The Dönmeh Jews and the Ottoman Empire: From Containment to Rebellion

Abstract

Abstract:

This study examines the Dönmeh Jewish community and its relationship with the Ottoman Empire, tracing its origins and historical development since its emergence in the seventeenth century under the leadership of Sabbatai Zevi. Following his trial, Zevi publicly embraced Islam, and a group of his followers subsequently did the same while continuing to preserve their own religious beliefs and practices. This development led to the emergence of a community with a distinct religious and social identity within Ottoman society.

The study reviews the settlement of the Dönmeh in major Ottoman cities, particularly Izmir, Salonica, and Istanbul, and examines their role in commercial and economic activities. At the same time, they maintained their own educational and social institutions, which contributed to preserving their cultural and religious identity. The research also discusses the nature of their relationship with the Ottoman state and how it evolved from a policy of containment and surveillance to the expansion of the influence of some of its members in the fields of administration, commerce, and education.

Furthermore, the study explores the relationship between certain Dönmeh figures and the Committee of Union and Progress, as well as their role in the political transformations that took place during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It also reviews the views presented in historical sources regarding the extent of their influence on the events preceding the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the abolition of the Islamic Caliphate.

The research adopts the historical-analytical method by examining and analyzing historical accounts within their political and social context. It aims to provide a scholarly understanding of the nature of the Dönmeh community, its position within Ottoman society, and its impact on selected political and intellectual developments during the final stages of Ottoman history.