The Judaism have been living with Jews in Turkey for 2400 years. According to archeologists, there were Jewish communities even during 5^th century BC.

Portugal  queen Isabel had asked them either leaving the country or changing believes to Christianity in 1480. Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II had invited them to Istanbul to live together. So many Jews had migrated to Istanbul and other cities by the sea. We call them Ottoman Jews.

The Sephardic Jews have been living in the city for over 500 ears. They supported Ottoman Government much by introducing new ideas, methods and craftsmanship. The first Gutenberg press in Istanbul had been established by Sephardic Jews in 1493. They excelled many fields, particularly medicine, trade and banking. More than 20.000 Sephardic Jews still have been living in Istanbul.

Also There is Ashkenazi Jews who had come from Germany during 2nd World War. They are the followers of Judaism too. There are a few little difference in praying style.

Today, There are 20 functional synagogues in the city for Judaism.  The biggest one is the Neve Shalom Synagogue was built in 1951 in the Beyoglu quarter. A decrease in the population of the Istanbul Jewish population occurred after the foundation of Israel in 1948. But the Turkish Jews who migrated to Israel helped to establish strong relationships between Turkey and Israel. The founders of Israel and prominent Israeli politicians like David Ben-Gurion, Yitzhak Ben-Zvi and Moshe Shertok had all studied in the leading Turkish schools of Istanbul namely Galatasaray High school and Istanbul University.

After the foundation Israel Country in 1948, Most of Jews had migrated to Israel. They have preferred to live in a Jewish country.

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93% of population in Turkey is Muslim. Since 10^th century, Islam have become the most practiced religion in Anatolia. Anatolia means Turkey today. Most of Muslims in Turkey are Sunnis. Also There are some Alawites in Muslim community. Also %5 Christian and %2 Jews living in Turkey.

Istanbul had been the final seat of the Islamic Caliphate, from 1517 to 1924. Ottoman Sultan Bayazıd had brought and preserved some relics of  prophet Muhammad, Abraham, and King David  in Topkapi Palace, Eyup Sultan Mosque and several other prominent mosques of Istanbul for hundreds of years.

Secularization period

After the collapsing of Ottoman Empire, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk had founded the Turkish Republic. The secularization had started in the society with the foundation of new country. Also It was the most prominent and controversial feature of Ataturk’s reforms. Under the leadership of Ataturk had abolished the caliphate with his leadership. He had eliminated and reduced the power of Islamic religious authorities.

First Mosques

The urban landscape of the city has been shaped by many communities. The most popular major religion is Islam. The first mosque had been built in Kadikoy on the Asian side of the city which had been conquered by the Ottomans in 1353. Conqueror Fatih Sultan Mehmed had built the first mosque on Europan side of Istanbul in Rumeli Fortress 1452.  Holy Apostles Church was the patriarch of Byzantine Empire. So They had built first imperial mosque over this church in 1470.  It was very important Byzantine church and originally had been built  during the Constantine the Great.

Architect Sinan had built many imperial Mosques during 16th century. He had built Suleymaniye Mosque for honor of Great Suleyman the Magnificent in 1557. And of course famous Sultan Ahmet Mosque (1616), “Blue Mosque” have become the imperial mosque of 17th century It has become very famous with finest very beautiful blue quartz tiles of 17^th century.

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