Jewish Scene
Jews flee Turkey over anti-Semitism
Tali Farkash
Published: 24.10.13, 13:25
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1. it was expected, turkey is about to become
ghostq   (10.24.13)
the second Iran, black era indeed.
2. These Jews are insignificant to Turkiye
Kren   (10.24.13)
They contribute to absolutely nothing and I guarantee you they won't be missed at all. This is good news for us, less welfare leeches.
3. Anti-Semiticism?
Charles Watham ,   Springfeild, Ill.   (10.24.13)
Turkish people are not Semites. Just last month Ynet dubbed an article about so-called Israelis vacationing in turkey and the tourist exchange was booming considering the so-called strained relationship between these 2 Euro crackers. Satan is very busy, he just can't leave it alone,,,,,,, hey but that's his job to spread confusion, propaganda, lies, bloodshed and death. P.S. Anti-Semiticism? Turkish peoples are not Semites, here we go again using the word anti-Semiticism as cannon fodder BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM.
4. As I've always said time and time again Jewish life in the
aL   (10.24.13)
golus is temporary at best, deadly at worst. To all the young Jewish Israelis who go abroad looking for their futures, remember that. You may leave Israel but Israel keeps on going from strength to strength while leaving you to wither in the golus. Its 68 years ago that the greatest tragedy to befall the Jews in the past 2000 years occurred and yet we have the sorry spectacle of young Jews leaving Israel to live among the killers in a Europe. You cant rewrite stupid, only these yordim do it day in day out.
5. Kren - some of the insignifigant Turkish Jews
David Israel ,   New York, USA   (10.24.13)
For example the huge Turkish industrial group ALARKO was founded and owned two Jewish man Ishak Alaton and Uzeyir Garih who was murdered a few years ago. The Kamhi family made white goods under the brand PROFILO, as well as many European brands and more. Burla Brothers were the predecessors of Koc Holding when in 1941 Varlik vergisi confiscated illegal their business and Koc took it over. There are many more. many great Turkish academics such as Law professors Gad and his son Emile Franko thought Law in Istanbul University, among their students many famous people including Sukru Saracoglu. The founder of modern medicine faculty in Istanbul University Dr. Nielsen also was Jewish. many more can be listed. In 1974 US imposed an Embargo on Turkey that crippled Turkish economy bringing the Value of Turkish Lira from 1USD = 100TL to 1USD=1.5 Million TL. It was the Turkish Jews - whom you call insignificant - that took the initiative under Turgut Ozal's request to lobby around the world and in the USA to influence US to lift the embargo. This is the reason that today Turkey can enjoy the economic prosperity. But I agree that these are insignificant compared that with only about 15 million Jews in the entire world we can do so much from helping countries in distress such as the Istanbul and Haiti Earthquake to the Asian Tsunami , Nobel winning research in Chemistry science and medicine and a lot more.
6. jews are not our enemy
dogan ,   istanbul-turkey   (10.24.13)
Turkish people like all minorities including jews. They no need to flee. Last year, our eurovision candidate was a jew. and he has too much fans in turkey. Maybe, we can protect that jews more than israel. Turkey attitude is against to Israel policy not against to innocent religious jews.
7. "If you are Jewish, your are not a Turk". Let us
Hermon Ben-Israel ,   Qatzrin, Israel   (10.24.13)
note this observation, since we would find it in so many societies!!
8. Any Israeli who vacations in Turkey should have his head
Yanky Pipchick ,   Baltimore   (10.24.13)
examined.
9. Antisemitism. To #3
Standing Tall ,   USA   (10.24.13)
It amazes me how many people do not know the definition of the English word antisemitism. Let me make it easy for you. Antisemism=Anti-jewish. Understand now? It doesn't matter what country the Jewish person is from. Try your best to remember that the next time you come to a Jewish Website.
10. Who's next??
Gallula ,   Paris   (10.24.13)
Before Turkey joins EU, French Jews and all European Jews will follow them. Bad antisemistic climate which increases day by day. Aliyah is the perspective for us.....
11. jews of turkey
anton ,   istanbul   (10.24.13)
jews here are well educated, i think the reason behind their immigration is rather money related than fear for their life as is stated in article if i was a turk living in israel after flotilla incident i wouldnt feel safe among israelis either so its understandble to some extent, 2 country has a tension between them and people on street naturally feel uneasy
12. #9
Harold ,   USA   (10.24.13)
A Semit is a person who speaks the Semitic language and those who speak it are Arabs, Assyrians, Caldians, Jews, Phoenicians, Ethiopians and many other African countries. The word anitsemit = to anti Jew was created after world war two.
