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Turkish Jews

Reader comment on item: Goodbye Ankara
in response to reader comment: "Turkey ... a model of modernity and moderation for other Muslims to follow"

Submitted by BuyukAdam (United States), Oct 22, 2011 at 11:04

Ianus,

With all due respect, your comment is nonsense. I have lived and worked in Turkey and I still have strong Turkish ties. I never found a trace of antisemitism in Turkey, except from extremists of the far left and right. They hate Armenians, Greeks, and Kurds at least as much, so I can't even call their actions true antisemitism. I've talked to Turkish Jews in Turkey and in Israel. Same story no antisemitism. The Turks are nothing like you describe. They are one of the nicest, kindest, and most hospitable group of people in the world. If you Google Turkish Jews you will find the site where the following comes from.

During the tragic days of World War II, Turkey managed to maintain its neutrality. As early as 1933 Ataturk invited numbers of prominent German Jewish professors to flee Nazi Germany and settle in Turkey. Before and during the war years, these scholars contributed a great deal to the development of the Turkish university system. During World War II Turkey served as a safe passage for many Jews fleeing the horrors of the Nazism. While the Jewish communities of Greece were wiped out almost completely by Hitler, the Turkish Jews remained secure. Several Turkish diplomats Ambassadors Behic Erkin and Numan Menemencioglu; ConsulGenerals Fikret Sefik Ozdoganci, Bedii Arbel, Selahattin Ulkumen; Consuls Namik Kemal Yolga and Necdet Kent, just to name only few of them (7) spent all their efforts to save from the Holocaust the Turkish Jews in those countries, and succeeded. Mr. Salahattin Ulkumen, Consul General at Rhodes in 1943 1944, has been recognized by the Yad Vashem as a Righteous Gentile "Hassid Umot ha'Olam" in June 1990. Turkey continues to be a shelter, a haven for all those who have to flee the dogmatism, intolerance and persecution.

You are here: Home / History of the Turkish Jews

History of the Turkish Jews

By Naim Guleryuz

Foreword

On the midnight of August 2nd 1492, when Colombus embarked on what would become his most famous expedition to the New World, his fleet departed from the relatively unknown seaport of Palos because the shipping lanes of Cadiz and Seville were clogged with Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain by the Edict of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain.

The Jews forced either to convert to Christianism or to "leave" the country under menace "they dare not return... not so much as to take a step on them not trepass upon them in any manner whatsoever" left their land, their property, their belongings all that was theirs and familiar to them rather than abadon their beliefs, their traditions, their heritage.

In the faraway Ottoman Empire, one ruler extended an immediate welcome to the persecuted Jews of Spain, the Sepharadim. He was the Sultan Bayazid II.

As we approach 1992, the Discovery year for all those connected to the American continents North, Central and South world Jewry is concerned with commemorating not only the expulsion, but also seven centuries of the Jewish life in Spain, flourishing under Moslem rule, and the 500th anniversary of the official welcome extended by the Ottoman Empire in 1492.

This humanitarianism is consistent with the beneficence and goodwill traditionally displayed by the Turkish government and people towards those of different creeds, cultures and backgrounds. Indeed, Turkey could serve as a model to be emulated by any nation which finds refugees from any of the four corners of the world standing at its doors.

In 1992, Turkish Jewry will celebrate not only the anniversary of this gracious welcome, but also the remarkable spirit of tolerance and acceptance which has characterized the whole Jewish experience in Turkey. The events being planned, symposiums, conferences, concerts, exhibitions, films and books, restoration of ancient Synagogues etc will commemorate the longevity and prosperity of the Jewish community. As a whole, the celebration aims to demonstrate the richness and security of life Jews have found in the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic over these more than five centuries, and show that indeed it is not impossible for people of different creeds to live together peacefully under one flag.

Naim Güleryüz is a researcher and writer, and vice president of the Quincentennial Foundation.

