Common question - Many ask what were the relations between Jews and Arabs before the creation of Israel. This series asks those who lived through that period their memories. Here's interview with an Israeli Jew whose parents were encouraged to migrate to Israel 1948. [video=youtube;S9Mpn_1Q3J0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9Mpn_1Q3J0[/video] My ears popped up when he said that he often slept in te house of Muslims. Hmmm. It reminds of something I've often heard from Muslim Arabs. an advice to other Muslims travellers which was : " Eat in the house of Jews (Kosher ) - but sleep in the house of the Christian ": Hmmm.. "
A Haven for Sephardic Jews Sultan Bayazid II's offer of refuge gave new hope to the persecuted Sephardim. In 1492, the Sultan ordered the governors of the provinces of the Ottoman Empire "not to refuse the Jews entry or cause them difficulties, but to receive them cordially."6 According to Bernard Lewis, "the Jews were not just permitted to settle in the Ottoman lands, but were encouraged, assisted and sometimes even compelled". Immanual Aboab attributes to Bayazid II the famous remark that "the Catholic monarch Ferdinand was wrongly considered as wise, since he impoverished Spain by the expulsion of the Jews, and enriched Turkey."7 The arrival of the Sephardim altered the structure of the community and the original group of Romaniote Jews was totally absorbed. Menorah with Crescent & Star (Izmir) These Jews settled in various Ottoman cities, such as Salonika, but it was not until the late sixteenth century that they moved to Smyrna, which has become a major port city. The arrival of the Sephardim altered the structure of the community and the original group of Romaniote Jews (descendants of Greek-speaking Jews) was totally absorbed. Over the centuries an increasing number of European Jews, escaping persecution in their native countries, settled in the Ottoman Empire. In 1537 the Jews expelled from Apulia (Italy) after the city fell under Papal control, in 1542 those expelled from Bohemia by King Ferdinand found a safe haven in the Ottoman Empire.8 In March of 1556, Sultan Suleyman "the Magnificent" wrote a letter to Pope Paul IV asking for the immediate release of the Ancona Marranos, which he declared to be Ottoman citizens. The Pope had no other alternative than to release them, the Ottoman Empire being the "Super Power" of those days. By 1477, Jewish households in Istanbul numbered 1,647 or 11% of the total. Half a century later, 8,070 Jewish houses were listed in the city. The Life of Ottoman Jewry For 300 years following the expulsion, the prosperity and creativity of the Ottoman Jews rivaled that of the Golden Age of Spain. Four Turkish cities: Istanbul, Izmir, Safed and Salonica became the centers of Sephardic Jewry. The Tu BShevat seder was developed in Izmir in the seventeenth century. The creator may have been Shabetai Zvi, the pseudo Messiah and founder of the Sabbatean movement. In reaction to Zvi, Izmir's Jews withdrew from any secular pursuits. Jews DoctorPrayerLeft: Jewish Doctor - 1568 (Woodcut from "Nicolay de Nicolay", page 185); Right: Prayer offered for the Victory of Turkish armies in the war against Russia with the presence of the Sadrazam (Prime Minister) Ibrahim Edhem Pasha Ahrida Synagogue (London Illustrated News 9.6.1877) Most of the court physicians were Jews: Hakim Yakoub, Joseph and Moshe Hamon, Daniel Fonseca, Gabriel Buenauentura to name only very few ones. One of the most significant innovations that Jews brought to the Ottoman Empire was the printing press. In 1493, only one year after their expulsion from Spain, David & Samuel ibn Nahmias established the first Hebrew printing press in Istanbul. Ottoman diplomacy was often carried out by Jews. Joseph Nasi, appointed the Duke of Naxos, was the former Portuguese Marrano Joao Miques. Another Portuguese Marrano, Aluaro Mandes, was named Duke of Mytylene in return of his diplomatic services to the Sultan. Salamon ben Nathan Eskenazi arranged the first diplomatic ties with the British Empire. Jewish women such as Dona Gracia Mendes Nasi "La Seniora" and Esther Kyra exercised considerable influence in the Court. In the free air of the Ottoman Empire, Jewish literature flourished. Joseph Caro compiled the Shulkhan Arukh. Shlomo haLevi Alkabes composed the Lekhah