Silent stones stand guard over stories untold at Ulus Mezarlığı. This isn’t just a cemetery. It’s a chronicle etched in marble and memory. We’re standing at Ulus Mezarlığı. It is a place where the echoes of Istanbul’s past resonate deeply.
Ulus Mezarlığı offers a serene escape from the city’s relentless pace. Here lies a tapestry of lives. Each headstone marks a unique journey. Ulus Mezarlığı whispers tales of statesmen, artists, and everyday citizens who shaped Istanbul.
Notably there are actually two Jewish cemeteries here. The Ulus Sephardi Jewish Cemetery was established in 1901. The Ulus Ashkenazi Jewish Cemetery followed in the early 1900s. They reflect Istanbul’s diverse religious communities. The Neve Shalom Synagogue Foundation maintains both cemeteries.
The Ulus Sephardi Jewish Cemetery, also known as Arnavutköy Jewish Cemetery, reflects a community’s history. Arnavutköy was once a countryside area. It has since become the upscale neighborhood of Ulus.
It has been reported that only wealthy people are interred in the ultra-luxury Ulus Cemetery. People who cannot afford the donation for a resting place are transferred to Kilyos Jewish Cemetery. It is around 40 km from the city center.
David Asseo, the Hakham Bashi of Turkey lies here. Hakham Bashi means Chief Rabbi. He served from 1960 until his death in 2002. Üzeyir Garih, a prominent businessman and cofounder of Alarko Holding, also rests here. Vitali Hakko, founder of the Vakko clothing business, is buried here.
The Ulus Ashkenazi Jewish Cemetery is located about 500 m south of the Sephardi cemetery. Both are on the same street. It serves as a final resting place for members of the Ashkenazi Jewish community. However, today it is also used for Sephardi burials. This is due to overpopulation of the nearby Ulus Sephardi Jewish Cemetery.
The Ulus Ashkenazi Jewish Cemetery holds a somber memorial. It commemorates the victims of the 1986 Neve Shalom Synagogue bombing. It also remembers those killed in the 2003 bombings of Neve Shalom and Bet Israel Synagogue.
Hayati Kamhi, a businessman and son of Jak Kamhi is interred here. Bensiyon Pinto, honorary president of the Turkish Jewish Community, also rests in this place.
As you wander through Ulus Mezarlığı consider this. Each stone signifies a life lived. Each inscription is a story waiting to be discovered. The cemetery serves as a reminder of our shared human experience. It shows us the enduring power of memory.