A member of a Jewish mystical sect that emerged in 17th-century Ottoman Turkey following the false messiah Sabbatai Zevi.
From Turkish 'Dönmeh' meaning 'convert' or 'apostate,' derived from the Turkish verb 'dönmek' meaning 'to turn.' The term reflects how members outwardly converted to Islam while maintaining secret Jewish practices.
The Donmeh are a fascinating historical example of hidden identity and religious syncretism—they lived as Muslims in Ottoman society while secretly practicing Judaism, and this dual existence lasted for centuries, with some communities persisting into the 1900s.
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