Last updated on .
The Grand Synagogue of Edirne (Edirne Büyük Sinagogu) is a historic Sephardic synagogue in Edirne, Turkey, that’s well worth a visit. It’s also known as the Adrianople Synagogue or Kal Kadoş ha Gadol.
Visiting
The Grand Synagogue of Edirne is open to the public daily except Mondays from 9am to 5pm. Admission is free. It’s located on Maarif Street in the Kaleiçi district.
History
On September 2, 1905, the Great Fire of Adrianople destroyed over 1,500 homes and all 13 of the city’s synagogues. The Jewish community numbered 20,000 at that time, and petitioned Sultan Abdülhamid II to replace all 13 synagogues by building one large synagogue.
The Grand Synagogue of Edirne was built between 1906 and 1909. It was designed by French architect France Depré, who modeled it after the Leopoldstädter Tempel of Vienna.
The synagogue opened to worship in April 1909 and could accommodate 1,200 worshippers. It was the third largest synagogue in Europe and the largest in Turkey.
Over time, most of the Jewish community of Edirne left the city for Istanbul, Israel, Europe, or North America. The synagogue was abandoned in 1983 and fell into ruins after years of neglect.
Restoration
In 1995, the property passed into the hands of the Turkish government. They invested over 5,750,000₺ in a restoration project that started on August 3, 2010, and finished on September 28, 2014.
The Grand Synagogue of Edirne reopened to the public on March 26, 2015, with a prayer service led by Rabbi David Azuz, who also led the prayer for its closing 36 years earlier.
The synagogue now serves the remaining local Jewish community, which numbers in the single digits. In 2016, it celebrated its first wedding in 41 years.
Inside, there are photos of the synagogue before and during restoration. There’s also a banner telling visitors about the history of the building and the scope of the restoration work.
Administration Center
Behind the synagogue is the administration center, which was also included in the restoration. It’s a two-story brick building with a basement.
On the ground floor is space for local artisans to display their crafts. On the upper floor is temporary exhibition space. During a visit in October 2019, there was an exhibition about the life of Anne Frank. Another visit in May 2022 featured an exhibit about the daily lives of Turkish Jews.
Outbuilding
Just outside the entrance to the synagogue is another small outbuilding that was restored. I’m not sure of its function but there’s an inscription in Hebrew above the entrance.
