AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH FRIENDS OF TURKEY - EDITORIAL

Sephardic House ^ | N/A | N/A

[a_Turk]

The recent strengthening of relations between Turkey and Israel has been defined by some commentators as unusual.

If those commentators had given themselves the opportunity to read up on their history, they would have found out that relations between the Turks and the Jews go back more than 500 years.

We Sephardim, the descendants of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews, take such closeness for granted, because our ancestors have lived it and we are practicing it today in this country and around the world.

The convergence of views between the Turkish nation and the Sephardim dates back to our settlement in the Ottoman Empire after our expulsion from the Iberian Peninsula in 1492.

Aside from the proverbial generosity and cordiality of the Turkish people, who have opened their doors to many refugees throughout the ages, the Ottoman Empire, at an important juncture in its history, was presented with the opportunity to receive into its midst a well educated, industrious and faithful population.

Sultan Beyazid II was smart enough to recognize such an opportunity, which gave to the Ottoman Empire in the years to come, the diplomats, international traders, doctors, artisans, civil servants and engineers it needed to consolidate its victories. Above all he was smart enough to realize that his kindness in opening the doors of his Empire to the persecuted religious refugees, would forever after be remembered with gratitude by their descendants.

Not only did the Ottoman Empire acquire a diligent minority but above all it acquired a faithful one that would never betray the trust that Beyazid had in the Sephardim when he invited them in.

That trust that we both, Turks and Sephardim, take for granted has been nurtured by over 500 years of living peacefully together side by side. At times, it went through periods of upheaval and hurtful misunderstandings which is not uncommon when a small minority resides within an ethnically, religiously and linguistically different majority.

That trust that basically underlies the relations between Turks and Sephardim throughout the ages has never faltered.

We view therefore the recent increase of cooperation between Turkey and Israel as a continuation of the trust that Beyazid put on us when he welcomed the Sephardim into the Ottoman Empire. The only difference is that this trust is being extended by the Turkish Republic to the State of Israel and to all the Jewish people, Sephardim, Mizrahim and Ashkenazim.

We can always talk about the bad neighborhood in which the two countries have chosen to nurture their democracies, the only ones in the Middle East, but geography cannot be chosen; it is there. Neither can one's neighbors; they are there whether we like it or not.

Given those constraints of neighborhood and geography, it stands to reason that those two democracies would want to shore up their existence and enter into close cooperation. It would be foolish not do so.

We Sephardim may have a claim to prior knowledge of the Turkish character and take it for granted that we are friends and allies, having 500 years of common history to fall back upon.

And this is the reason why the American Association of Jewish Friends of Turkey was founded, to show to the American people, Jews and non-Jews alike, that there is a basic historical precedent for strong friendship between Turks and Jews, a friendship that comes from the heart as much as from the head.

To receive a complimentary copy of the NEWSLETTER of the AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH FRIENDS OF TURKEY, send your postal address to our E-Mail at:

aajft@aol.com

[a_Turk]

[a_Turk]

ping.

[labard1]

Heartfelt thanks for your post, Turk.

[a_Turk]

:)

[yonif]

Thanks for the ping.

[Criminal Number 18F]

A most remarkable story, and one of which I was unaware. Thank you.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[Criminal Number 18F]

A most remarkable story, and one of which I was unaware. Thank you.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[anotherview]

My maternal grandfather's family fled Spain at the time of the inquisition but settled in Germany. My grandfather still had Sephardic features. He looked a lot like a pudgier Anwar Sadat.

The divide between Sephardim and Ashkenazim is pretty artificial now, though some differences remain. I've found all Israelis are welcome in Turkey, including those with European features such as myself. The Turkish people are warm and hospitable.

I find it very disturbing when some on Free Republic preach hatred towards all Muslims, including Turks. IME the attitude of the Turkish people is very different found in most Arab countries. I have been in some Arab countries on business on an American passport. I was most uncomfortable there. I was not at all uncomfortable in Turkey.

[a_Turk]

The Freepers who target Turkey with their hate are under the influence of the following ideology, and are using the current state of international affairs to influence their Christian "brothers and sisters."


Greek "Megali-Idea" Dreams on Turkish Lands

The word content "Megali-Idea" means "Great Idea."According to this idea and the principles, Istanbul, which was conquered by Fatih the Conquerer in 1453, will be taken back, Greece, Crete, Rodhos, Cyprus, Anatolia will be invaded, Greeks will go up to Egypt as Alexander the Great had done it before and a Hellene Empire called Byzantum will be established.

