Urmi, Jewish: The Professions of the Jews

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Transcribed by	Source	Speakers	Place
Geoffrey Khan	Khan, Geoffrey. The Jewish Neo-Aramaic Dialect of Urmi. Gorgias Neo-Aramaic Studies vol. 2. Gorgias Press, 2008	Nisan Aviv	Tel Aviv, IL

	Transcription	Translation
0:00	⁺hudáət Urmìˈ ⁺məssén amrènˈ ⁺əččí g-əmmà,ˈ šulú ⁺bazazulà-wele.ˈ ⁺bazazulá ⁺yaní pàrča zaboné.ˈ šulá pàrča zabníwa.ˈ ⁺bassòr ítwa lóka kìˈ jùwe šúla kwéwalu.ˈ mằsal,ˈ baqalàˈ yá măsàlˈ əl-ləxmá zabnána g-šuqà,ˈ káre gúpte zabnanà.ˈ ayné šulé ⁺hudaé là-⁺msewa odíwalu.ˈ bod-mà?ˈ bod-òdˈ ⁺hudaé áxča là-weluˈ kí másalan mən-d-ó tkaná šaqlí ki-o-⁺məssèˈ yarxá ⁺palə̀tle.ˈ goymé-š lá šaqlíwa ⁺m-hudaà.ˈ goymé ⁺m-hudaá lá šaqlìwa.ˈ goymé ⁺rába ⁺rába əllán ⁺təmyè kyíwaˈ wa-là šaqlíwa.ˈ bod-ó wéla kìˈ kullànˈ ⁺hudáe lòkaˈ pàrča zabníwa.ˈ bás muštaryù-šˈ kúllu gòime-weluˈ m-malwawè.ˈ ⁺yá ⁺arelè,ˈ ⁺yá goymè,ˈ ya kartwèˈ gdéwa ⁺m-hudaé ⁺mā̀l šaqlíwa.ˈ aynèˈ goymé ⁺rába paxilulà godíwa ⁺m-hudaé.ˈ kí bod-mà?ˈ ayné jwā̀n ⁺mā́l madulú,ˈ jwā̀n zabonú.ˈ ⁺hudaé šúlu jwā̀n-ile g-šuqá.ˈ bắle goymèˈ šúlu jwā́n lèwe.ˈ zə́llu gébət ay-⁺rəwwət ay-komsèrˈ ya-xábra ⁺məmtèlule-llew.ˈ ⁺rəwwə́t komsèr,ˈ m-nòšewˈ lá ⁺m-šultanà bqə́re,ˈ lá m-markàz,ˈ markáz Tehrā̀n-wela,ˈ xabrà hwə́lle,ˈ mə́re ⁺hudaé gắrag yomə́t šabbàtˈ magón kullùˈ tkànu palxílu.ˈ lá-qablex ki-dukanà dwə́qta pešá.ˈ kəmmə́t ⁺hudaé lwèlu,ˈ tqèlu!ˈ mə́ru ⁺jánəm axní dinàn-ile,ˈ axní héč-⁺wada šabbát šúla là godéx.ˈ axní šabbát tkána là palxéx.ˈ mə́re làˈ magón kullú g-šuqá gắrag tkaná plìxa hawé.ˈ əl-d-áy m-báli zə́lle amrə́nwa baxún kí ⁺m-hudaé zargàr-əš kwéwa.ˈ zargăré ìtwa,ˈ kí dehwè,ˈ šul-dehwà godíwale.ˈ ⁺sarrafè ítwa.ˈ bod-mà?ˈ bód-od áy ixàla léweˈ goymé mənnú šaqlìwa.ˈ mà-t ⁺hudaé wə́dlu,ˈ mà-t mə́ruˈ ebèluˈ ršutà hawíwaˈ gal-fəssé là xdə́ra.ˈ mə́re gắrag tkané yómət šabbàtˈ palxètunu.ˈ ⁺hudaé là-yəllu ma-odíwa.ˈ mə́re mắni-t émnu ⁺hudaá tkanéw dwəqtá hawyà,ˈ b-mandéxe gáat ⁺dussā̀x.ˈ majbùr xdə́ru ⁺hudaéˈ tkánu pəlxàluˈ bắle šúlu là wə́dlu.