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Karaites

The Karaites (self-designation Karay — "reader," "scholar of sacred texts") are one of the few indigenous peoples whose homeland is Ukraine, with the largest concentration historically residing in Crimea. They are a Turkic-speaking ethno-religious community adhering to Ananism — a pre-Talmudic movement of Judaism based on the direct reading of the Holy Scriptures.

Overview

The Karaites are a distinctive indigenous ethnic group of Crimea alongside Crimean Tatars and Krymchaks. Regarding their origins, several scientific theories exist: (1) Turkic peoples who adopted Ananism in the Khazar Khaganate; (2) an ethnic group formed in Crimea through the assimilation of Jews with Turkic peoples from the 13th century; (3) a group of pre-Talmudic Judaism adherents who assimilated with Turkic peoples in the Khazar Khaganate and settled in Crimea. The Karaite language belongs to the Kipchak branch of the Turkic language family (writing primarily rendered religious texts in Hebrew script — Leshon Kodesh), while everyday and secular literature developed in Karaite Turkic.

The Karaites' religion is Ananism, a movement within Judaism named after the preacher Anan ben David, who in Baghdad criticized the Talmud in favor of directly reading and understanding the Bible ("Search thoroughly in the Scripture and do not rely upon my opinion"). Services take place in a kenesa — a Karaite place of worship strictly oriented along a north–south axis, featuring a fountain and space for ritual ablutions; shoes must be removed upon entering. Karaite culture combines ancestor worship, the world tree (sacred oak), and celestial bodies; in folklore, God is invoked as Tengri (Ten'ri) — a parallel with Khazar-Turkic beliefs.

Key Details / Subtopics

  • Theories of Origin: Turkic-Khazar, Crimean assimilationist, and pre-Talmudic Judaic versions; Karaites do not share complete kinship with the Jewish nation, much like their ancestors — Khazars, Sarmatians, Alans, and nomadic Turks. In Crimean Tatar documents they were referred to as the "Judaic people" or Karaite Jews.
  • Religion and Calendar: Ananism relies exclusively on the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible); chronology counts from the creation of the world (adding 3,751 years to BCE dates), with a lunar year of 354 days 8 hours 48 minutes, New Year in late September, Saturday as the primary day of the week, and holidays commencing after sunset.
  • Ethnic Character: charity (beggars were virtually non-existent), peacefulness, tolerance, absence of informers; late marriages (men ~30, women ~20 years), modest morning weddings; wealthy Karaite families funded Yevpatoria sanatoriums, hospitals, public gardens, and even financed an Orthodox church.
  • Early History in Crimea: first written mentions date to the 14th century (residing in Solkhat/Staryi Krym); from the 14th to 19th centuries, the center of Crimean Karaites was Qırq Yer / Juft-Kale (Chufut-Kale, "Double Fortress"); from 1734, its own printing house operated here under the Crimean Khanate; Karaites managed the mint and were highly respected at court.
  • Institutionalization as a Distinct Ethnos: in 1837, Nicholas I established spiritual boards in Yevpatoria, Halych, and Trakai (Lithuania) by decree; the chief post was the Hakam (spiritual mentor and administrative head); in the russian empire, Karaites enjoyed privileges compared to Rabbinic Jews (right to land ownership), and Stolypin's circular reconfirmed Karaites as non-Jews.
  • Salvation During World War II: anti-Semitic evaluations in 1938–1939 (initiated by Yevpatoria Mayor Semen Duvan, trip to Berlin) and documents located in 1941 by lawyer Samuil Khodzhash in the Simferopol archives recognized Karaites as a distinct (Turkic) people — saving them from destruction. Meanwhile, in Israel, Karaites remain recognized as a Jewish sect (granting the right of repatriation).
  • Karaites in Ukraine (Halychyna and Volhynia): two theories of settlement exist — under Danylo of Halych (1246 treaty with Batu Khan) or Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas (relocation of 383 families from Crimea in 1392–1397 to Trakai, Lutsk, and Halych; the latter version is better documented). First mention of Karaites in Halych dates to 1578 (privileges of Stephen Báthory); in Lutsk, a Karaite kenesa and Karaimska Street survive, where the journal Karaj Awazy was published until 1936.
  • Cultural Heritage: polemical work Hizzuk Emunah by Isaac of Troki (praised by Voltaire); poet Zakhariya Abrahamovych (1878–1903, song "Hey, Eagle, Eagle"); museums of Halych Karaites (Halych), private museum in Feodosia, branch in Bakhchysarai; the sole active kenesa in Ukraine is in Yevpatoria; a Karaite ethnographic museum has operated in Vilnius since 1940. Today communities live in Ukraine (Crimea, Lutsk, Halych), russia, Lithuania, Poland, Turkey, France, the USA, and Israel.

Contradictions and Open Questions

  • Jewish vs. Turkic Identity: for the general public, Crimean Tatars, Turks, and Polish/Austrian legislation, Karaites were "simply Jews" (Judaic faith, Hebrew alphabet, names), whereas Karaites themselves and expert panels argued for their distinct Turkic identity. In Israel, Karaites remain recognized as a Jewish sect — this contradiction persists.
  • Origins in Halychyna: the version of relocation under Danylo of Halych lacks documentary foundation (found only in a religious book burned in 1830), whereas Vytautas's version is historically documented.
  • Ukrainian Karaites — article by Yaroslav Samovydets in Krymska Svitlytsia (2016, No. 37); main source.
  • Ethnogenesis of the Crimean Tatars — Karaites are named alongside Crimean Tatars and Krymchaks among Crimea's indigenous peoples.
  • Chufut-Kale (Cave City-Fortress) — Juft-Kale was the center of Crimean Karaites (14th–19th centuries), with Karaite kenesas and a printing press operating in 1731–1734.
  • Karaites of Feodosia — one of the oldest Karaite communities in Crimea located in Caffa/Feodosia.
  • Lipka Tatars — in 1397 Vytautas settled Crimean Tatars and Karaites near Trakai, forming a guard; shared history of relocation from Crimea to Lithuania.
  • Semen Duvan — Mayor of Yevpatoria, Karaite public figure who lobbied for the recognition of the non-Jewish origins of Karaites in 1938.
  • Krymchaks — a related Turkic-speaking Jewish ethnic group of Crimea (Rabbanites), referred to in Crimean Tatar tradition as zülüflü çufutlar in contrast to the Karaites (zülüfsüz çufutlar).