Cultural Heritage of Iranian Jews
Nahid Pir Nazar
Farsihood includes Farsi writings with Hebrew alphabet. It must be added that, what is available in Farsihood writing except for some cases such as translation of Davood’s Psalters to Pahlavi language and scripts, are devoted to the new Farsi era. According to this description Farsihood impressions except for some Pahlavi copies, mostly contain classical writings or any local dialect new Farsi Language and it is in Hebrew letters. For the lack of coordination of Hebrew Alphabet with some Farsi vowels, a Hebrew letter, following with some additional signals can be applied as several Farsi vowels. As, the way in which printed Hebrew letters differ from that of Hebrew written letters. Farsihood printed subjects also differ from that of writing point of view with their manuscript copies.
The
selection of Hebrew writing instead of Farsi scripts for writing the
cultural impressions of Iranian Jews, are interpretable in different
forms. What seems certain is the reason for selection of Hebrew letters
for Farsihood writers, is the practical aspect of it. Because, possibly
the lack of acquaintance with Farsi writing in illiterate group of Jewish
people and their acquaintance with the Hebrew writing, with the purpose of
reading and performing religious practices, it supplied a larger number of
readers for Farsihood impressions.
Therefore, from the evidences can be understood that Farsihood Literature mostly for one particular group of readers whom consists of the public rank of Iranian Jews, were written. The rank that in spite of the fact that communicated in Farsi language could not read it in Farsi writing. It should be regarded that the Hebrew knowledge of most of these people, possibly did not get beyond the reading of religious benedictions (prays). The evidence for this allegation is the transformation of Farsi literature masterpieces into Farsihood writings, which their samples are largely found in libraries of writing copies. Literal writers of Farsihood mostly have been affected by non-Jewish Iranian professionals and /or have been affected by non-Iranian Jewish experts. The expression of this fact is their authority on Iranian, Jewish and even in some cases on Islamic culture.
