Monography "Karaites - a native folk of Crimea"

V. I. Kefeli and E. I. Lebedeva. Karaites - a native folk of Crimea. - Simferopol, 2003. - 136 [IN RUSSIAN]

The book is dedicated to the life of the Crimean Karaites. The book describe the life of Karaites in the community, their religion and customs. Particular attention is given to the nomadic period of the Karaites life, to the structure of their community. The ways of surviving in the Steppe and in conditions of the mountain Crimea are discussed. Karaiteism as a separate religion was born in the Middle East at the end of the VIII century and then spread to other regions including Tavria and Khazaria. The history of Karaites was connected with Crimea for many centuries. Here still exist the middle eve cities of Karaites. The city of Solkhat was a starting point for the formation of the new communities: the Karaite Community in Luzk - Halich in 13th century and in Trakai in 14th century The main residence of the Crimean Karaites is Juft (Chufut) - Kale with the national Pantheon – cemetery "Balta Tyimez". Here in the mountain Crimea the Karaite community lived many centuries. In the museums of Crimea is possible to see the pictures of Karaite painters, the objects of home, art and wedding documents. At the streets of the Crimean cities you still can taste Karaite foods - kubete and jantyki. Authors write with the love about their small folk.

Language of publication: Russian. Extracts are written in English.
ISBN: 966-7348-02-4
Size: 150*210 mm
Cover: hard
Illustrations: black&white

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Contents

Introduction Karaites in the Crimea. Customs and religion. The main conception of the book

Chapter 1

Karaites in the Holy Step and in the Little Khazaria - Tavria.

Karaiteism as a religion. Karaites in the Holy Step and in the Little Khazaria - Tavria. Kuman roots in Karaite language - Codex Cumanicus. Conception of Karaites in the interpretation of different encyclopedias.

The first doctrine - Karaites believe in The Old Testament of the Bible - Torah. During the 12 - th centuries Karaites kept their main rule - nothing was change in their Book, only read it.

Chapter 2 Karaites customs, life as nomads, food.

Nomadics period of the Karaite life. Cult of the horse and rider, middle eve weapon, education of the soldier in the family. Dry food - the old methods of the food conservation. The splitting of Karaite community - formation of Halich and Trakai Communities. Karaiteism among the other religious Centers of Europe and Asia - Eurasia. The Pre - Mongolian period. Karaite symbols and petroglific. Mystic believing and fatal conception of Karaites - kesmet bolsa. Karaite house and house objects of life. The ancient travelers about Karaites.

The second Doctrine - The beginning of Karaite Etnas starts in the Holy Step, where Karaites got the rule of the nomads mode of life, formed their Turkish language but still preserved their Holy relation to Torah.

Chapter 3 Karaites in Kyrk - Yer and Mangup - Kale.

Caves as the place of karaits inhabit. Selection of the surviving the fittest. Big families - many children. Close or hermetic type of life. Religious ascetic type of life - wiping and crying.The cult of cemeteries in Karaite life. National Pantheon - Balta Tymez.Old pagan customs in the Karaite life. Stable customs of religion, old Torah Scrolls. Karaite grammar of the Hebrew language - 11 century from A. Firkovich collection - the treasure of Ancient Orient Serial, Russian Academy of Sciences publishers. Karaites in Bachchisarai. At the service of Crimea Khans. Karaites as the defenders of the Kyrk - Yer - Chufut Kale (Juft Kale).

The third Doctrine - Chufut (Juft) Cale and Balta Tyimez are the native holy places of Karaite history. Here Karaites lived many centuries and accepted Tatar Khans and Russian Tsars. Here proceeded in Karaite Kenasses the wedding and the Young Karaite families were born. In Kenases Karaites said fair - well to their relatives

Chapter 4 Karaites in Trakai and Halich

Karaites in the Great Lithuanian state and in the Poland - Rzech Pospolita. Luzk and Trakai. Military service.Karaites in the Ukrainian Zaporozska Sech. Karaites as protectors of the old Bible texts. Participation in the publication of Bible Edition in Nesvizh. Isaac ha Troki. Karaites kenasses in Vilnus and Trakai (Troki). Karaite museum in Trakai. Trakai Hahamim - S. Shapshal, S. Firkovich, M. Firkovichus.

