Understanding a Community: Evaluation of the Salonika Jewish Community during 18th and19thCentury

İhsan Turhan

Article Details

Understanding a Community: Evaluation of the Salonika Jewish Community during 18th and19thCentury

Authors:

İhsan Turhan

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Tarihsel Çalışmalar (Diğer)

Journal:

Ankara Anadolu ve Rumeli Araştırmaları Dergisi Vol.4 Issue 8, pp.125-146

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001307469

pISSN:

2717-9052

Keywords:

Abstract:

 For Jews Salonica was a symbol for economic prosperity and religious education. Since the 15th century the city has been one of the most important centers for Jews by hosting religious education institutions like Talmud Tora HaGadol or various Yeshivas and also by operating as part of a developed trade network. The Sephardi Jews who settled in Salonica after their expulsion of Spain in 1492 brought up to date print, textile technology with them and contributed to economical and cultural wealth. This flourish which began in 15th century lasted until the end of 17th century. During the 18th century trade activities were damaged and began to shift to Izmir due to wars and natural disasters like earthquakes, fires and the plague. This shift in trade connections induced a severe decrease of population in Salonica. While some of the Jews choose to migrate during this century the ones who stayed gained their lives by tobacco trade and textile manufacture. Together with the settling of the families like Allantini and Fernandez families in the last quarter of 18th century the city revived economically and attained a modern character, also on account of starting municipalization. An additional factors that contributed to the modernization of Salonica was the foundation of Alliance Israelite Universelle in the second half of 19th century in France. The Alliance opened modern educational institutes in cities with big Jewish populations in the Middle East, the Balkans and especially in Salonica in order to modernize and secularaise fellow believers as well as to foster the development of a generation of European, well educated and conscious generation. The aim of this research is to investigate the life and phases of development of Jewish Communities in Salonica during 18th  19th century and their contributions to economics, culture and politics of the Ottoman Empire.

 For Jews Salonica was a symbol for economic prosperity and religious education. Since the 15th century the city has been one of the most important centers for Jews by hosting religious education institutions like Talmud Tora HaGadol or various Yeshivas and also by operating as part of a developed trade network. The Sephardi Jews who settled in Salonica after their expulsion of Spain in 1492 brought up to date print, textile technology with them and contributed to economical and cultural wealth. This flourish which began in 15th century lasted until the end of 17th century. During the 18th century trade activities were damaged and began to shift to Izmir due to wars and natural disasters like earthquakes, fires and the plague. This shift in trade connections induced a severe decrease of population in Salonica. While some of the Jews choose to migrate during this century the ones who stayed gained their lives by tobacco trade and textile manufacture. Together with the settling of the families like Allantini and Fernandez families in the last quarter of 18th century the city revived economically and attained a modern character, also on account of starting municipalization. An additional factors that contributed to the modernization of Salonica was the foundation of Alliance Israelite Universelle in the second half of 19th century in France. The Alliance opened modern educational institutes in cities with big Jewish populations in the Middle East, the Balkans and especially in Salonica in order to modernize and secularaise fellow believers as well as to foster the development of a generation of European, well educated and conscious generation. The aim of this research is to investigate the life and phases of development of Jewish Communities in Salonica during 18th  19th century and their contributions to economics, culture and politics of the Ottoman Empire.

 For Jews Salonica was a symbol for economic prosperity and religious education. Since the 15th century the city has been one of the most important centers for Jews by hosting religious education institutions like Talmud Tora HaGadol or various Yeshivas and also by operating as part of a developed trade network. The Sephardi Jews who settled in Salonica after their expulsion of Spain in 1492 brought up to date print, textile technology with them and contributed to economical and cultural wealth. This flourish which began in 15th century lasted until the end of 17th century. During the 18th century trade activities were damaged and began to shift to Izmir due to wars and natural disasters like earthquakes, fires and the plague. This shift in trade connections induced a severe decrease of population in Salonica. While some of the Jews choose to migrate during this century the ones who stayed gained their lives by tobacco trade and textile manufacture. Together with the settling of the families like Allantini and Fernandez families in the last quarter of 18th century the city revived economically and attained a modern character, also on account of starting municipalization. An additional factors that contributed to the modernization of Salonica was the foundation of Alliance Israelite Universelle in the second half of 19th century in France. The Alliance opened modern educational institutes in cities with big Jewish populations in the Middle East, the Balkans and especially in Salonica in order to modernize and secularaise fellow believers as well as to foster the development of a generation of European, well educated and conscious generation. The aim of this research is to investigate the life and phases of development of Jewish Communities in Salonica during 18th  19th century and their contributions to economics, culture and politics of the Ottoman Empire.

