Emigration From Turkey To Israel
When the Republic of Turkey was established in 1923, Aliyah was not particularly popular amongst Turkish Jewry; migration from Turkey to Palestine was minimal in the 1920’s. Emigration increased whens incident reflecting hostility towards Jews occurred. Thus, discrimination was one of the main “push” factors that encouraged emigration from Turkey to Palestine.
After the 1934 Thrace pogroms, immigration to Palestine significantly increased; it is estimated that 521 Jews left for Palestine from Turkey in 1934 and 1,445 left in 1935. Immigration to Palestine was organized by the Jewish Colonization Agency and the Palestine Aliya Anoar Organization. The Varlik Vergisi, which occurred in 1942, was also significant in encouraging emigration from Turkey to Palestine; between 1943 and 1944, 4,000 Jews emigrated.
The Jews of Turkey reacted very favorable to the creation of the State of Israel. After it was established in 1948, emigration from Turkey increased substantially, regarded as a wave of mass emigration. In fact, the migration of Jews to Israel is the second largest mass emigration wave out of Turkey Turkey, the first being the Population exchange between Greece and Turkey. The Jewish emigration is unique in that they did not leave in a government-mandated exchange of populations, but rather of their own free will. Between 1948 and 1951, 34,547 Jews immigrated to Israel, nearly 40% of the population at the time. Immigration was stunted for several months in November of 1948, when Turkey suspended migration permits as a result of pressure from Arab countries. In 1949, the suspension was removed when Turkey officially recognized Israel, and emigration continued.
After 1951, emigration of Jews from Turkey to Israel slowed, but has remained constant until the present day. In the mid 1950’s, 10% of those who had moved to Israel returned to Turkey. Generally, Turkish Jews in Israel have integrated well into society and are not distinguishable from other Israelis. However, they maintain their Turkish culture and connection to Turkey, and are strong supporters of close relations between Israel and Turkey.
Read more about this topic: History Of The Jews In Turkey
Famous quotes containing the words turkey and/or israel:
“You can make as good a design out of an American turkey as a Japanese out of his native stork.”
—For the State of Illinois, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“For in the division of the nations of the whole earth he set a ruler over every people; but Israel is the Lord’s portion: whom, being his firstborn, he nourisheth with discipline, and giving him the light of his love doth not forsake him. Therefore all their works are as the sun before him, and his eyes are continually upon their ways.”
—Apocrypha. Ecclesiasticus 17:17-9.