This book tells the story of the Dönme; the descendents of Jews who resided in the Ottoman Empire and converted to Islam along with their messiah; Rabbi Shabbatai Tzevi; in the seventeenth century. For two centuries following their conversion; the Dönme were accepted as Muslims; and by the end of the nineteenth century rose to the top of Salonikan society. The Dönme helped transform Salonika into a cosmopolitan city; promoting the newest innovation in trade and finance; urban reform; and modern education. They eventually became the driving force behind the 1908 revolution that led to the overthrow of the Ottoman sultan and the establishment of a secular republic. To their proponents; the Dönme are enlightened secularists and Turkish nationalists who fought against the dark forces of superstition and religious obscurantism. To their opponents; they were simply crypto-Jews engaged in a plot to dissolve the Islamic empire. Both points of view assume the Dönme were anti-religious; whether couched as critique or praise. But it is time that we take these religious people seriously on their own terms. In the Ottoman Empire; the Dönme promoted morality; ethics; spirituality; and a syncretistic religion that reflected their origins at the intersection of Jewish Kabbalah and Islamic Sufism. This is the first book to tell their story; from their origins to their near total dissolution as they became secular Turks in the mid-twentieth century.
#677550 in Books Stanford University Press 1999-06-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .90 x 5.50l; .66 #File Name: 0804710309256 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A Traveler Sees Much as a Guest of an Upper Middle Class FamilyBy SearcherA traveler to Russia meets and is invited to be a house guest of a well to do family. As guest; he travels with the family head. For example there are fine dinners and business trips. Also; he is taken to the rougher and less seemly parts as he asks about them. This book will give you a slice through Russian culture and classes. To understand the tasks and family of Tsar Nicolas read further with Thirteen Years at the Russian Court [Paperback] Price: $21.83 Eligible for free shipping with Prime.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Daily life in Russia under the TsarBy AlmendrukoWell this is like a novel type book of some English burgeois living in old Russia. His stories are interesting; as he ventured out to see some situations under which millions of Russians lived in Moscow and St. Petersburg.If you like detailed history; by all means get it.I gained some insight of the Tsarist Russia on the early 1900's; and I owe it to Henry Troyat!!!27 of 28 people found the following review helpful. Extraordinary picture of pre-revolutionary RussiaBy Tracy RowanI have stacks of books about this era; and about Russia in general; but none of them give the flavor of the time and place quite so vividly as Troyat's narrative. He follows the adventures of a British businessman who is virtually adopted by a Russian family during his first visit to Moscow. The descriptions of family life; night life -- including the theater; the ballet; and restaurants and cabarets; of religion; and even of the streets; are filtered through the consciousness of a stranger; and so are more clearly described and; where necessary; explained than in books in which everyday life is more of a background to the rest of the narrative.If you're a student of Russian history; particularly the history of this particular era; this book is highly recommended. For writers who are researching the era; this is on the level of the Writer's Digest "Everyday Life..." series for information; and really indispensable. Even so; this is not some dry text. It's lively and occasionally amusing; and always fascinating.