Dodi a hymn which welcomes the Sabbath according to both Sephardic and Ashkenazi ritual. Jacob Culi began to write the famous MeAm Loez. Rabbi Abraham ben Isaac Assa became known as the father of Judeo-Spanish literature. On October 27, 1840 Sultan Abdulmecid issued his famous ferman concerning the "Blood Libel Accusation" saying: "... and for the love we bear to our subjects, we cannot permit the Jewish nation, whose innocence for the crime alleged against them is evident, to be worried and tormented as a consequence of accusations which have not the least foundation in truth...". Under Ottoman tradition, each non-Moslem religious community was responsible for its own institutions, including schools. In the early 19th century, Abraham de Camondo established a modern school, "La Escola", causing a serious conflict between conservative and secular rabbis which was only settled by the intervention of Sultan Abdulaziz in 1864. The same year the Takkanot haKehilla (By-laws of the Jewish Community) was published, defining the structure of the Jewish community. Equality & A New Republic Efforts at reform of the Ottoman Empire led to the proclamation of the Hatti Humayun in 1856, which made all Ottoman citizens, Moslem and non-Moslem alike, equal under the law. As a result, leadership of the community began to shift away from the religious figure to secular forces. World War I brought to an end the glory of the Ottoman Empire. In its place rose the young Turkish Republic. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was elected president, the Caliphate was abolished and a secular constitution was adopted. "Etz ha-Hayim" Synagogue before it burnt in 1941. Visit of late Chief Rabbi Haim Bedjerano. (Ortakoy - Istanbul) Recognized in 1923 by the Treaty of Lausanne as a fully independent state within its present-day borders, Turkey accorded minority rights to the three principal non-Moslem religious minorities and permitted them to carry on with their own schools, social institutions and funds. In 1926, on the eve of Turkey's adoption of the Swiss Civil Code, the Jewish Community renounced its minority status on personal rights. 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; Consul Generals Fikret Sefik Ozdoganci, Bedii Arbel, Selahattin Ulkumen; Consuls Namik Kemal Yolga and Necdet Kent, just to name a few, spent all their efforts to save from the Holocaust the Turkish Jews in those countries, and succeeded.9 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 dogmatism, intolerance and persecution. Turkish Jewry Today Left: "Rimonim" with Crescent & Star (Izmir - Istanbul). Right: House bearing both "Magen David" and Moslem "Mashallah" (Galata - Istanbul) The present (2013) size of Jewish Community is estimated at around 17,400, out of a total population of 70 million. The vast majority, about 18,000, live in Istanbul, with a community of about 1,500 in Izmir and other smaller groups located in Adana, Ankara, Bursa, Canakkale, Iskenderun and Kirklareli. Sephardis make up 96% of the Community, with Ashkenazis accounting for the rest. There are about 100 Karaites, an independent group that does not accept the authority of the Chief Rabbi. Turkish Jews are legally represented, as they have been for many centuries, by the Hahambasi, the Chief Rabbi. Rav David Asseo, Chief Rabbi since his election in 1961, is assisted by a religious Council made up of a Rosh Bet Din and three Hahamim. Thirty-five Lay Counselors look after the secular affairs of the Community and an Executive Committee of fourteen, the president of which must be elected from among the Lay Counselors, runs the daily affairs. Synagogues are classified as religious foundations (Vakifs). There are 23 active synagogues in Turkey, 16 of which are in Istanbul . Three are in service in holiday resorts, during summer only. Some of them are very old, especially Ahrida Synagogue in the Balat area, which dates from middle15th century. The 15th and 16th century Haskoy and Kuzguncuk cemeteries in Istanbul are still in use today. Jewish Education, Language & Social Life Left: Turkish Crescent & Star on the top of the Ehal "La Sinyora" Synagogue (Izmir). Right: Ankara Synagogue Most Jewish children attend state schools or private Turkish or foreign language schools, and many are enrolled in the universities. Additionally, the