For the past three weeks, the chairman of the Union of Rabbis in the Islamic States and the Ashkenazi rabbi of Istanbul, Rabbi Mendi Hitrik, have been touring the history of the Jewish community in Turkey - with the aim of exposing the cultural richness and remnants of the diverse community across the country.
For the task, the rabbi uses his Twitter page (@mchitrik), which has received much praise - including Turkish officials, including the Israeli cultural attaché Salim Ozturk.
As part of the project, today (Friday) a tour began in northwestern Turkey, in the country's largest city - Istanbul, reached one of its greatest peaks with the arrival of the chairman of the Union of Rabbis in Islamic States to the capital of the Thai province - Antakya. Syria, is the city of Antioch, which he founded in 300 BC Seleucus I - and eventually became the western capital of the Seleucid kingdom.
The wooden synagogue is unique.
You can literally feel the spirits of many years or prayers that were recited here ... (Soon I'll tell you why you feel the spirits ...) pic.twitter.com/pd8EZPvAjs
- Rabbi Mendy Chitrik (@mchitrik) August 13, 2021
Since then, the Jewish community in the area continues to exist, through Roman rule, the many rulers in the area, the two world wars - to this day. However, today only 14 Jews remain from the rich culture and history community, only seven of them men - which does not allow a quorum to exist. "I'm not very religious," said the Genodeolo area, whose family has lived in Antakya since ancient times. "But I do what I have to do. I pray in the morning and in the evening, and in general we do our best. We have been here for 2,300 years."
One of the remaining 14 in the city is Olga Jamal, who immigrated to the city from Damascus before 35. "At that time there were 500 Jews here," noted Olga, who worked in the Syrian capital as a teacher at a Jewish school for boys.
When she heard that Rabbi Hitrik was on his way to Antakya she told him "Do not forget to bring a knife, we need poultry", because six months have passed since Shochat came to the city.
The chairman of the Union of Rabbis in Islamic States also took the opportunity to make atonement for members of the community in Antakya.
"Jewish life in Turkey continues even after 2,700 years," Rabbi Mandy Hitrik told Israel Today in a call from Antakya.
He said, "In Antakya and elsewhere - Jews living as Jews is the best guarantee for living in peace and tranquility even with the Muslims living around them."