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Sociology
Sociology of Race and Ethnicity

Turkish Jews Perspectives on Israel

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2019, Jewish studies and Israel studies in the twenty-first century

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Abstract

Turkish Jews' Perspectives on Israel Jews were one of the most populous non-Muslim minority groups of Istanbul in the years when the Turkish Republic was founded and historically had constituted a very important part of the city's culture, daily life and class structure. Today, they have a population of approximately 15,00 people in Turkey. i More than 95% of this population lives in Istanbul. Turkish Jews have lost the largest part of their population due to the large scale immigration to Israel after its establishment in 1948. The Jewish community continued to shrink demographically as a result of continued immigration spread over the years due to the pressure and discrimination Jews suffered as a minority or due to economic and individual reasons. ii The community is 96% Sephardi. Turkey's Jewish community has been shrinking steadily in Istanbul urban spaces in recent years because of decreasing number of births, aging demographics, mixed marriages and also migration to various parts of the world, but primarily to Israel due to the political, social and economic crisis the country has been going through in the last four years. From January 2018 until June 2018, 70 deaths, but only 10 births occurred in the Istanbul Jewish community.

Key takeaways
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  1. Turkish Jews' population in Turkey is approximately 15,000, primarily residing in Istanbul.
  2. Over 95% of Turkish Jews are Sephardi, with significant demographic decline due to immigration.
  3. Recent years saw increased Aliyah among young, educated Turkish Jews due to socio-political crises.
  4. Rising anti-Semitism in Turkey has led to heightened anxiety and migration considerations among the Jewish community.
  5. The study aims to explore Turkish Jews' complex relationship with Israel and their citizenship practices.

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Related topics

  • Ethnic Studies
  • Jewish Studies
  • Israel Studies
  • Minority Studies
  • Ethnic and Racial Studies
  • Modern Jewish History
  • Turkish Jews
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