Istanbul, Turkey – A Turkish newspaper reports that police burst into an Istanbul synagogue during Sabbath services and demanded worshipers’ ID’s.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
The authorities raided the Hemdat Yisrael synagogue in Istanbul one Sabbath morning, the most crowded day of the week, and demanded that worshipers produce identification and proof of residence. Most worshipers did not have the required papers because of Sabbath restrictions, but were allowed to produce them at the conclusion of the Sabbath.
Leaders of several minority religious communities convened for an emergency meeting to discuss the worsening situation.
The Turkish Milliyet newspaper reported that the Muslim government in Turkey appears to be cracking down on non-Muslim minorities. The individual communities are not being permitted to have their own leaders; one person will be recognized by the government to represent all the minorities as one. As the Christian community outnumbers the Jewish one, it is expected that a Christian will serve as “Chief Rabbi.” This issue may have been resolved, however; see below.
In addition, Christian and Jewish children are being placed in separate non-Muslim public school classes. In Jewish schools, only Turkish citizens are allowed to be registered – preventing the son of a Jewish United States consul worker from studying in a Jewish school.
Rabbi Yitzchak Haleva, Chief Rabbi of Turkey, says it’s “much ado about nothing.” Speaking with Israeli media sources, Rabbi Haleva said that all misunderstandings had been resolved and that he himself will be running for re-election for the position of Chief Rabbi about two months from now. Regarding the mid-services Sabbath check of ID’s, Rabbi Haleva told Makor Rishon’s Yitzchak Hildesheimer that it was only a matter having to do with internal security.
A Turkish Jew quoted on Ynet did not sound confident, however: “Everyone here is apathetic, they are involved in their own business and their work – but we do feel that the situation has changed, even though it is being ignored. It is reminiscent of other periods in history…”
Turkey is becoming the new naughty boy on the block. Bolder and bolder by the day.
The last comment is exactly right. It is just like other periods in history.
It’s frightening that they don’t recognize the warning signs and start making plans to run out of there!
Jews of Turkey:
Don’t listen to the Erev Rav “Chief Rabbi”! Get out now!
The Rabbi does not believe one word he is saying. He doesn’t want to scare the people but the facts are Turkey is no longer a “friend” of Israel and Jews.
Mabe next time Danny Ayalon decides to dump on a foreighn ambassador (like he did a few weeks ago with the turkish amabassador by making him sit close to the floor while he lectured him in front of the tv cameras) he will stop and think about the consequences. Ayalon should beg mechila from every yid in Turkey for putting their lives at risk.
Oy Vey! This sounds like by WWII !!! Where yiddin were put up to calm all the yiddin and to woo them into the gas chambers willingly! Hashem Yishmor! We need much much more good PR! Lets try to start here on VIN to stick up for other yiddin and to be very positive about yiddishkeit! that way we will at least be positive about ourselves and stick up for our brother, fellow yid. and hopefully when people will see how b’achdus we are, it will make a kiddush hashem ……… ENOUGH OF SLANDERING! IT ONLY WORKS AGAINST US ALL!
There are some parallels to the 1930’s in Nazi Germany; I hope that I am just paranoid.
Turkey wa sa world power had the Ottoman empire until WW1, now this nutcase they voted in, is making it into a third world country, calling Hamas his Muslim brothers.
Thhey better vote him out soon b4 he ruins what is left.
I hope Obama arms the Kurds his Muslim brothers, it is time they get independance from Turkey Iran Iraq Seia & Azarbeigan, & take most of the Serian & a lot of the Iraqi & Iranian oil with them.
Turkey is trying to score brownie points with the arabic countries in the region so that they position themselves as a leader of the Middle East once Iran, with potential global economic sanctions weighing upon them, is out of the picture leaving Turkey in the driver’s seat with a powerful army and strong connections with Europe to boot.
That’s why they made a 180 degree turnaround vis a vis Israel and now, as we see with their own Jewish citizens.
Maybe we should send the so called Palis back to Turkey he likes them so much he could have them.
This is exactly how it started in the 1900’s in the other arab countries and later in the persian gulf countries.
Those that were smart started moving their businesses and money out right away.
Those that thought everything is fine were lucky to eventually get out with just the shirts on their backs.
Brothers in Turkey, learn from history and start moving out now while you can with what you have.
Be Careful. Turkey will ‘gobbel up’ all its Jews like it did to the Armenians.
The handwriting is on the wall. Hard line Muslims are taking over Turkey. THey arrested a few hundred Turkish officers who were planning a coup, so there goes the secularists. It is the trend in the World and Turkey will not escape it. Ikvisa D’meshicha.
Turkish Jews, run while you can. If something like this happened here in America, it wouldn’t be long before I’d be in the plane to E.Y.
after ww1 attaturk saved turkey ,he dropped the fez,arabic scrript and power of Islam in society,the current goverment is a quiet counter revolution to the secular turkey attaturk created,the military has always defended seculat turkey and their leaders are being arrested now.the military wants to be in the e.u. and hesitates to take action,the e.u. is not taking turkey in regardless and the military should act before they face the problems irans military faced when the shah left.
Re; to # 22. Your knowledge is overpowering .