Copyright © 1996 - 2011

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Reader comments (77) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
3Genocide recognition [39 words]RafiSep 22, 2011 18:50189491
7That outrageous official position no decent person can ever support [222 words]IanusSep 25, 2011 09:51189491
2Turkey, NATO and Israel [108 words]KenSep 12, 2011 19:02189296
3If ONLY Turkey, NATO, vs Israel [121 words]M. ToveySep 14, 2011 18:07189296
14Goodbye Ankara ! Good morning Athens! [391 words]IanusSep 12, 2011 11:56189293
Why so much against Turkey? [724 words]li lrSep 9, 2011 19:15189210
4why so much against Turkey? [103 words]Liz K.Oct 27, 2011 17:51189210
2Proud of what ? [61 words]IanusOct 29, 2011 13:01189210
5Islamist Demon vs. Reason [20 words]MosheSep 8, 2011 04:36189179
Dear Dr. Pipes [527 words]Debanjan BanerjeeSep 7, 2011 04:36189150
1To Be NATO, or Not To Be NATO; That is the Question....Etc., Etc. [399 words]M. ToveySep 8, 2011 14:19189150
1Dear Mr. Tovi [302 words]Debanjan BanerjeeSep 10, 2011 00:16189150
1Turkey at the Edge of Its Destiny [250 words]M. ToveySep 13, 2011 11:37189150
Dear Mr. Tovi [231 words]Debanjan BanerjeeSep 20, 2011 11:39189150
1The Coming and Going of 'Ummah' - What Will It Cost When Israel Wins [600 words]M. ToveySep 22, 2011 12:14189150
1The Time is Approaching for Turkey [106 words]M. ToveySep 6, 2011 14:02189143
4A Warning [152 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Clifford IshiiSep 5, 2011 19:34189125
1i never knew [70 words]Ali LawalSep 5, 2011 18:48189124
There is difference between the two [57 words]Ravi Ranjan Singh Bharat PanthiSep 7, 2011 10:59189124
3Relationships are About MUTUAL Respect-Who is Respecting Israel Now? [534 words]M. ToveySep 7, 2011 11:37189124
Hi Mr. Tovey [255 words]Debanjan BanerjeeSep 8, 2011 01:45189124
5Debanjan Banerjee's hypocrisy [123 words]PrashantSep 9, 2011 00:24189124
3Searching for Respect for Israel [364 words]M. ToveySep 13, 2011 11:20189124
2Watch Turkey by its action not its word! [131 words]BASep 3, 2011 23:15189075
1Turks are going to solve the Kurdish problem very soon [170 words]Debanjan BanerjeeSep 8, 2011 01:55189075
4Debanjan Banerjee's utopia [76 words]PrashantSep 9, 2011 00:12189075
My answer to Mr. Prashant [189 words]Debanjan BanerjeeSep 10, 2011 00:01189075
Zionist Amicus Curiae [174 words]M. ToveySep 13, 2011 19:33189075
Dear Mr. Tovi [471 words]Debanjan BanerjeeSep 20, 2011 12:02189075
4More hypocrisy [195 words]prashantSep 21, 2011 03:06189075
Not All Zionists View Zionism the Same [646 words]M. ToveySep 21, 2011 19:01189075
1My answer to Mr. Tovey-Continuing [1181 words]Debanjan BanerjeeSep 23, 2011 07:10189075
1Dear Mr. Prashant [826 words]Debanjan BanerjeeSep 26, 2011 00:32189075
1Ask the Right Questions-Get the Right Answer [572 words]M. ToveySep 26, 2011 16:05189075
1My Reply to M Tovey--- Continued [807 words]Debanjan BanerjeeSep 28, 2011 10:54189075
1Preaching the Real Point [770 words]M. ToveySep 28, 2011 15:51189075
More to MR. Tovey [524 words]Debanjan BanerjeeSep 28, 2011 22:31189075
And To Debanjan [766 words]M. ToveySep 29, 2011 19:24189075
