The Influence and the Role of the Jewish Community in Ancient and Conte

The Influence and the Role of the Jewish Community in Ancient and Contemporary Turkey Antiquity A Jewish community has existed in the land that is modern day Turkey for many centuries. In fact, many important figures of the Old Testament lived in Turkey during at least part of their lives. Abraham was born in Ur of Chaldea, according to the Old Testament, which is believed to be the Turkish city Sanhurfa (located close to the Euphrates River) (G 3). It is also believed that Abraham lived in Harran in the 18th century BC. Jacob sought refuge in Turkey when he was escaping from his brother Esau and his well is still found there today. Noah and his family ran aground on Mount Ararat (Agri Dag), which is located in eastern Turkey near Dogubayazit. Noah's descendents would become the Hittites who ruled central Anatolia (modern day Turkey), the Assyrians, and Abrahams ancestors among others (Burke 1). Due to multiple invasions of Palestine, many Jews were forced into exile. These Jews, and subsequently all Jews residing abroad, or "dispersed", were referred to as the Jews of the Diaspora or simply the Diaspora. In 560 BCE, Babylon conquered Judah and a relatively small number of Jews were exiled. Some would eventually return to Jerusalem but others built centers of Jewish culture throughout Mesopotamia (Burke 1). The remnants of Jewish settlement have been discovered in the Aegean Region that date to the 4th century BCE confirming Josephus Flavius' records of Aristotle having met and exchanged ideas with some Jewish people in Asia Minor. Other Jewish settlements have been found in various parts of modern Turkey that date to the third century BCE most notably the remains of an ancient synagogue in Sardis (Guleryuz ... ...exis.com. Lecumberri, Beatriz. November 22, 2003. Istanbul Jews go underground for Sabbath worship. Agence France Presse. Lexis-Nexis Academic. http://www.lexis-nexis.com. Library of Congress Country Studies: Turkey: Jews and Turkey: Religious Life Prusher, Ilene. November 19, 2003. Turkish Jews search for answers. Christian Science Monitor (Boston, MA) (WORLD; Pg. 06). Lexis-Nexis Academic. http://www.lexis-nexis.com. Turkish Daily News. September 12, 2003. Erdogan receives Turkish-Jewish leader Pinto. Lexis-Nexis Academic. http://www.lexis-nexis.com. Turkish Daily News. November 14, 2003. An Iftar for World Peace. Lexis-Nexis Academic. http://www.lexis-nexis.com. Turkish Daily News. September 20, 2003. Portuguese President Sampaio says Jewish Community in Turkey has Connection Point with Portugal. Lexis-Nexis Academic. http://www.lexis-nexis.com.