Last month, the red carpet laid at the premiere of a Turkish film about a Nazi spy was flanked by barbed wire hung with striped clothing to symbolise a concentration camp, sparking anger and disgust among Turkish Jews and a broad swathe of Turkish citizens.

“The support the Jewish community received in protesting the event serves as yet another example where Turkish Jews have enjoyed growing solidarity in response to cases of anti-Semitism on social media and within the public sphere,” Brooklyn College professor and Turkey analyst Louis Fishman wrote for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Tuesday.

Aging, emigration, conspiracy theories and the anti-Semitic statements of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s Jewish community is facing difficult times. Their emigration must be placed within the broader context of the wave of Turkish citizens fleeing economic trouble and rising authoritarianism, according to Fishman.

"One of the greatest developments that goes unnoticed about the Turkish Jewish community is how it is strengthened from within by its outreach towards Turkish society at large,” wrote Fishman. “That outreach includes lighting Hanukkah candles in public forums, and opening synagogues for concerts and educational events.”

He also pointed to the recent promotion of Holocaust Remembrance Day and memorials held for the victims of the 1942 Struma boat sinking, when hundreds of desperate Jewish refugees died just off the Istanbul coast during World War II.

“For these events, Turkish government officials are invited to take part, giving them official status,” wrote Fishman. “No less important is the presence of community members on social media regularly tweeting Jewish-related news in Turkish on numerous topics of interests.”

There is a Jewish communal newspaper as well as the online site Avlaremoz (Ladino for "Let's Speak"), where young Jewish voices examine relevant news and monitor anti-Semitism.

“The platform also highlights historical events and is far more courageous in engaging in once taboo topics within their own community, such as LGBT issues, and Jewish relations with other communities: not only Turkish Muslims, but also to other non-Muslims, such as Greeks and Armenians,” wrote Fishman.

The film gala incident highlights the complex relationship between today's Turkey and its Jewish community: prevalent anti-Semitism, but with voices raised in defense of Jews and against hate speech.

“There is still significant parts of Turkish society, which - even if you don't see them protesting on the streets - are still there, and are committed to a more open, pluralistic Turkey,” wrote Fishman.