13. Turks are Asiatic Turkish Jews are Semites
Rod ,   Fargo N.Dakota   (10.24.13)
Jews are the Semites. The turks are the one who hate the tiny community of Jews amongst them. You write like you've been drinking cheap wine
14. No Anton, #11
Robert Haymond ,   Teko'a, Israel   (10.24.13)
You would feel safe in Israel. We do not hate Turks. In fact, many Jews miss vacationing in Turkey where they were so well treated before it bacame unsafe. Turks also took us in during medieval times when no one else would have us. But we are coming to understand that your government is against our nation and that he is inciting the Turkish people against us. Please be assured, you are welcome here. Contact me and when you visit, I will, personally, take you out for a wonderful Israeli meal.
15. #12 antisemitism strictly means Jew-hatred.
Tahl   (10.24.13)
There is no direct relation between the word "semit" and "antisemit". Because not every word that begins with "anti" is a direct negation of what follows. You have many antibodies in your body. Do they work against your body? Quite the opposite! Does the antipasti salad you eat have any ill will toward the pasta? Is anti-matter, the opposite of matter (i.e. vacuum)? Such is the case with the word antisemit, or antisemitism. While "Semites" means the all people you mentioned, "antisemitism" refers strictly to Jew-hatred. This term was coined centuries ago by a German professor who wanted to make his hatred to Jews sound more "scientific". Look up the word "antisemitism" in the dictionary or simply google it and see for yourself.
16. Harold, #12, that's not true.
Jake   (10.24.13)
The term "Antisemitism" was coined in Germany in the 19th century to refer SPECIFICALLY to Jew-hatred. Per Wikipedia article on Antisemitism: "While the term's etymology might suggest that antisemitism is directed against all Semitic people, the term was coined in the late 19th century in Germany as a more scientific-sounding term for Judenhass ("Jew-hatred")." "In 1873 German journalist Wilhelm Marr published a pamphlet, "The Victory of the Jewish Spirit over the Germanic Spirit. Observed from a non-religious perspective." (Der Sieg des Judenthums über das Germanenthum. Vom nicht confessionellen Standpunkt aus betrachtet.)[15] in which he used the word Semitismus interchangeably with the word Judentum to denote both "Jewry" (the Jews as a collective) and "jewishness" (the quality of being Jewish, or the Jewish spirit). Although he did not use the word "Antisemitismus" in the pamphlet, the coining of the latter word followed naturally from the word Semitismus and indicated either opposition to the Jews as a people, or else opposition to Jewishness or the Jewish spirit, which he saw as infiltrating German culture. In his next pamphlet, "The Way to Victory of the Germanic Spirit over the Jewish Spirit", published in 1880, Marr developed his ideas further and coined the related German word Antisemitismus, "antisemitism", derived from the word "Semitismus" that he had earlier used. The pamphlet became very popular, and in the same year he founded the League of Antisemites (Antisemiten-Liga), the first German organization committed specifically to combatting the alleged threat to Germany and German culture posed by the Jews and their influence, and advocating their forced removal from the country. So far as can be ascertained, the word was first widely printed in 1881, when Marr published Zwanglose Antisemitische Hefte, and Wilhelm Scherer used the term Antisemiten in the January issue of Neue Freie Presse. The related word "semitism" was coined around 1885."
17. Anton, not true
David Israel ,   New York, USA   (10.24.13)
First my own example: I was at Military service in Ankara in 1977 - 1978 when I decided to immigrate to USA. I was not really planning it before that because I had a very good job at a big company in Istanbul and as a young engineer fresh out of college I was making very good salary. I as dating the most Kalburustu girls of Istanbul which could have provided a much better future for me than my life in USA. It was a Muslim military service friend of mine who opened my eyes about Erbakan and the future of Turkey way back in 1978. He told me clearly at that time that the Islamist eventually would prevailo in Turkey and the victims would be Jews. Many Turkish Jews love Turkey and feel more Turkish than 50% of the Turks - You know what I mean: example Hakan Sukur - Unfortunately they don't feel safe under the ultra Islamist and even their well educated secular Muslim friends agree. My wife and I would have loved to retire around Cesme or Urla. we thought about it about 15 year ago but in light of the anti Semitizm it is out of question. It is not the tension based on some events, it is a historical mentality among religious Turks to see non Muslims as the other OTEKI and not accepting them as equal citizens.
18. Result of "Turkey for the Turks"?
Nick Z ,   New York, NY USA   (10.24.13)
In 1915 the ethnic Armenians in Turkey were massacred because they were "not Turkish" (and not Muslim). In the 1920's the Greeks, amid cries of "Turkey for the Turks". All the minorities, including Jews, suffered from the Varlik vergisi (exorbitant tax on non-Muslims, reminiscent of the old jizya), just an excuse to steal their property under a pretext as in the Ottoman times. This anti-Semitism is similar and is not new, and the flotilla incident is, as usual, just a pretext for harassment. The anti-Semitism is just getting worse as the government abandons secularism. Harassing Turkish Jews because of the flotilla incident is by definition prejudice, as it involves holding uninvolved persons responsible. Why this need to define one's nationality by denigrating others? So who will the Turks pick on after all the non-Muslim minorities have been expelled or worse? Well there are still Kurds and Alevis, for now....
