Photograph: Seeing off Hakham Medini.

European Jews: Krymchaks

Taurida province, Simferopolsky district, city Karasubazar

1899

Albumen print

16,4 x 25,4

РЭМ 9187-7

Photo from the “Album of Memories of the Hakham of Karasubazar. Scenes and views before his departure for Jerusalem in 1899.” In the center under the canopy is Hakham Medini. The canopy (“kydish agachlary”) was generally used during wedding ceremonies or especially important events. Standing third to the right of the Chacham is the Karaite Gacham, or head of the Karaite community, Shemuel ben Moshe Panpulov, son of M. A. Panpulov. S. M. Panpulov was a hereditary merchant, mayor of Eupatoria from 1869 to 1881, Karaite Gacham of Taurida and Odessa from 1879 to 1911. In 1904, for his merits (restoration of Eupatoria after the Crimean War of 1854, opening of the male and female progymnasiums, establishment of a Mutual Saving Bank and the Society for Assistance to Poor Karaites in 1904, setting up telegraph communication etc.) he was elevated to hereditary nobility.