Well, Now You've Done It. [51 words]M. ToveySep 29, 2011 19:28189075
More Answers to Mr. Tovey [467 words]Debanjan BanerjeeOct 2, 2011 00:02189075
1Time for Repentance is Short - Now is the Appointed Time [180 words]M. ToveyOct 3, 2011 19:01189075
3Saw it coming [43 words]HudsolSep 3, 2011 20:14189072
1Turkey's new goals: restore the caliphate and lead the Middle East. [46 words]PSep 12, 2011 01:48189072
18Turkey is a turkey who's time has come. [157 words]Cherif El-AyoutySep 3, 2011 04:51189053
2Goodbye Ankara [44 words]David RoseSep 3, 2011 03:45189052
2Hello Ankara [180 words]Jay1Sep 2, 2011 23:52189049
2Time for the reckoning [36 words]Rebecca MouldsSep 2, 2011 22:37189048
Goodbye Ankara [301 words]Nelson D'SilvaSep 2, 2011 20:58189041
4Goodbye Ankara [68 words]Paul SeverienSep 2, 2011 20:14189039
3Turkey will be a test case [87 words]PrashantSep 5, 2011 02:21189039
3No more Turkey [10 words]RomanSep 2, 2011 20:02189038
9Turkey has fumbles the Israel-Turkey relations ball [154 words]NuritGSep 2, 2011 19:54189037
4about your article above [32 words]peyamiSep 2, 2011 19:52189036
4turkish ethnofascism [100 words]L. ManoharSep 5, 2011 11:30189036
Reply to Manohar [148 words]Kepha HorSep 6, 2011 20:15189036
1Ahh-Turkey, Turkey, Turkey -When Will They Ever Learn [241 words]M. ToveySep 7, 2011 18:50189036
11"Turkey ... a model of modernity and moderation for other Muslims to follow" [3934 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
IanusSep 8, 2011 11:41189036
10Modernity or modernized barbarity ? [783 words]IanusSep 11, 2011 15:01189036
1you are totally wrong [107 words]MAliSep 24, 2011 16:43189036
6Enemies and friends of barbarity [496 words]IanusSep 25, 2011 10:51189036
1after careful reading ... [660 words]M.AliSep 26, 2011 14:17189036
8The Skull Tower of Niš or what Turks mean by "love" and "humanity" [760 words]IanusSep 27, 2011 16:20189036
.. try to love [674 words]M.AliSep 28, 2011 03:59189036
1My Answer [103 words]Debanjan BanerjeeSep 28, 2011 10:59189036
6Anachronism as "history" [788 words]IanusSep 29, 2011 09:20189036
4Wolves and their "love" [232 words]IanusSep 29, 2011 10:26189036
1Truth sets one free [391 words]Debanjan BanerjeeSep 29, 2011 23:55189036
4Liars on truth [220 words]IanusOct 2, 2011 13:39189036
Dear Mr. Ianus [176 words]Debanjan BanerjeeOct 2, 2011 23:00189036
5The most important dates in human history 490 B.C., A.D. 717, A.D. 732 [867 words]IanusOct 4, 2011 15:32189036
Human History Vs Cosmic History [404 words]M. ToveyOct 12, 2011 11:40189036
ianus [149 words]Safa BalOct 15, 2011 17:28189036
5Atavistic Turks [249 words]IanusOct 15, 2011 20:21189036
Turkish Jews [703 words]BuyukAdamOct 22, 2011 11:04189036
1Turkey : A Nation in a different zone in a different time [36 words]jacob smithMay 24, 2012 01:39189036
2The happiness of following "the Turkish way of thinking and perception" [273 words]IanusMay 25, 2012 17:22189036
1The Sepharadic Jews of Suleiman the Magnificent used to be the majority of the Jews. Nowadays the Ashkenazi Jews are the majority... [524 words]Petros HouhoulisJan 23, 2014 19:46189036

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