Erdoğan makes ‘get well soon’ call to Turkey’s Chief Rabbi

ANKARA

DHA Photo

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called Turkey’s Chief Rabbi İshak Haleva in order to extend and his get well soon wishes, after the latter recently underwent surgery.

Erdoğan telephoned the spiritual leader of Jewish people in Turkey, state-run Anadolu Agency reported late on March 13, citing anonymous sources from the presidential office.

Haleva reportedly expressed his gratitude for the call.

Turkey’s Chief Rabbi was present at a ceremony in late February to remember the sinking of the Struma vessel during World War Two, in which 764 Jews died in the Black Sea while trying to escape the Holocaust.

The ceremony at the Sepetçiler Kasrı, a waterfront pavilion facing the Bosphoru, was also attended by Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik, Israeli Consul-General to Istanbul Shai Cohen, Istanbul Governor Vasip Şahin, Turkish Jewish Community deputy leader Moris Levi, as well as other Turkish officials, religious representatives, artists and Jewish citizens.

Haleva was also among invitees of a lunch hosted by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu in early January, during which Davutoğlu called on Turkey’s non-Muslim community leaders to “raise their voice” against Islamophobia and all forms of racism and discrimination.