Etz Ahayim Synagogue

The Etz Ahayim Synagogue (Hebrew: קהל קדוש עץ החיים), also known as the Beit Yaakov Synagogue or the Ortaköy Synagogue, is a Jewish congregation and synagogue, located on Icadiye Street, in Kuzguncuk, Ortaköy, on the coast near the right leg of Bosphorus Bridge, in Istanbul, in the Istanbul Province of Turkey.^[2]

Etz Ahayim Synagogue
Hebrew: קהל קדוש עץ החיים
The synagogue doorway, in 2007
Religion
Affiliation	Judaism
Rite	Nusach Sefard
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue
Status	Active
Location
Location	Icadiye Street, Kuzguncuk, Ortaköy, Istanbul, Istanbul Province
Country	Turkey
Location of the synagogue in Istanbul
Geographic coordinates	40°58′42″N 28°52′15″E
Architecture
Type	Synagogue architecture
Completed	c. 1700s: 1941 & 1983 (rebuild)
Materials	Brick
[1]

It is unknown when the original synagogue was built, but it is estimated to be before 1703.^[3] The building also housed an academy for over one hundred years.^[4] The synagogue was totally destroyed by fire in 1941 with only the marble Aron Kodesh remaining intact. The synagogue was subsequently rebuilt.^[5][6] The synagogue serves Ashkenazi Jews^[7] and is also known as the 'Tree of Life' synagogue.^[8]

See also

• Judaism portal
• Turkey portal

• History of the Jews in Turkey
• List of synagogues in Turkey