Here’s our interview with Nisya Isman Allovi, Director of the Quincentennial Foundation Museum Of Turkish Jews. A museum enabling its visitors to discover very ancient objects showing the intercation between the city’s different cultures.
Jguideeurope: Are you participating in this year’s EDJC? If so, what will be organized? Which other cultural events are you organizing in 2024-5?
Nisya Isman Allovi: The day will be held on the 17th of November, this year’s topic is family so we will have a Kettubot exhibition, talks and a concert for that day. We will make a documentary film on the trails of the Jews that shows about the Jewish life in different cities with an exhibition.
Can you share an emotional encounter with a participant in a cultural event?
Visitors have nostalgia when they see the museum, the synagogue and the talks, concerts. It makes them emotional and food tastings add a little special touch. We are happy to see that people who are prejudiced about Judaism can change after attending this day and bring more of their friends to the museum.
Have you perceived an evolution in the interest related to Istanbul’s Jewish heritage?
Jewish cultural tours are generally popular. There are 18 active synagogues in Istanbul alone and they shed light on the history of the region. I can say that there is interest in this culture. In order to further motivate it, we organise tours in different regions and, as every year, we organise guided tours in the Balat and Galata region on Culture Day.