Since the late 20th century, academic interest in the crypto-Judaic group known as the Dönmes has grown and intensified. Most studies resulting from this interest have concentrated on the Dönmes’ place in a world of intersecting identities, and on the nature of their secret religion. In this process, however, narratives by actual members of this community have been few and far-between. This work, based on a series of interviews with a member of the Karakaş group – one of the three main Dönme sects - aims to fill that gap. Complete with introducing chapters on the history of the Dönmes, and in particular the Karakaş group; richly annotated with footnotes that explain local nuances and provide additional resources; this book will appeal both to specialist workers, as well as general readers interested in this curious chapter at the intersection of Ottoman, Judaic and contemporary Turkish history. Previously-unpublished intra-communal religious documents, calendars and partial genealogies of the Karakaş sect are also reproduced in this volume.

Künye

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THANKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION

WHO WERE THE DÖNMES?

The Revelations of Sabbatai Sevi

A False Messiah?

The Development of Dönme Traditions

Dönme Life in Salonica

The Dönmes in Turkey

The Dönmes Today

WHO WERE THE KARAKAŞ?

NOTES ON TERMINOLOGY

A Lexicon of Karakaş Religious Terms

THE INTERVIEWS

Appendix: The Eighteen Commandments of Sabbatai Sevi

Appendix: A Karakaş Diagram of the Sfiras from the 1940s

Appendix: Tree Illustration

Appendix: Incomplete Document of Karakaş Elders

Appendix: An Ottoman-Era Family Tree of Karakaş Elders

Appendix: A Contemporary Karakaş Document Explaining the Holy Days of the Year

Appendix: A Contemporary Karakaş Religious Calendar

Appendix: Notable Names from the Karakaş Religious Calendar

INDEX