synagogue in 1990. It is said the tunnel was constructed to allow the Jews living outside the city walls to come and pray in the Ahrida synagogue. During its existence of over 600 years, the Ahrida synagogue witnessed more than one historical event. It is said that in the 17th century, the famous Rabi, Sabetay Sevi (Zvi) preached in the Ahrida synagogue. On the 18 May 1877, during the Crimean war, a ceremony, with the participation of the Grand Vizier Ibrahim Ethem Pasa, for the Ottoman victory took place in this synagogue.

The Ahrida synagogue belonged to the Haci Isa congregation. It had a Jewish school and a charity foundation in its complex. Even several travelers who visited Balat in the 19th century described the neighborhoods as very poor; the district of Ahrida was different. The Balat neighborhood was divided into two as Interior Balat and Exterior Balat. The Interior Balat started from the area called "Konfofano" by the Jews, near the Balat gate. In the 19th century the gates of Balat were closed at night. During the Sabbath, the Gabby will control the neighborhood to make sure that everyone celebrated Sabbath. The Feruh Kahya hamami, called by the Jews "el banjo de Balat" was used as Mica.