Polish catechism by A. Zajączkowski in the light of Russian catechisms from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries
Polish catechism by A. Zajączkowski in the light of Russian catechisms from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries

Summary/Abstract: This article examines one of the most peculiar aspects of the debate concerning the self-identity of the Karaite people, their language and some of their religious dogmas. It compares the differences between “An outline of the Karaite religion” by A. Zajączkowski and the forgotten Russian language catechisms. Zajączkowski emphasizes that the Karaites are the descendants of semi-nomadic Turkic people alongside with their Turkic language. He pointed out on significant similarities with Islam and even Christianity. The Russian works of Duvan, Shamash, Prik and Firkovich dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries claim to the Israeli origin of the Karaites and native Hebrew language (leshon ha-kodesh). The Crimean Karaites used to celebrate Purim and keep the fast of Gedaliah. The oeuvres demonstrates that in Tsarist Russia the Karaite religious teaching was based mainly on ancient Hebrew writings, and the main principles of faith were the same as in Judaism. These contradictory teachings prove the lack of constant tradition in Karaism. The claim is that all sources of Karaite history need to be studied and considered by contemporary researches when determining how the Karaites self-identify.

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