 Yahudiler için Selanik, ekonomik canlılığın ve dini eğitimin sembolüydü. Şehir gerek 15.yüzyıldan itibaren sahip olduğu dini eğitim merkezi olan Talmud Tora Hagadolu ve Yeşivalarıyla gerek gelişmiş uluslararası ticaret ağıyla önemli Yahudi merkezleri arasındaydı. Liman ticaretinin yanı sıra 1492 sonrasında İspanyadan kovularak şehre yerleşen Sefarad Yahudileri matbaa ve dönemin güncel dokuma teknolojisi gibi bilgileri de yanlarında getirmişler, kültürel ve ekonomik açıdan Selanikte zenginleşmeyi sağlamışlardır. 15. yüzyılda başlayan bu zenginleşme 17. yüzyılın sonuna kadar artarak devam etmiştir. 18. yüzyılda meydana gelen savaşlar, deprem, yangın ve veba gibi doğal afetlerden dolayı şehir ekonomisi darbe almış, ticaret İzmir ve çevresine kaymıştır. Bu kayma Selanik ticaretinde ciddi oranda bir düşüşe sebebiyet vermiştir. Bu yüzyılda Yahudilerin bir kısmı göç etmeyi tercih etmişler, şehirde kalanlar ise tütüncülük ve dokumacılıkla hayatlarını idame ettirmişlerdir. 18. yüzyılın son çeyreğinde şehre yerleşen Allantini ve Fernandez aileleri gibi zengin ailelerin de etkisiyle şehir 19. yüzyılda tekrar ekonomik açıdan canlanmış, başlayan belediyecilik faaliyetleriyle modern bir çehre kazanmıştır. Selanikin modernleşmesinde 19. yüzyılın ikinci yarısında Fransa merkezli olarak kurulan Alliance Israilite Universelle Evrensel Yahudi Birliği de etkili olmuştur. Alliance, Ortadoğu ve Balkanlarda yaşayan dindaşlarının modernleşmesi ve laikleşmesi için başta Selanik olmak üzere Yahudilerin yoğun olarak yaşadığı şehirlerde modern tarzda eğitim kurumları açarak Yahudi cemaatinin Avrupai tarzda eğitim almış, çağdaş ve bilinçli nesiller yetişmesini sağlamaya çalışmıştır. Bu çalışma ile hedeflenen, 18. ve 19. yüzyıllarda Selanik Yahudi cemaatinin gelişim evrelerinin incelenmesi ve bunun Osmanlı İmparatorluğuna ekonomik, kültürel ve siyasi anlamda katkılarını ortaya çıkarmaktır.

Article Details

Understanding a Community: Evaluation of the Salonika Jewish Community during 18th and19thCentury

Authors:

İhsan Turhan

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Tarihsel Çalışmalar (Diğer)

Journal:

Ankara Anadolu ve Rumeli Araştırmaları Dergisi Vol.4 Issue 8, pp.125-146

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001307469

pISSN:

2717-9052

Ottoman Jews

Salonika

18th and 19th CenturiesOsmanlı Yahudileri

Selanik

18. ve 19. Yüzyıllar

Issues

Article Details

Understanding a Community: Evaluation of the Salonika Jewish Community during 18th and19thCentury

Authors: İhsan Turhan

Publisher: Ankara University

Main Topics: Tarihsel Çalışmalar (Diğer)

Journal: Ankara Anadolu ve Rumeli Araştırmaları Dergisi Vol.4 Issue 8, pp.125-146

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2023

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001307469

pISSN: 2717-9052

Ottoman Jews

Salonika

18th and 19th CenturiesOsmanlı Yahudileri

Selanik

18. ve 19. Yüzyıllar

Issues

Authors:

İhsan Turhan

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Tarihsel Çalışmalar (Diğer)

Journal:

Ankara Anadolu ve Rumeli Araştırmaları Dergisi Vol.4 Issue 8, pp.125-146

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001307469

pISSN:

2717-9052