Jewish life has flourished in Turkish lands
for over five hundred years, particularly
after the Ottoman Empire’s official
invitation to the Jews fleeing the Spanish
Inquisition. This lecture and photo exhibit
from the Quincentennial Foundation Museum
of Turkish Jews will illuminate the special
relationship between the Jewish community
and the Turkish people. Tracing Turkey’s
evolution from a refuge for Jews fleeing
persecution to a sanctuary and home, this
program highlights the Jewish community’s
contributions to Turkish society and the
complementary relationship between Jewish
and Turkish cultures.

The exhibition was shown at the Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN from February 1, 2010 through February 20, 2010.  The images was on display at the Jewish Studies Program at Vanderbilt University from February 1, 2010 through February 12, 2010 with a reception on February 9, 2010 at 5:45 pm. Prof. Matthias Lehmann, Associate Professor of early modern and modern Jewish history at Indiana State University, delivered a speech at 4:10pm before the reception. The Jewish Studies Program is located in Buttrick Hall at Vanderbilt University.


The exhibit was then be hosted by the Gordon Jewish Community Center in Nashville, TN from February 15, 2010 through February 20, 2010. A reception was planned to be held on February 15, 2010 at 6:30 pm with remarks delivered by Professor Julia Phillips Cohen, Assistant Professor in the Program of Jewish Studies in the Department of History at Vanderbilt University.

Partners & Sponsors

Official co-sponsors of the exhibition include Istanbul Center, The Quincentennial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews in Istanbul, Turkey.