Signora Giveret Synagogue, Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Kemeraltı, Turkey
Signora Giveret Synagogue is a stone-built place of worship in Kemeraltı with tall walls enclosing a large courtyard. The building features a wooden hip roof and numerous arched windows that bring natural light into the interior spaces.
A Portuguese merchant woman named Donna Gracia Mendes founded this synagogue in the 1500s. The Yeruşalmi family rebuilt it after a fire destroyed much of the structure in 1841.
The interior displays seats bearing engraved family names, showing how the Jewish community organized seating by lineage. Visitors can see how this system shaped the congregation's social structure over time.
The building connects to a terrace through a short flight of stairs and sits in the central Kemeraltı district. Regular religious services take place here, so visitors should be respectful of active worship times.
The building incorporates a movable spruce wall that integrates with the Torah ark, allowing flexible configurations for different religious ceremonies. This adaptable feature shows how the structure was designed to serve varied community needs.
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