Turkey: district governor apologized to Rabbi of country

Turkey district governor apologized to the chief Rabbi of the state for having ordered to make the ancient synagogue in Turkey into a museum.

District Governor of Adiran in northwestern Turkey, Dorson Sahin, apologized for his remarks that one has to shut down the old synagogue, Büyük, and turn it into a museum. The governor who spoke with the Chief Rabbi of Turkey Rabbi Yitzhak Haliva, claimed that his words were not understood, and expressed "deep sorrow" for the distortion of his words. The governor also said that the synagogue will remain open and will not become a museum.

His apology came after the governor told reporters that because of Israel's conduct on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, he ordered that the ancient synagogue "Büyük" will turn into an empty museum. "When these bandits (criminals) spread war spirits in Al Aqsa Mosque and murder Muslims, we are building synagogues for them, clean their cemeteries, I say these things with a deep and burning hatred in my heart," the Governor said to the newspaper "Hürriyet" published in Turkey.

The governor's comments provoked much anger and Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey was quick to respond, saying that the governor made a mistake, and that the synagogue would remain in place and will not become a museum. "I appreciate and respect the governor and assume that he said the words out of an emotional storm, we condemn these atrocities against al-Aqsa mosque, however we can not look at Jews here resentfully," said Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey.

It should be noted that the Turkish government since 2010 has allocated about 3.7 million Turkish pounds or about $ 1.6 million for the renovation of the synagogue - which Jewish tourists from all over the world visit. The Jewish community in Turkey recently approached the governor and asked him to allow it to hold from time to time prayers and weddings in the synagogue.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!