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Author: Dr. Jacob M. Landau

Dr. Jacob Landau is professor emeritus of political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a fellow of the JCPA. In 2005 he was awarded the prestigious Israel Prize for his research, which has focused on the history, politics, and culture of the modern Middle East
The Dönmes: Crypto-Jews under Turkish Rule

The Dönmes: Crypto-Jews under Turkish Rule

March 1, 2007 | Dr. Jacob M. Landau
The dönmes (converts) are a community descended from the disciples and adherents of Sabbatai Tsevi, who abandoned Judaism and adopted Islam in the late seventeenth century. Wary of their Muslim neighbors, they kept to themselves, maintaining strict secrecy in all their religious practices and general behavior. Our knowledge of the dönmes is therefore rather limited.
Turkey Between Secularism and Islamism

Turkey Between Secularism and Islamism

February 16, 1997 | Dr. Jacob M. Landau
When Mustafa Kamal (Ataturk) founded the Republic of Turkey in 1923 (he was its president until his death fifteen years later), he set as his main objective the modernization of the new republic. His preferred means was speedy, intensive secularization and, indeed, every one of his reforms was tied up with disestablishing other Islamic institutions from their hold on Turkey's politics, economics, society, and cultural life.
Turkey Between Secularism and Islamism

Turkey Between Secularism and Islamism

February 16, 1997 | Dr. Jacob M. Landau