A Karakaş Speaks Interviews With a Member of Turkey s Crypto Judaic Dönme Community — C Mehmet Kösemen

Since the late 20 th 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interested in this curious chapter at the intersection of Ottoman Judaic and contemporary Turkish history Previously unpublished intra communal religious documents calendars and partial genealogies of the Karakaş sect are also reproduced in this volume