ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the cultural heritage of the last Jewish communities that once lived in eastern Turkey. In light of such responses, the question arises why the Eastern Jews of Turkey identified themselves according to the place they came from instead of by ethnicity. Political, governmental and social developments in two newly established countries, Israel and Turkey, may have influenced how they described themselves. The majority of the Mizrahi Jewish immigrants were illiterate and poor in comparison with the Ashkenazim Jews of Europe. Migration waves took place before the establishment of the state of Israel and continued until 1979. Eastern Jews who immigrated before the founding of Israel crossed the border on a convoy of donkeys in a long journey. In general, Jews living in diaspora adopt the norm of the society where they live. Information regarding the Jews’ culture for this research was obtained through the elderly Jews who could still recall their life in the east of Turkey.
