| Abstract [eng] |
The process of formation of self-identity of East European Karaites, which started in the middle of 19th century and lasted until the 5th decade of the 20th century is the unique phenomenon not only in Jewish community but among all nations of the world. Despite this, its peculiarities ant controversies are scantily discussed in historiography. Scholars are concentrating mainly on rejection of Hebraic elements but leaving the process of forming of Karaites self-identity aside as well as building new ideology based on particular symbols. Due to this the object of this paper – formation of East European Karaite self-identity – should discuss the processes that are not yet investigated in the historiography. These processes had covered a wide range of community’s activities – self-organization, religious traditions, cultural activities and even relations with predominant society. The analysis of formation of the modern Karaite self-identity is based on non published sources, which, together with the research of historiography was examined by using analytic, statistic, comparative methods and interpretation. While doing a research several goals were achieved: the main reasons that influenced the formation of the Karaite self-identity was founded, most influential personalities and their activities were discussed, the main features of their ideology, its spread and influence were researched; the process of formation of modern Karaite self-identity was discovered. After doing a research we can conclude that the main reasons that inspired the formation of Karaite self-identity was economics but not less important was the influence of nationalism that was spreading in Europe at that time. The process took shape by eliminating Hebraic elements from Karaite religious tradition, language and understanding of their origins and by creating, developing and confirming new, modern and ideologically well-built Turkic-Karaite identity, which was spread and legitimated not only in Karaite community but also in predominant society. The main role was taken by Seraja Szapszal – a community leader and hacham, who created and developed the theory of Chazaric origins of the Karaites by acting in academic, community sphere and diplomacy. His theory was one of the three most important segments of Karaite identity. It became the most important of those three in 20th century, when due to secularization and assimilation another two – language and faith – became less important. In today’s Karaite community the self-identity that has formed in the first half of the 20th century is entrenched as static and “learned” cultural relict and has nothing to do with the reality of its life. |
