Launch of the Book "My Life As A Turkish Jew"

The launch event of the book "My Life As A Turkish Jew," which brings together the memoirs of Turkish Jewish Community Honorary President Bensiyon Pinto and is to be published by Bahçeşehir University (BAU), was held at the Bahçeşehir University Beşiktaş Campus.

The launch event and signing ceremony of the book "My Life As A Turkish Jew," published in English by Bahçeşehir University to bring it to readers around the world, was held at Bahçeşehir University. Delivering the opening speech of the book launch, Bahçeşehir University Chair of the Board of Trustees Enver Yücel said: "I congratulate Bensiyon Pinto for bringing to life a very meaningful work to better explain to a wide public the Sephardic Jews, who have lived on Turkish soil for more than 500 years, and to make Türkiye's cultural diversity known to the world, and for sharing his memories with uncensored sincerity. I also warmly congratulate my former Turkish teacher Tülay Gürler, who compiled the book, for all her efforts and for writing such a meaningful book." Enver Yücel said: "We are a university located in the city of İstanbul, where Asia meets Europe and which serves as a bridge between East and West. Over the centuries, different cultures have left their mark on this city, which served as the capital of 3 great empires. As a university at the very heart of this historical fabric, I believe a great duty falls upon us."

"WE MUST PROMOTE THE CULTURE OF LIVING TOGETHER"

Stating that in today's world, alongside those who steer the clash of cultures and religions, university leaders should always support such future-shaping projects that promote the culture of living together, motivating young people so that they can leave them a future free of racism, antisemitism and Islamophobia, Enver Yücel said: "We must not forget that universities have now also become global cities. And today it is again universities that set the best examples of the awareness that diversity is richness. On the path we set out on with this mission, as Bahçeşehir University we have so far carried out many meaningful projects to help cultures get to know each other better. We produced the television series 'The River Flowing West,' which tells the history of world civilization, the emergence of cultures and their interaction throughout history, and which was broadcast on TRT in Türkiye and on many leading channels around the world. Last year, we also launched the Bahçeşehir University Civilizations Choir, which gives voice to the melodies of many different cultures in Türkiye."

Stating that they also supported the film Turkish Passport, which tells the story of the efforts of Turkish diplomats who, during one of the most shameful periods in human history, the Second World War, chose not to remain indifferent to the atrocities and, without discriminating on the basis of religion, language or race, worked to save Jews living in Europe, Enver Yücel said: "Also in recent years, with the support of UNESCO, we held an international conference on how scientists who fled Nazi persecution in 1933 and settled in Türkiye reformed Turkish Higher Education."

Underlining that, in order to leave young people a more peaceful world, he believes in the importance of educational institutions telling the common history of cultures in a good and objective language so that past mistakes such as the Holocaust are never repeated, Enver Yücel said: "Tonight I feel boundless happiness that we are bringing the book 'Anlatmasam Olmazdı' to the whole world."

Taking the podium after the speech of Bahçeşehir University Chair of the Board of Trustees Enver Yücel, Bensiyon Pinto thanked Bahçeşehir University and everyone who contributed to the process of translating his book into English, and signed copies of his book, the proceeds of which will be transferred to SosyalBen, a social responsibility project founded by Bahçeşehir University students.