Baruchia Russo, also known as Osman Nuri Efendi or Osman Baba (1677-1720), was the founding father and spiritual leader of the Karakash community. He was born nine months after the "death" of Sabbatai Sevi and was believed to be the carrier of the Sabbatai’s Messianic soul. His parents, Abdurrahman Efendi (Senyor Nagid Sultan) and Rachel Alta Sultan, were ordinary Sabbatean believers. Baruchia was educated and guided by Mustafa Celebi (Shlomo ben Yosef).
According to Karakash tradition, Osman Baba began to perform miracles as a child, bringing blessings wherever he went. At the age of 26, he demonstrated specific miracles witnessed by his close followers, who began to consider him the true expected one. He was deified and seen as the Signor Santo who was the reflection of the God of Israel dwelling in Tiferet, while Sabbatai was seen as the reflection of Shekhina the Sephirot universe,
Osman Baba and Mustafa Celebi eventually split from the existing Donme leader, Yakub Celebi (Jacob Kerido), due to increasing conflicts, leading to the creation of the second Donme Sect, the Karakashs. Opponents of Osman Baba declared him a dull-witted, epileptic, and womanizer who was used as a tool by Mustafa Celebi. However, to his adherents, Osman was a very learned man of rare beauty.
Osman Baba married twice, leaving behind three sons and four daughters. His son Abdurrahman Efendi (d. 1781) succeeded him. Osman Baba's house, Casa Santo, where his tomb is also located, became a place of veneration and memory for believers. According to tradition, an empty bed and green light are kept in his believers’ homes for his, eventual return, Second Coming. Legend has it that Osman Baba’s mummy was brought to Turkey in the 1910s and entombed in the Dönme cemetery in Bülbülderesi, next to one of his sons' graves.

Author: Cengiz Şişman