Posted on 11/10/2002 4:07:43 AM PST by Turk2
Izmir may become next Jewish tourist attraction in Turkey
Haim Shapiro, Nov. 5, 2002 Jerusalem Post - Jewish sites in the Turkish city of Izmir could become major tourist attractions, according to one of the participants in a recent Israeli academic survey of the Mediterranean port. Archeology student Aharon Greener, who is to participate in a seminar on Wednesday at Bar-Ilan University on the ancient treasures of the Jewish community of Izmir, said a major project is underway to preserve these sites and make them accessible to visitors. Greener said that during the visit to Izmir, members of the local Jewish community, as well as non-Jewish experts, frequently compared their city to Prague, where the Jewish Quarter has become a major attraction for Jewish and non-Jewish tourists alike.
Greener said that Prof. Tayfun Taner, a distinguished Turkish architect who has been entrusted with the restoration of the old city of Izmir, is planning a Jewish trail through the city, taking in synagogues, the old cemetery with the grave of famed Rabbi Haim Palagi, and a distinctive ritual bath. A synagogue which has already collapsed is to be transformed into a Jewish museum, Greener said.
He added that 100 years ago Izmir had at least 28 functioning synagogues, but today those that remain are in imminent danger of collapse, along with many other buildings in the old Jewish quarter. Before World War II, the city had 55,000 Jews but today there are only 2,000. He said most of the endangered synagogues are no longer in use, but contain rare and valuable furnishings, as well as books and manuscripts. Greener said that despite concern over Turkey's election of a government in which a Muslim party has the majority, members of the Izmir Jewish community stressed that they got along very well with their Muslim neighbors.
Medret Ozalt, director of the Turkish Government Tourism Office, said she did not expect the election results to have any effect on the number of Israeli tourists going to Turkey in the future.
During the first nine months of this year, 229,000 Israelis have visited Turkey. Ozalt stressed that despite the elections, the Turkish people remain the same people who welcomed Israelis in the past. She also noted that Islamic movements are not new to Turkish politics. "This is not the first time that this kind of party has come into the government," Ozalt said.
She added that Turkey is still a democratic and secular country and tourism is a very important part of the economy. Local tourism sources said that it is too early to tell if the election results would have any impact on tourism.
I visited Izmir briefly last year (had to fly in for an airshow).
Beautiful place--very lovely. The women are absolutely beautiful, and that is not just a sexist comment----everyone talks about how Muslims from all over the middle east go there to search for their 2nd or 3rd wives.
The New Year's Eve I spent sleeping on the stage of the Hotel Intercontinental's bar with my tennis shoe as a pillow and the drape as a blanket is still fresh in my mind.
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