The Karaite movement, which originated in Babylonia and rejected
the authority of the Oral Tradition, was shaped under the influence
of the messianic movement of “Avelei Zion” (the Mourners of
Zion). They emphasised the centrality of the Land of Israel and
called the Jewish people to repent, settle in Jerusalem and pray and
study the Torah there in order to hasten the Redemption. Despite
the disappearance of this movement in the twelfth century,
elements of its teaching, notably those pertaining to the centrality
of Jerusalem, were preserved in the beliefs and practices of the
Karaite communities in diaspora until the nineteenth century.
This phenomenon is reflected in their continuous connections to
Jerusalem, which encompass a variety of areas, including frequent
pilgrimages, the establishment of settlements in Jerusalem, as
well as halakhic and messianic concepts. This article will initially
examine the ties between the Crimean and Eastern European
Karaites and Jerusalem. An analysis of the nature of these
connections in a historical perspective will enable us to trace how
the perception of Jerusalem has transformed amongst Karaites,
identifying both the social and religious factors that have led to
this change from the days of the Avelei Zion to the Modern era.