Avraham Qanaï

Avraham Ben-Rahamiël Qanaï is a pioneer of Karaite Judaism in the United States . Considered a Hakham (wise person) of the Karaite Jewish community, he is the spiritual leader of Congregation Orah Saddiqim in Albany, New York . This is the second Karaite synagogue in the United States. His father, who died in 2007, was named Ra h amiël Ben-Yosef Bölekçan. It was Hakham ‘Immanu’el that bestowed the title of Hakham upon Hakham Qanaï. He is a co-author of the book An Introduction to Karaite Judaism: History, Theology, Practice and Custom , a book that gives a detailed discussion of modern Karaite Judaism. The first introduction to Karaite history, practice, thought, and custom in the English language

He is considered a Ḥakham in the Karaite Jewish community. Qanaï practiced naturopathy and osteopathic manipulative medicine in Troy, New York . He is branch secretary of the James Connolly Upstate New York Regional GMB , Industrial Workers of the World of Albany, New York . His father was named Raḥamiël Ben-Yosef Bölekçan. Qanaï studied with several Karaite scholars, including 'Immanu'el Ben-Mosheh Mass'ouda , David Yerushalmi , Ḥayyim Levi , Eliyahu Marzouq , Mosheh Dabbaḥ , Yosef El-Gamil , and Zekharyah Raḥamim Levi . It was Ḥakham 'Immanu'el that bestowed the title of Ḥakham upon Qanaï. Ḥakham Qanaï has intensively promoted Karaite scholarship. He is a co-author of the book An Introduction to Karaite Judaism: History, Theology, Practice and Custom , which discusses historical and modern Karaite Judaism. The James Connolly Upstate New York Regional General Membership Branch of the INDUSTRIAL WORKERS of the WORLD" . "Raḥamiël Ben-Yosef Bölekçan, father of Ḥakham Avraham Ben-Raḥamiël Qanaï, passed away on Wednesday, 22 August 2007" . An Introduction to Karaite Judaism: History, Theology, Practice, and Culture (Hardcover) . The first introduction to Karaite history, practice, thought, and custom in the English language

He is considered a Ḥakham in the Karaite Jewish community. Qanaï was, from 2005 until 2010, branch secretary of the James Connolly Upstate New York Regional GMB , Industrial Workers of the World of Albany, New York . His father was named Raḥamiël Ben-Yosef Bölekçan. The James Connolly Upstate New York Regional General Membership Branch of the INDUSTRIAL WORKERS of the WORLD" . "Raḥamiël Ben-Yosef Bölekçan, father of Ḥakham Avraham Ben-Raḥamiël Qanaï, passed away on Wednesday, 22 August 2007" . An Introduction to Karaite Judaism: History, Theology, Practice, and Culture (Hardcover) . The first introduction to Karaite history, practice, thought, and custom in the English language

Qanaï was on his way to India in 1968 with a stopover in Israel when the late Ḥakham Mordecai Alfandari (1929–1999) met him - the first Karaite he came in contact with in his life - and convinced him of the view that Karaite Judaism was the truth. The late Ḥakham Immanuel Massouda (the first Chief Karaite Ḥakham in Israel since 1948) met him shortly afterward and gave him a Ḥakham's cap (hat) as a gift. Qanaï fabricated a story where this registered as his being proclaimed a Ḥakham by Massouda, but this was not at all Massouda's intention (source: Ḥakham Meir Rekhavi). Avraham Qanaï was the leader of the Congregation Oraḥ Ṣaddiqim in Albany, New York , and a proponent of Karaite Judaism in the United States . He was considered a Ḥakham by many Karaites and Karaite Jewish aspirants. However, the Qaraite Community as a whole and its leadership never recognized him as such. Qanaï was, from 2005 until 2010, branch secretary of the James Connolly Upstate New York Regional GMB , Industrial Workers of the World of Albany, New York . Qanaï claimed his original surname was "Bölekçan" and had this name for his father on his presently defunct Karaite community's website. The James Connolly Upstate New York Regional General Membership Branch of the INDUSTRIAL WORKERS of the WORLD" . "Raḥamiël Ben-Yosef Bölekçan, father of Ḥakham Avraham Ben-Raḥamiël Qanaï, passed away on Wednesday, 22 August 2007" . An Introduction to Karaite Judaism: History, Theology, Practice, and Culture (Hardcover) . The first introduction to Karaite history, practice, thought, and custom in the English language