Iftar Meals at the Neve Shalom Cultural Center

Since 2003, the Turkish Jewish Community has been hosting iftar meals for large crowds including politicians, businessmen and media representatives at the Neve Shalom Synagogue, during the Ramadan. With the azan recited in the synagogue, messages of peace and brotherhood are given, and this is followed by speeches by the Chief Rabbi Rav Isak Haleva and the President of the Jewish Community of the time.

In one of the speeches, Rav Haleva addressed the guests as follows: “I am proud and happy on behalf of my community and myself to host you here at our traditional iftar table tonight, in the blessed month of Ramadan, where our Muslim brothers take refuge in the vast forgiveness of God Almighty, in a more intense state than ever before.”

The President of the Jewish Community added: “On behalf of the Turkish Jewish Community, I greet all friends who believe in friendship and brotherhood to enlighten our world, and who believe that discrimination is wrong ethically and in human eyes. I greet you with respect and love.”

Generally, among guests of the iftar dinner are the Governor and Mayor of Istanbul, the Chief Public Prosecutor, the Mayor of Şişli and Beyoğlu districts, the President of the Turkish Jewish Community Foundation, the district law enforcement leaders, consuls, diplomatic missions representatives, religious representatives, journalists, NGO members and lecturers.