Roots in the Caucasus, home in the Middle East: the Circassians in Israel

Nestled among the mountains of northern Israel is a village rich in history and ancient traditions that, the moment you step into it, completely transports you to another dimension.

Just a stone’s throw from the Sea of Galilee lies Kfar Kama, a village well-known to residents of the north but unfamiliar to those not acquainted with the area. It is home to the Circassians, a community of Muslims originally from the North Caucasus who arrived in Israel many years ago.

The Circassians are a unique and proud community with deep and ancient historical roots, known for their resilience and distinct cultural heritage, which has enabled them to integrate seamlessly into Israeli society, enriching the country's social fabric while holding firmly to their identity.

A group of Circassians in their traditional clothing.

Who Are the Circassians?

The Circassians are an ethnic group originally from the North Caucasus, a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, known in most of the world for their warrior culture and a deep connection to their homeland. In the mid-19th century, following a brutal campaign by the Russian Empire, Circassians were forcibly expelled from their ancestral lands in the Caucasus. This tragic event, which many Circassians regard as genocide, led to the displacement of thousands of them, scattering them across the Ottoman Empire.

From the Caucasus to the Middle East

Circassians arrived in the Middle East as part of their exile from the Caucasus. The Ottoman Empire, which controlled much of the region, resettled them in various parts of the empire, which brought them to what is today Israel in the late 19th century, settling mainly in two villages - Kfar Kama and Rehaniya - in the Galilee region. The Ottomans strategically placed Circassians in these areas to serve as a buffer between different communities and to help maintain order in the region.

Despite the hardships they faced during their displacement, the Circassians managed to establish stable and prosperous communities in their new home: they built their villages, cultivated the land, and maintained strong community bonds that have persisted through the decades.

The Circassians in Israeli Society

Today, the Circassian community in Israel is small, counting around 4,000 people, but their influence and integration into Israeli society are significant. The Circassians in Israel are Sunni Muslims, but their identity is deeply tied to their unique culture and language rather than solely their religion. They have successfully preserved their Circassian language, Adyghe, which is taught in their schools alongside Hebrew and English. This linguistic and cultural preservation is seen as vital to maintaining their heritage.

One of the defining features of the Circassian community in Israel is their strong sense of duty and loyalty to the country, which leads them—unlike a lot of other non-Jewish citizens—to serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This tradition of military service has fostered close ties between the Circassian community and the Jewish majority in Israel. Circassians see their military service as a way to contribute to the country that has become their home, earning them a unique status within Israeli society.

Despite being a small minority, the Circassians have managed to carve out a respected place for themselves in Israel, as they have a reputation for being hardworking, law-abiding, and highly disciplined. Their villages are often cited as examples of well-kept and organized communities. Additionally, many Circassians have pursued higher education and taken up prominent roles in various fields, including law enforcement, public service, and business.

Challenges and Aspirations

However, like other minority communities, Circassians in Israel face various challenges: they navigate the complexities of being a non-Jewish minority in a Jewish state while striving to maintain their distinct cultural identity, and the balancing act between integration and cultural preservation is not always easy. For example, while they are proud Israeli citizens, Circassians also hold a deep yearning for their ancestral homeland in the Caucasus, and they work to keep their cultural traditions alive despite being far from their origins.

There are also concerns about the future of the Circassian language and culture, as younger generations face the pressures of modernization and assimilation. The community actively works to instill a sense of pride in their heritage among the youth, emphasizing the importance of language, traditions, and cultural values.