Ahavat Shalom Synagogue stands in Karşıyaka, on the northern side of the bay, and is also known as Kahal Kadosh. It adds a further layer to the geography of Jewish Izmir beyond Kemeraltı and Karataş.
- Area: Karşıyaka (Alaybey)
- Also known as: Kahal Kadosh
- Built: 1881–1882
- Status: Preserved; held by the municipality for cultural use
History
The synagogue was founded in Alaybey in 1881 and 1882 to serve Jewish families who had moved to Karşıyaka from the old Kemeraltı quarter. As the Karşıyaka community later left the district, the building was abandoned and neglected for many years. After long negotiations, the community agreed to transfer it to the Karşıyaka municipality on the condition that it be used only for cultural purposes.
What to notice
The synagogue survives as a preserved building and a reminder of how Jewish communal life once extended across the bay. It belongs to the wider Jewish geography of Izmir rather than to an isolated local story.
Visiting
Please read Visit before making any plans. Access to community or religious sites may require prior permission.