19. The Assimilated Jews Of the Balkans
AJewishTragedy ,   Jerusalem Israel   (10.24.13)
Of the many Jewish communities it seems the descendants of the once proud Jews of Spain those whose ancestors suffered persecution torture and exile and persevered as Jews for centuries in Turkey Greece and other Balkan nations have deserted their heritage there and in Israel as well all that seems to remain are a few Ladino Clubs how tragic they have become one of the weakest links in the Jewish chain In America they were the first community to assimilate and disappear as these emigrants to America and Europe will as well. Are there no religious leaders for the Turkish Greek Bulgarian Jews? What makes these communities so weak and prone to assimilation ?
20. #2 When Jews flee it's a bad sign
Laila ,   Montreal, Canada   (10.24.13)
#2 When Jews flee it's a bad sign.
21. #6 Being anti Israel is same as Antisemitism
Fortunee ,   New York, USA   (10.24.13)
#6 Being anti Israel is same as Antisemitism.
22. #12 The word Antisemitism was created in Mid 1800s in German
Elly ,   Vienna, Austria   (10.24.13)
#12 The word Antisemitism was created in Mid 1800s in Germany.
23. Welcome home, sisters and brothers, to Israel, now!!
Hermon Ben-Israel ,   Qatzrin, Israel   (10.24.13)
24. #14: Robert Haymond as always!!
Israeli 2   (10.24.13)
You always fascinate me with your talkbacks....alas...not many. Mature, sincere and correct!
25. David
anton ,   istanbul   (10.24.13)
im not saying no incident or discrimination happens towards jews or for that matter to any minority group here but in general turks dont have anything against jews, hardliners are problem i agree but not just in turkey everywhere in world secular muslims in general dont hate jews i dont know wher you got that idea i have told you before, you r probbaly more turkish than i am so while some people dont consider you as equal citizen, others do i think its wrong to paint turkey as such bad place for jews as you did btw urla is amazing place quiet peacefull, i would recommend that place instead of cesme izmir is secular city i dont think u will have problems thre if u ever settle last but not least im telling you seculars will prevail eventually :) btw david just out of curiosity u once said your father had 6 story building in beyoglu and after "varlik vergisi" you lost it, why dont you apply to the court at least get compensated? thre has been sımılar cases and people got their money...
26. Robert 14
anton ,   istanbul   (10.24.13)
i have written you back but i guess its not published so again thank you for the offer i will certainly contact you when i come to israel ;) cheers
27. Anton, just stating the facts
David Israel ,   New Yok, USA   (10.24.13)
Today about 50% of Turkey supports AKP. Add to this the Erbakanci extremists over 50%. They hate Jews by nature. Then there are those semi intellectual leftists who are against Israel/Zionism just because they are still following the old revolutionary ideology of Guevara etc. but in their heart they are not really Jewish friendly. What is left is a minority in places like Izmir and Istanbul who are well educated and well integrated to western (Atataturkcu) way of life who are more objective and deep down Jewish friendly but even they can not express their feelings out loud. As far as my family building: It was at bankalar caddesi. The lawyer (a relative and shareholder) who had files a case many years ago passed away a few years ago and it does not seem to be easy to win these cases. usually it is lost in Turkish courts and requires application at the European courts, similar to Louisides case. If you still believe that there is justice in Turkey you are delusional.
28. #5 - To my friend David Israel
Atheist Turk ,   Germany   (10.24.13)
Erev tov David, how are you? You wrote these interesting sentences: "Burla Brothers were the predecessors of Koc Holding when in 1941 Varlik vergisi confiscated illegal their business and Koc took it over. There are many more. " Could you please provide evidence? Not that I do not trust you, but I would like to do some reserach. Could not find anything on the internet so far. By the way! It is not only the Jews who are seen as a threat to Turkey, but every minority in Turkey. This was the reason why you had massacres against Alevi´s in Maras, Sivas etc. And the hate in central Anatolia is still alive. An Alevi friend who was in central Anatolia last year told me: I was not fasting during ramadan and because of that they put all their litter in front of my door, just to humiliate me. Being a minority in Turkey is dangerous. You have to hide your identity and act like a Sunni Turk. Even my father agrees on that and he is a Sunni Turk. Kendine iyi bak
29. #17 Kalburustu girls :)))
(10.24.13)
30. Atheist Turk
David Isarel ,   New York, USA   (10.24.13)
I don't have any documentation but I know the following from family history and common knowledge: 1. Koc was already a growing and successful company before 1941. They just made an investment wich is perfectly normal and acceptable. 2. Burla brothers were involved in many businesses including representing GE in Turkey which was a big business. After 1941 Burlas were taxes unjustly and enormously. At that Time Koc took over some of their business lines. As you may know since then Koc is the representative of GE. So this is one evidence. 3. My family had friendly relations with the Older Burla family, I know one of the younger ones when I was living in Switzerland for a short time many years ago.
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