A Jew from Izmir called Salomon de Ciaves, a Dutch immigrant of Portuguese origin, donated one of the houses with a large courtyard on the Ikicesmelik Street to be used as a synagogue and ensured the purchase of all the books and sacred objects required for a synagogue and devoted some houses and shops adjacent to it to bring some revenues to the synagogue in 1724.

Also known as Ciaves Synagogue, it started to be called as Bikur Holim Synagogue meaning “visiting the sick” as from that date as the basement of the synagogue was used as a hospital during one of the plague or cholera epidemics frequently seen in the city. It is also possible that the said basement was once the Bet Din prison. Burnt in 1772, the synagogue was rebuilt in 1800 by Manuel de Ciaves of the same family.

With a central Tevah, ceiling decorated with flower and fruit pictures, embellished columns painted in green and yellow, this synagogue is one of the most beautiful places of worship in Izmir. It is situated in the Ikicesmelik Street. (Güleryüz, Trakya ve Anadolu Sinagogları, 2008,68)