Representing harmonious relations: the Quintecennial Foundation Jewish Museum of Turkey

If one believes that relations among majority and minorities are always controversial, he or she should visit the Museum of Jewish Turks, located in district of Karaköy in Istanbul. Jewish (Sephardim, Ashkenazim and Karaites) people represent one of the three minority groups officially recognized. Actually, they account for about 25,000 people, and live mainly in Istanbul and other big cities, like Izmir and Adana.[36]

The history of the Jewish presence in Asia Minor is almost as long as the history of Jews themselves. Nevertheless, during the year 1492, after their expulsion from Spain, a great number of Jews floated in the Ottoman Capital, finding refuge there. This historical event left a positive impression in both Ottoman/Turkish and Jewish communities.  On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the Jews? arrival in Istanbul, the Quincentennial Foundation Jewish Museum of Turkey was established (opened on November 25^th, 2001), and arranged in the building of the 17^th century synagogue, Zülfaris, and created with the efforts of a member of the Jewish community.

The museum is distributed between three floors. On the first floor religious objects are shown, ceremonial artifacts and religious scrolls; while, on the second and third floors, it is possible to find a photographic exhibition--organized on panels--and a sort of ethnographic department, which portrays scenes from the daily life of old Jewish communities. The construction of this part resembles the fictive recreation of ?rooms? in the Ethnographic Museum of Ankara.

An interesting feature of this museum is its communication program, which shows the efforts made in presenting itself to Turkish and foreign people. It is quite remarkable that, on its website, there is an open invitation to people to loan objects and documents in order to increase the museum?s collection. Thus, the museum itself runs from the old schema of museums as storage places, mere archives of the collective memory, to transform itself in an active ?producer of memory (ies).?[37] The theme of personal memory is also one of the main topics that emerge, giving a look at messages written in the museum?s guestbook.[38]

[36]See: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (2005).

[37]See the introductory message of Naim Güleryüz, Vice President of The Quincentennial Foundation and Curator of the Museum: ?We would also like very much appreciate your loans to the museum of any artefacts, documents, religious objects? By allowing us to put them on display you will not only be enhancing the exhibit but your name will be also acknowledged for posterity? (Naim Güleryüz).

[38]The topic emerged together with statements on the widespread impression of tolerance showed by Turks, and curiosity from visitors who don?t belong to Jew communities.