Istanbul – Turkish Jewish Community Leader Dies of Heart Attack

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    FILE - Robert Abudara at the Mic in Beth Israel SynagogueIstanbul – The former vice president of Turkey’s Jewish community, Robert Abudara, died of a heart attack on July 21 in his home in Istanbul’s Caddebostan neighborhood, daily Hürriyet reported.

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    Abudara, who was 55, survived the 2003 Beth Israel Synagogue terrorist attack and was a respected member of the Jewish community, according to Chief Rabbi İshak Haleva.

    “[He] was an exemplary person with his patriotism and helpfulness,” Haleva said. “His death is a loss not only to the Jewish community but to every community he was a part of.”

    Haleva, along with Abudara’s wife, Sara Abudara, and younger daughter, Rebi Abudara, were present for the funeral service held at the Kuzguncuk Bet Yaakov Synagogue in Istanbul.

    Abudara had been expecting a grandson from his older daughter, Yelda Abudara.

    According to one of the members of his congregation, he had already been preparing for the child’s circumcision ceremony and was very excited.

    The community leader’s grandson was born nine hours after his death and was named after him.

    Yelda Abudara was not informed of her father’s death until after she gave birth.


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    8 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    bd”h how sad

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    BDH, I visited several shuls in Turkey. Jewish communities there are very interesting and their culture and customs are very ancient and authentic.

    cool masmid
    cool masmid
    13 years ago

    How bittersweet. May this wonderful family have a nechoma. The fact that a son was born to his daughter hours after his passing shows what a special person he was.

    Fishy
    Fishy
    13 years ago

    He seems a bit young to die of a heart attack. I suspect foul play.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    How do they give a name 9 hours after birth. Isn’t that before the bris?

    Mordechai
    Mordechai
    13 years ago

    Thank you all for your condolences.
    The Brit B”H will be held on Friday, after 7 days of mourning. And his name will be given to the baby.

    He was a real precious men, helping anyone of the community who needs help.
    He was responsible from the security affairs of the community, and the shuls.

    May he rest in Peace…