Jews and Muslims celebrate Iftar together in ancient Turkish Synagogue

Hundred of Christians, Muslims and Jews gather to celebrate coexistence.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Grand Synagogue of Edirne, Turkey (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Grand Synagogue of Edirne, Turkey
(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Muslims and Jews gathered together to celebrate in an Iftar feast last Thursday at the recently resorted Great Edirne Synagogue in Edrine, in Northern Turkey, according to Turkish newspaper the Daily Sabah.
Iftar is the sunset meal during Ramadan, in which Muslims break the daily fast.
Hundred of Christians, Muslims and Jews gathered at the Synagogue to celebrate coexistence.
A message from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking of the peaceful coexistence in Turkey, was read during the event.
"Sharing our bread together in this Iftar is perhaps the best example of how the coexistence fares well today," said the Cheif Rabbi İsak Haleva.
Development Party member and head of the Turkish parliament's human rights committee, Mustafa  Yeneroğlu, was also in attendance.
Yeneroğlu commented on the event stating, "Our struggle against the hatred, hate speech and hostility toward a community will not cease as we have an approach that sees different communities as elements enriching these lands.
The ancient Synagogue, originally built in 1905, served the Jewish community until 1983, when it closed down among the dwindling Jewish population in the city. After a lengthy restoration the synagogue reopened in March of 2015.
The synagogue was just the start of the cities plans to revive the Jewish presence according to Edirne mayor Recep Gurkan. The municipality was planing on restoring three houses, once owned by Jewish families. The houses would serve as museums.