FROM PAST TO PRESENT: A SOCIOCULTURAL PERSPECTIVE ON JEWS OF URFA

ABSTRACT: The expulsion from Spain led to the Ottoman State becoming a peaceful refuge for Jewish communities. Over time, Ottoman Jewry evolved into one of the most culturally diverse religious minority groups and was widely dispersed throughout the State. Additionally, Jewish communities thrived in various Arab provinces and different regions of Anatolia. Notably, there were ancient Jewish settlements in the eastern part of the initial Ottoman State, which later became Turkey. The Jewish community of Urfa, residing in the eastern part of the country, was one of the oldest religious minority groups in the region. This study aims to thoroughly examine the historical background, social and cultural relationships, and the migration process of the Urfa Jewish Community, which transitioned from the eastern region of Turkey to settle in Israel. Furthermore, the study seeks to shed light on aspects of their lifestyle, religious beliefs, and interactions with other local groups and cultures within the multicultural environment of Urfa. This research has entailed anthropological fieldwork conducted in Israel between the years 2011-2012, with a focus on a socio-cultural perspective. Ultimately, the objective is to elevate the visibility of these historically overlooked local people of Urfa and bring attention to their unique cultural heritage within the academic discourse. Keywords: Jews, Ethnography, Urfa, Culture, Migration, Memory