Abraham Firkovitch: between tradition and modernity

Abstract

The article is dedicated to a work and studies of the most controversial person in the history of
Eastern-European (Crimean) Karaites, Abraham Firkovich. The main stages of the scholar’s way
and main points of his theories are reviewed. It is discussed if his aims and goals should be analyzed
in the context of new aged nationalism, or just as an attempt to occupy a privileged (in comparison
with Talmudic Jewry) positions in the frame of the social structure of Imperial Russia. Author also
examined, if Abraham Firkovich as the author and his theories and discoveries are phenomena of
modern or pre-modern age. It is described, how in the Firkovich’s works were combined secular and
religion motifs, scholar methods and pre-modern, literally medieval aims and goals. It is analyzed,
in broader context, the character of the formative stage of nationalism in the community of Eastern-
European Karaites. Author concluded that Firkovich and his theories should be rather put in context
of medieval pseudo – historical texts. His role in the process of creation of new national identity
of the Eastern European Karaites should be re-examined. Now it’s clear that ideas and conceptions
produced by A.Firkovitch weren’t applied without critical revision by the educated elite of the
Karaites in the end of 19-begin of 20 c. In many ways his conception were rather barrier on the way
to create new national identity, based on the theory of Turkic (Khasar) origin of Eastern-European
Karaites. Firkovich wasn’t founder or defender of this theory. Hi was familiar with first articles,
concerned to that theory, personal attitude to it was negative. This paper is also designed to prove
if the changes in the collective consciousness of Eastern European Karaites were so dramatic and
indivertible as it is considered.
Key words: A. Firkovich, forgery, nationalism, modernity, religiosity, Karaites, Derbent,
Krimea