The Neve Shalom Synagogue The Neve Shalom synagogue was constructed in response to the growing Jewish population in the old Galata neighborhood, which is now part of Beyoğlu, during the late 1930s. By the end of 1937, Keneset and Zülfaris Synagogues in Galata and Beyoglu districts were unable to meet the religious needs of the rapidly increasing Jewish population. As a result, different venues had to be rented for temporary services during holidays like Pesach (Passover), Rosh Hashanah, and especially Yom Kippur. As the Jewish population in Beyoglu continued to grow, services were relocated to a space in the First Coed Jewish Primary School. In 1948, it was decided that a synagogue should be built on the same land where the school was located. Civil engineers Elyo Ventura and Bernar Motola, who both graduated from Istanbul Technical University, asked if they could participate in planning what became known as "the Great Synagogue." Six months later, their plan won unanimous approval from community leaders. On March 25, 1951, the synagogue opened with a ceremony that began with the prayer Baruch Haba by İzak Macoro and was led by Rav Rafael Saban, the community leader of the period. The synagogue's name, Neve Shalom, meaning "Oasis of Peace" in Hebrew, reflects the desire for peace and unity among all people.