Shortly before X-Mas a new article by Thomas Loy was published in the Journal of Jewish Languages. This article examines the linguistic and historical significance of Rakhamim, a Bukharan Jewish newspaper published in Russian Turkestan from 1910 to 1914/1916. It reconstructs the establishment of the periodical and its use of Persian, written in Hebrew script. Reflecting vernacular speech rather than classical, standardized Persian, Rakhamim features colloquial expressions and phonetic adaptations shaped by a multilingual environment of Persian, Russian, Turki, and Hebrew. As an underused source, Rakhamim offers valuable insights into the linguistic development of Bukharan Jewish Persian. The study highlights its potential for further research on the language and identity of Bukharan Jews and the history of Russian Turkestan.
Volume 13 (2025): Issue 2 (Dec 2025): Special Issue: Modern Iranian Jewish Languages, edited by Jason Mokhtarian
Author: Thomas Loy
