Other Websites:
Stmegi’s Juhuri lessons for Russian speakers – https://stmegi.com/tv/lessons_dzhuuri/
Gorsky Kavkazi Jews of NY – https://www.gorskyjews.com/[/wptabcontent]
[wptabtitle]Language Structure[/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent]Although largely consistent with other Persic languages, the sound system of Juhuri also incorporates influences from Arabic, Hebrew, and other neighboring languages. One conspicuous sound change in the history of Juhuri is the rhoticization of medial d (similar to what happens in spoken English), thus the endonym juhuro < Persian juhu:dha:, meaning “Jews”.
The Juhuri-speaking community in New York is largely centered in Flatbush, Brooklyn around the Kavkazi Jewish Congregation (Or HaMizrekh) on Ocean Parkway. The Lezginka Dance Company, based in Brooklyn, preserves and continues community dance traditions through teaching and performance. The language is still spoken by many middle-aged and older people, who were born in the Caucasus, and is maintained in some families and some spheres of daily life.
ELA’s Jewish Languages Initiative is recording Juhuri speakers talking about their lives and the histories and customs of the community, in collaboration with leaders at the community synagogue in Brooklyn. These are among the first professionally made, multimedia recordings of the language to be made publicly available.
Probably several thousand strong, the Juhuri-speaking community in New York is largely centered in central Brooklyn around the Kavkazi Jewish Congregation (Or HaMizrekh) on Ocean Parkway. The Lezginka Dance Company, based in Brooklyn, preserves and continues community dance traditions through teaching and performance.