Community maintains a primary school for 300 pupils and a secondary school for 250 students in Istanbul, and an elementary school for 140 children in Izmir. Turkish is the language of instruction, and Hebrew is taught 35 hours a week. While younger Jews speak Turkish as their native language, the older generation is more at home speaking in French or Judeo-Spanish (Ladino). A conscious effort is spent to preserve the heritage of Judeo-Spanish For long years Turkish Jews have had their own press. La Buena Esperansa and La Puerta dew Oriente started in Izmir in 1843 and Or Israel started to be published in Istanbul ten years later. Now one newspaper survives: SALOM (Shalom), an eight-page weekly with seven pages written in Turkish and one in Judeo-Spanish. A Community Calendar (Halila) is published by the Chief Rabbinate every year and distributed free of charge to all those who have paid their dues (Kisba) to the welfare bodies. The Community cannot levy taxes, but can request donations. Two Jewish hospitals the 98 bed Or haHayim in Istanbul and the 22 bed Karatas Hospital in Izmir serve the Community. Both cities have homes for the aged (Moshav Zekinim) and several welfare associations to assist the poor, the sick, the needy children and orphans. Social clubs containing libraries, cultural and sports facilities, discotheques give young people the chance to meet. The Jewish Community is a very small group in Turkey today, considering that the total population which is 99% Moslem exceeds 57 million. But in spite of their number the Jews have distinguished themselves. There are several Jewish professors teaching at the universities of Istanbul and Ankara, and many Turkish Jews are prominent in business, industry and the liberal professions. http://http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Turkey.html
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=etXAm-OylQQ&desktop_uri=/watch?v=etXAm-OylQQ This video among others explain all we need to know. It also coincides with Max Blumenthal's research. Pretty damning unless you don't want to believe it which I know there are many who don't and won't.
That's your so called "facts" ??? Some old guy ( looks to be under some narkotic influence )... is your "facts" ? Didn't they teach you in Arab schools about the Jewish Nakba ?? 850000 Jews were EXPELLED from their homes in Arab and Muslim countries !! Period. When you want to deal with the Palestinian "issue"( which is a wall of lies and propaganda ), close first the other one.
Once again - I'm not an Arab nor Muslim. Watch - listen and learn that is -if you're capable of learning anything other than yr indoctrination from Jew school http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miko_Peled An honest Israeli Jew tells the Real Truth about Israel [video=youtube;etXAm-OylQQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etXAm-OylQQ&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DetX Am-OylQQ&app=desktop[/video] ----- btw - Separdim/Mizrahim (Arab Jews ) found refuge + lived unmolested alongside in Arab + other Muslim majority lands i.e. Iran/Turkey etc., for 1500 years before Zionisms .It was the Zionists who encouraged/enticed / fomented mischief making it difficult for Jews from Arab lands to continue staying in the lands of their birth. Chaim Wiezman with Emir Feisal. .....
It looks like Arabs + other Muslims , throughout North Africa - the Balkans - Middle East - Turkey - Iran and beyond , have done far more for Jews in general - than ZioNastie Jews are prepared to - admit -. (wink) ....
Next time a Jew mentions Mufti Al-Husseini show this Documentary on how Arabs hid Jews during WWII in Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco' [video=youtube;0JxL1idcI8o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JxL1idcI8o[/video] ....
I will but just making the observation that we are taling apples and oranges here as "Haj Mohammed Effendi Amin el-Husseini (Arabic: محمد أمين الحسيني‎, Muhammad Amin al-Husayni;[1] c. 1897;[2][3]–4 July 1974) was a Palestinian Arab nationalist and Muslim leader in Mandatory Palestine." not Moroccan, Algerian or Tunisian.
Tell that to the Jewish Banu tribes who Mohammad personally slaughter and ethnically cleansed from Arabia. Historically and presently the Jews are hated and persecuted by the Muslims.