The fourth Doctrine - Preserving of cultural treasures of their nation . Creation of the unique Karaite museum - the bases for the collection of the elements of the Cloth, home things and the resurrection of the cult of Karaites as nomads and soldiers

Chapter 5 Karaites in Geslev - Evpatoria

Evpatoria as religious and educational center of Karaites. Alexander high School for Karaites, Textbooks. I. Kasas as an author of the text books for Krim - tatar schools. Krym - Tatar encyclopedia about Karaites. Karaite National Library - Karai Bitigligi. Hahamims of the Crimea Karaites community - M. Sultanski - S. Pampulov - S. Shapshal. Evpatorian Encyclopedists - B. Eljashevich, S. Kushul. Karaites in the Great Patriotic War. Protection of Karaites against genocide by Karaite Hahamims. Pages from Black Book of Ehrenburg and Grossman - Karaites as savers of Jews.

The fifth Doctrine is to live in honor and peace with the community members. Keep in peace the messages of the old people. Help each other. Evaluate the holy places and treasures of Karaites. Protect kenases, manuscripts, shetars. Do not forget customs and teach Your children

Chapter 6 Karaites of Kafa - Theodosia.

Karaites of the South and East beach of Black Sea. Connection with the Ottoman Porta. Trade Theodosia Karaite communities Karaite settlement – Slobodka.

The sixth Doctrine is to live in peace with the other nations. Care their customs. Create big and strong families. Spend their days in work and prays.

Chapter 7 Karaites in Sebastopol.

Sebastopol foundation. Karaites during Crimean War. Karaites trade and business. Karaites during the Second Great War.. Post war activity.

The seventh Doctrine - Karaites protect their native land as soldiers. They are active antagonists of Nazi and Fascism.

Chapter 8 Karaites in Simferopol.

Krym AKO and its role in the Union of Karaites. Simferopol intellectuals. Families and dynasties. Solomon Krym in the last Russian Government. Tavric University. Resurrection of the Karaite Community in the last years. Painter M. Kasas in the Crimea State Museum.

The eight Doctrine is do not feel fear in the battle. Be brave. Protect native land Help the weakest and disables. Carry on the light of science not only for Yourself but for the nation and for all the the Humanity.

The main conception of the book

This book is dedicated to Karaites the native inhabitants of Crimea. During the period of the Early Middle Eve Karaites were nomads of the Holy Step and passed the period of the National formation during the period of the Khazar Kahanate. Historian have discussed whether Karaites are descended from Khazars or Coumans (Kypchaks). Kevin Brook (2001) considered the Karaite Language as part of the Turk. linguistic group - and refers it to the group of central - kypchak languages. Beside this language the same group refers the languages of Crimea Tartars, kumyks, Volga tartars (Bulgars), kara - kalpacs, kyrgiz and nogai. The same group contains also dead languages of coumans, pechenegs and Lithuanian tartars. Brook considers the Karaites as a national community that was formed later than the existence of the Khazar Kahanate. Since the nomadic period Karaites preserve in their oral language couman words, love the horses and activity. Since that time Karaites ate the dry and smoked food. During the period of Early Middle Eve Karaites preserved the community style of life with the Haham at the top. Haham is a spiritual Father of the Karaite Nation or ethnos, the Teacher of correct behavior and equal rights. Haham and his helpers - Hazzans preserved the purity of the Torah which is impossible to change or add to it anything, like New Testament (Christianity) or Talmud - Mishna (Judaism). Karaites preserved their rules and customs during the life in Crimes, in the Rocky mountains, fortresses and cave cities.