The capital of this empire will be Istanbul where Greeks still call "Constatinopole".

This content was first used by a Greek called Rigas Ferreros.According to his idea, he had prepared the first "Megali-Idea" map between 1791-1796 and published in Bukresh in 1796.Greek Orthodox Church and Greek Orthodox Patriarchate which is still in Istanbul had taken the responsibility on for teaching this idea to new generations. It is undeniable that Greek Orthodox church had exploited the tolerance of Ottoman Empire about religions and applied such actions in order to reach his goals.For example, in 1754 Ottoman Sultan had publicated a decree that Greek Arcbishop is the second politic and influential person of the island in Cyprus.After his date, Arcbishop has been called as "ETNARH" which means "National Leader".

As a result Greek rebellion emerged in Greece in 1821 and Greeks had got their independence and they had begun to take some actions in order to reach "Megali-Idea".Greeks succeeded to invade Crete, Rodhos, 12 Islands and the other Agean Islands.Izmir and Western Anatolia was invaded by Greek Troops with the support of Britain, France, Russia on 15 May 1919.After 3 years on 9 May 1922 Greek Armies lost the war against Turkish Armies with the leading of Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK and 3-years-occupation had finished.Greeks call this defeat as "BIG DESTRUCTION".Again in 1974 ENOSIS ( annexiation of Cyprus to Greece) was prevented by Turkish Intervention, as a Guarantor state, in accordances with the legal rights which had been given by Treaty of London and Zurich.ENOSIS was the Cyprus part of Megali-Idea.

It has to be stressed that Western Countries-esp. Britain and Czar Russia- have always supported Greece in such actions against Turkey in order to provide her reach "Megali-Idea."

[anotherview]

It is not surprising that Christians and Jews are on opposite sides on this issue. At the same time Christian nations were continuing to fight the expanding Turkish empire the Jews were finding refuge from persecution in Christian Europe in that self-same Turkish empire. The conflict between the Turks and some in Europe who were on the frontlines of that battle (i.e.: Greeks, Macedonians, and Serbs) continue to this day.

Greece has a long history of anti-Semitism which we've seen expressed again in recent days and reported here on Free Republic. Greece has been strongly anti-Israel for years. Meanwhile Turkey and Israel have enjoyed close relations since Israel was first created, it was the Ottoman Turks who approved Zionist immigration into what would become Israel in the latter part of the 19th century, and Israel and Turkey remain strong military allies with a strong commercial relationship as well.

I think most Americans, who are from European stock, aren't aware of the history between Turks and Jews, including recent history between Israel and Turkey. It is this history what makes the attacks in Istanbul so shocking both for Israelis and Turks. Nobody should be surprised that Israeli aid in the wake of the attack is en route to Istanbul, nor should anyone be surprise that Israeli Foreign Minister Shalom is on his way to Ankara.

[a_Turk]

This may answer your question..

[a_Turk]

ping.

[eleni121]

I find it very disturbing when some on Free Republic preach hatred towards all Muslims, including Turks.

Truth hurts does it?

Just imagine how you would feel if a Greek or Armenian or Assyrian Christian were to tell you that his ancestors were victims of muslim turk genocide? Would you be as disturbed or as distressed as you are about the Jewish genocide at the hands of the Nazis?

Imagine - the Christians have been at the mercy of the cruelty of the Muslim Turks for centuries...read Bat Ye'or when you get the chance.

[a_Turk]

Merhaba :)

[a_Turk]

ping

[blam]

More that I didn't know. Thanks for the info.

[SedVictaCatoni]

Interesting tidbit: The Allied Powers worked out a plan for splitting up Turkey (that is, the remaining Anatolian part of the Ottoman Empire) after World War One, just as they did the Turks' Arabian possessions.

The United States was given Istanbul, the Bosporus, and the area around the Sea of Marmara, because no other European power could be trusted with it!

As events turned out, we never took possession.

[a_Turk]

Turkey, Israel, and the USA have never fired shots at each other.

We came close with Col. Mayville's bag trick in northern Iraq though. Wonder if he knew the magnitude of his actions. It was definitely unprecented in our relationship.

[a_Turk]

Very welcome..