The term "Donmeh" is often mentioned without many realizing that this word is the foundation of the fall of the Islamic Caliphate on March 3, 1924, at the hands of "Kemal Ataturk," a Donmeh Jew. So, what is the story of Donmeh? When did they appear? And what did they do?
Meaning and Origin
In Turkish, "Donmeh" means "guidance" or "return to the truth." It was used to describe a group of Jews who fled the "Inquisition" in Andalusia at the hands of the Catholics. Rejected by all European countries, they sought refuge in the Islamic Caliphate, which accepted them and provided them with a safe life. They pretended to convert to Islam but retained their Jewish beliefs and practiced all their religious rituals. Among them was "Kemal Ataturk," the son of "Zubayda," a courtesan—his father is unknown—who founded the "Committee of Union and Progress" or "Young Turks," marking the beginning of the end for the Islamic Caliphate. He later changed the Turkish alphabet from Arabic to Latin, translated the Quran into Turkish, and called the Adhan (call to prayer) in Turkish, the first time in history that the Adhan was called in a language other than Arabic. He then made secularism the foundation of the state and enacted a constitution that criminalized everything Islamic, among other things we know.
Sabbatai Zevi and the Sabbateans
The Donmeh Jews are also called "Sabbateans," named after "Sabbatai Zevi," born in Izmir in 1626, the son of the "Black Inspector." At a time when Jews and Christians believed that the awaited Messiah would appear in 1648, Sabbatai was motivated to claim that he was the awaited Messiah. Using his intelligence and extensive religious knowledge, he overcame those who debated him and deceived those close to him. Indeed, he claimed prophethood in 1648.
Sabbatai issued a statement saying: "Peace from the Son of God, Sabbatai, the Messiah of Israel. You have had the honor of witnessing the savior of the Children of Israel, the one foretold by our prophets and ancestors. Turn your sorrows into joy, your fasting into feasting and merriment. Do not grieve anymore. Announce your joy with tambourines, organs, and music. Thank the one who promised and fulfilled his promise. Continue your worship as before. In times of calamity and mourning, make them days of thanksgiving and joy because of my resurrection. Do not fear anything, for your rule will not be limited to the nations of the earth but will extend to all creatures in the depths of the seas. All these are subjugated to you and your well-being... Sabbatai Zevi."
Sabbatai's Journey
When Sabbatai published his false statement, he realized the danger of claiming prophethood in an Islamic country. He left Izmir and moved to Istanbul in 1650, where he received help from a fake rabbi who welcomed him. Unable to establish a base, he moved to Athens, then returned to Izmir and Istanbul in 1659, then to Cairo in 1663, and from there to Jerusalem. However, he feared for his life and did not preach his claims to anyone.
Sarah and the Marriage Prophecy
Meanwhile, in Amsterdam, a beautiful girl named "Sarah," who loved adventures, heard about a handsome young man in Izmir who claimed to be the Messiah. She sought to exploit him for fame and fabricated a vision, spreading it among the Jews, claiming that a light would shine in 1666 and that she would marry the Messiah who would appear that year.
The news reached Sabbatai after some time, and he decided to exploit it. He fabricated a vision suggesting he would marry a Polish girl, and the naive Jews considered this a miracle of Sabbatai.
Sabbatai sent for Sarah, who was in Cairo at the time. She came to him, and they married, holding a legendary wedding that positively reinforced his claims. Encouraged, he returned to Izmir in 1666, gaining many followers. Soon, the Jews of Izmir were at his command, and his fame spread to Rhodes, Edirne, and Sofia, with delegations coming to him from Germany.
Sabbatai's Coronation and Arrest
During this period, Sabbatai held a coronation ceremony, receiving visitors with specific appointments and ceremonies. According to his belief, he divided the world into 38 regions, appointing a king for each. He changed some Jewish customs and signed his letters as "The First and Only Son of God... Sabbatai Zevi."
At that time, the Ottoman Empire, led by Sultan Mehmed IV and his Grand Vizier Fazil Pasha, was preoccupied with the Cretan War. However, when the matter threatened to extend beyond the Jews to other groups, the judge of Izmir suggested to the Grand Vizier the necessity of arresting Sabbatai. He was ordered to be arrested and sent by sea to Istanbul. During the investigations, Sabbatai denied all accusations but was tortured and then transferred to the "Zindan Fabi" prison.
The Encounter with Nahum Cohen
Meanwhile, another Jewish rabbi in Poland named "Nahum Cohen," knowledgeable in the sciences of summoning spirits, visited Sabbatai in prison. He informed Sabbatai that he, too, was the Messiah and that the holy books foretold two Messiahs, not one!
The situation became more complicated, and people began flocking to the prison out of curiosity to see these two claimants. The government ordered Sabbatai's transfer to the Edirne Palace. There, the false Messiah faced a difficult test, with Mustafa Pasha, the acting Grand Vizier, Sheikh al-Islam Yahya Efendi Menkri Zadeh, and the palace imam Muhammad Efendi Wanli present. The Sultan listened from an adjacent room.
Through a special interpreter, Sabbatai was told: "You claim to be the Messiah, show us your miracle. We will strip you of your clothes and make you a target for our skilled archers. If the arrows do not pierce your body, the Sultan will accept your claim."
Understanding the meaning of what he heard, Sabbatai denied all his claims. Sultan Mehmed IV, hearing everything, ordered that Sabbatai be offered Islam. Seeing himself between the danger of death and Islam, Sabbatai chose to convert to Islam, adopting the persona of a fake Muslim named "Muhammad Aziz Efendi."
Sabbatai's Continued Influence
However, Sabbatai's story did not end with his conversion to Islam. It perhaps began with his new name, "Muhammad Efendi." After saving his life with this name, he sent a circular to his followers, saying: "God has made me a Muslim. I am your brother, 'Muhammad the Gatekeeper.' This is how He commanded me, so I obeyed. The ancient Jewish books mentioned that the Messiah would be followed by Muslims." Sabbatai announced in this circular to his followers that he would continue his mission by adapting to the new situation. His followers spread the rumor that Sabbatai's old body had ascended to heaven and returned by God's command in the form of an angel wearing a robe and turban to complete the Messiah's mission. Here, Jewish cunning was evident. Sabbatai sought to gather his followers under a new guise, approaching the Mufti of the Caliphate to allow him to invite Jews to Islam. Once he obtained what he wanted, he resumed his previous mission, this time aiming to establish his sect, outwardly Muslim but inwardly Sabbatean.
Thus, followers of the fake Muslim came from everywhere, wearing turbans and robes. The Turks called the followers of this new sect "Donmeh," meaning those who returned to the truth or the guided ones. Little did they know they were facing a dangerous Jewish faction that would destroy the Caliphate and undermine the religion's foundations in the Caliphate's seat, which is what happened.