Since the 13 century part of the Karaite community migrated to the West Rus - to Luzk and Halich or to Trakai - The Great Lithuanian Dukedom (14 - th century). Both groups of Karaites which migrated from Crimea preserved their Turk. Language, Turk. Customs, although they lived many centuries in the non - Turk. states.

Thanks to their severe religious life Karaites brought up to now non - changed Torah scrolls and now they became the objects of the investigation in the whole world. Up to discovery of Coumran scripts Karaites manuscript were considered as the most ancient documents and texts.This is a real proud fact of the Crimea Karaites Community. In the Crimea up to now You can find the cave cities, were Karaites live many centuries, their ancient cemeteries, and the most old between them is Balta Timez - in the so called Iosofate Valley. The most recent Karate Religious and educational centers are Eupatoria , Theodosia - Kafa and Simferopol. In the capital of the Crimea - Simferopol Karate scientist Sloomon Krym and Russian Scientist Vladimir Vernadski founded Tauric University. Solomon Krym was the President of the last Russian Government. Many glorious and heroic pages were written by Karaites during the Wars of the XX century. This book was written by karate and for Karaites, as well as for those readers who are interested about Karaites as an ancient folk of the Crimea.

List of the pictures (pages)

  1. Old Torah scrolls (4)
  2. Kenasa – house for praying in the Crimea mountains - Cufut - Kale, and Trakai (5)
  3. Trakai castle (7)
  4. Old objects and crafts of the Karaite house(20)
  5. Crimean Karaite lamb hut
  6. Insignia Karaite’s communities - Crimean and Trakai
  7. Karaite among the sheep herds (32)
  8. Rock relief (39)
  9. Steps to the subterranean sphere in the fortress (well) - 41
  10. Discovered coins (43)
  11. Photo of monuments on Balta – Tiymez (45)
  12. General view of Chufut – Kale (old post card) - 49
  13. Karaite Scholar Abraham Firkovich(52)
  14. Brothers Pigit at their shelter - cave (From the Journal Karaite Life, 2, Moscow, 1911(53)
  15. Karaite Haham Seraya Shapshal, 20 century (54)
  16. Prof A. Dubinski reading the pray at Shapshal’s grave (56)
  17. General view of the Mangup - Cale (from the book E. Markov, Crimea stories, 1902). - 58
  18. Karaites cemetery in Halitch (60)
  19. Karaite’s kenasa (62)
  20. The celebration of the 600 anniversary of coming the Karaites in Lithuania(64 - 65)
  21. Shishman country house in Evpatoria (66)
  22. Karaite street in Evpatoria (67)
  23. Entrance to the kenasa yard in Yevpatoria (67)
  24. The monument dedicated to Russian Czar Alexandr the First in the Yard of Crimea Kenases - on the right - the Big Kenasa, on the left - Minor Kenasa,(69)
  25. Samoilovich house in Thodosia and Karaite fountain, 17 century(86)
  26. The tomb of V. Stamboli. His former country house, pictured byB. Taimaz (85)
  27. Country houses of Karaites. Pictured by B. Taimaz (91)
  28. Solomon Krym - the Prime Minister of the last Russian Government in the Crimea, the outstanding specialist in agronomy (92)
  29. Members of Karaite Club in Theodosia(93)
  30. C, O. Kefeli - Sebastopol Mayor. Period of the Crimean War, 19 century (96)
  31. The Younger generation of S. Kefeli family, their house in Sebastopol and Plant for caned products in Balaklava(100 - 101)
  32. Karaite Kenasa in Sebastopol (102)
  33. The last hazzan of Sebastopol – Tovii Levi - Bobovich(103)
  34. Conference of Karaites in Sevastopol, 1931 (105)
  35. Simferopol Kenasa(112)
  36. Simferopol. The boy Chorus conducted by the Chazzan B.S. Eljashevich (113)
  37. The Head leaders of the Krym OKO - Union of Karaites Communities (116)
  38. Bolek ‘s Partzan team - monument – Second World War (119)
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