Spinoza once again commemorated in Istanbul’s Heybeliada with Turkish pastry

A Turkish neurosurgeon commemorated seventeenth-century philosopher Baruch Spinoza on his 392nd birth anniversary in Istanbul’s Heybeliada by giving out Turkish fried dough (“lokma”) to people. Spinoza was commemorated this February on his death anniversary in the same way in Heybeliada, which went viral on social media.

Photo: Gazete Duvar

Duvar English

Philosopher Baruch Spinoza was commemorated in Istanbul’s Heybeliada, the second largest of the Prince Islands in the Marmara Sea, with Turkish fried dough (“lokma”) on the 392nd anniversary of his birth on Nov. 24.

In Turkey, it is a tradition to commemorate dead relatives and loved ones by giving out lokma to the public.

Spinoza was commemorated this February on his death anniversary in the same way in Heybeliada, which went viral on social media as British philosopher Nigel Warburton said, “I’m beginning to understand why translations of my philosophy books are bestsellers in Turkey.”

It was reported that neurosurgeon Türker Kılıç commemorated Spinoza by giving out lokma this time.

Spinoza was born in Nov. 24, 1632.