Changes After Construction
The synagogue suffered major damage in the fires of 1703 and 1813.
The synagogue was completely destroyed in the fire that broke out on the night of 1 October 1941; the 1825 marble ehal was preserved.
The present synagogue building was formed by combining the two midrash buildings in the garden (Midrash Haverim and Midrash Tehilim).
After the restoration works, the building was reopened for worship on 20 March 1994 with the Minha prayer.
Featured Highlights
The name “Etz Ahayim” means “Tree of Life” in Hebrew.
The marble ehal was commissioned by the Camondo Family in 1825 and survived the 1941 fire intact.
There were midrash buildings in the synagogue garden where daily worship was conducted.
The building is located in Ortaköy and was registered as a protected monument by the decision dated 27 November 1960.
