Karaite in Lithuania

Introduction / History

Karaites are a relatively small subset of world's 15 million Jews. The Karaites reject the authority of the Oral Law of the Talmud and Mishnah. These commentaries on the Old Testament are regarded as essential to Rabbinic Jews who make up a vast majority of the Jews in the world.

The Karaite form of Judaism is so strange that Russian Tsars categorized them as non-Jews. The Karaites were able to convince the Tsar's government that no Karaites were in Palestine at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. So, they were not regarded by the Russians as "Christ killers," as were other Jews. The Nazis of Germany followed the Russian ruling so the Karaites were not persecuted. Thus, they escaped Russia's pogroms and the Nazi holocaust. The great Jewish medieval teacher Maimonides regarded the Karaites as Gentiles, not Jews.

Most Karaites migrated to Israel after the founding of the Jewish state in 1948. Very small populations of Karaites live in Eastern Europe in Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Poland.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Lithuania is one of the small Baltic states that gained freedom from the Soviet Union in 1991. The tiny group of Lithuanian Karaites is well integrated into Lithuanian society. In non-religious matters, Karaites tend to adopt the language and customs of their host country. Since most of them live in Israel, they are starting to assimilate into mainstream Israeli society.

Most Karaites in Lithuania live in are near the capital city of Vilnius. Most fall into the Lithuanian middle class working as teachers, owners of small businesses, and government administrators. As a tiny minority the Karaites try to keep a low profile. They tend to keep to themselves in social matters. Most Karaites marry within their group. Some young people marry mainstream Jews and Gentiles. Most Jewish parents have small families of one, two or three children. Parents encourage their children to attend university and to enter the professions.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Karaites claim to be true Jews. They follow only the Tanakh, not the commentaries on the Old Testament. Some scholars link them with the ancient Sadducee sect that only accepted the Torah as authoritative.

The Karaites reject rabbinic interpretations or commentaries on the Torah and other books of the Jewish Bible. They allow each believer to make his/her own interpretation. Unlike most Jewish communities, men and women can exercise authority in their groups. They often prostrate themselves in prayer, which is rare for any Jewish community.

Still, the Karaites have important commonalities with mainstream Judaism. They observe the Sabbath. Karaites practice separation from Gentiles. They engage in ritual washing. Their prayer books come almost exclusively from passages in the Tanakh.

But just when we think we can pigeonhole the Karaites as Orthodox Jews, they surprise us. They do not wear phylacteries attached to forehead or hand in any form. Karaites believe the Scriptures refer to these only in metaphorical terms. Instead, they hide the Word of God in their thoughts and let it guide their actions.

Rabbinic Judaism accepts a matrilineal program. If one's mother is a Jew, the child is considered a Jew. The Karaites follow a patrilineal system where one's Judaism is determined by having a Jewish father.

What Are Their Needs?

The Karaites like all other Jews need to understand that Jesus Christ is their Messiah. Only through Jesus can their sins be forgiven. In Christ alone is found eternal life.

Prayer Points

Pray that Lithuanian believers will reach out and share the gospel with their Karaite friends and neighbors.

Pray that leaders in the Karaite movement might become interested in investigating the claims of Jesus Christ.

Pray the Spirit opens the eyes of the Karaites as they read the Torah to see a prophet greater than Moses.

Pray that God brings many in the Lithuanian Karaiteish community to the knowledge of their Messiah.

Text Source:   Joshua Project