Join us for a one-hour interactive virtual walking tour through the heart of Balat, Turkey, where echoes of a once-thriving Sephardic community still resonate in centuries-old synagogues, stone-paved alleyways, and intricately adorned homes. Discover the legacy of Jews who arrived in Istanbul after the 1492 Spanish expulsion, explore the iconic Ahrida Synagogue with its ship-shaped bimah, and learn about daily life under the Ottoman Empire. With real-time Q&A and vivid storytelling, this immersive tour brings the rich, multi-faith history of Istanbul’s Jewish past to life—no passport required.
Sponsor: Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program