ABSTRACT
One of the main obstacles in studying this subject was the lack of written sources. Since Eastern Jewish communities of Turkey did not have any of their written sources regarding their historical background, what we know comes from primarily form travelers’ account. Apart from observations, interviews and life stories, references regarding Eastern Jews in archives, records and Hebrew sources have been searched. This chapter reviews the origins and history of Eastern Jews of Turkey through written sources. Accordingly, the history of Eastern Jewish communities such as Jews of Gaziantep, Jews of Urfa, Jews of Siverek, Jews of Diyarbak?r, Jews of Mardin and Nusaybin, Jews of Ba?kale and Van, Jews of Hakkari and Cizre has been examined.