ˈ xá pardà təltéluˈ ytə̀wlu ⁺qanšár tkaná.ˈ emnú muštárye kí idaá-welu ba-šaqolèˈ ⁺hudaé marà-weluˈ axní ədyóm là zabnéx.ˈ tkaná dwə̀qtela.ˈ má-t wə́dlu hadaé là-xdəraˈ mə́ru gărág šuqè.ˈ mə́ru bod-mà?ˈ axní mà-widexˈ gărág šabbáwe šùla odéx.ˈ axní šabbát šúla là godéx.ˈ mə́ru tkané ki-atxún dwaqètunu,ˈ šuqàˈ malùl xadóra,ˈ šuqàˈ ⁺pasuxtá là maxwulá,ˈ šuqá m-sqilulá pyalà.ˈ bălé atxún tkané kí palxètunu,ˈ ó šuqàˈ hamā́n sqilulá gədyà,ˈ wa-muštaryè-š gdé,ˈ wa-šuqá šulà godá.ˈ bod-ód atxún tkanxún dwaqètunu,ˈ šuqàˈ šúla lá wadè,ˈ goymè šúla la-wadú.ˈ ⁺hudaé majbùr xdə́ruˈ ya-xábra ⁺məmtélule l-markàz,ˈ markáz ⁺yaní Tehrā̀n,ˈ m-Tehrā́n xábra ⁺məmtélu ⁺l-šultanà.ˈ ⁺šultaná nòšew,ˈ šaxsàn,ˈ nā̀š šdə́reˈ geb-d-ó raísət áy komsérət áy Urmìˈ marèˈ yá xabràˈ ya-šulá bod-mà widéteˈ ⁺m-šultaná lá bqirà?ˈ əl-d-ó našá jarimà wə́dlule.ˈ dastúr hwə́llu mə́ru ⁺hudaèˈ ⁺məssé yomə́t šabbát tkanú dwiqè hawé,ˈ wa-yomə́t ay-dín tkánu palxìlu.ˈ dín áy ⁺hudáe dìn-ileˈ ay-góyme-š ay-nòšu-ile.ˈ yá šulàˈ ⁺šultaná là widə́lle.ˈ wa-⁺hudaé ⁺rába ⁺psə̀xluˈ yá šulá xakmá yomé grə̀šluleˈ xakmá šwèˈ bălé ⁺axrdá dùz xdə́ra.ˈ ⁺hudáət Urmìˈ ⁺məssén amrènˈ ⁺əččí g-əmmà,ˈ šulú ⁺bazazulà-wele.ˈ ⁺bazazulá ⁺yaní pàrča zaboné.ˈ šulá pàrča zabníwa.ˈ ⁺bassòr ítwa lóka kìˈ jùwe šúla kwéwalu.ˈ mằsal,ˈ baqalàˈ yá măsàlˈ əl-ləxmá zabnána g-šuqà,ˈ káre gúpte zabnanà.ˈ ayné šulé ⁺hudaé là-⁺msewa odíwalu.ˈ bod-mà?ˈ bod-òdˈ ⁺hudaé áxča là-weluˈ kí másalan mən-d-ó tkaná šaqlí ki-o-⁺məssèˈ yarxá ⁺palə̀tle.ˈ goymé-š lá šaqlíwa ⁺m-hudaà.ˈ goymé ⁺m-hudaá lá šaqlìwa.ˈ goymé ⁺rába ⁺rába əllán ⁺təmyè kyíwaˈ wa-là šaqlíwa.ˈ bod-ó wéla kìˈ kullànˈ ⁺hudáe lòkaˈ pàrča zabníwa.ˈ bás muštaryù-šˈ kúllu gòime-weluˈ m-malwawè.ˈ ⁺yá ⁺arelè,ˈ ⁺yá goymè,ˈ ya kartwèˈ gdéwa ⁺m-hudaé ⁺mā̀l šaqlíwa.ˈ aynèˈ goymé ⁺rába paxilulà godíwa ⁺m-hudaé.ˈ kí bod-mà?ˈ ayné jwā̀n ⁺mā́l madulú,ˈ jwā̀n zabonú.ˈ ⁺hudaé šúlu jwā̀n-ile g-šuqá.ˈ bắle goymèˈ šúlu jwā́n lèwe.ˈ zə́llu gébət ay-⁺rəwwət ay-komsèrˈ ya-xábra ⁺məmtèlule-llew.ˈ ⁺rəwwə́t komsèr,ˈ m-nòšewˈ lá ⁺m-šultanà bqə́re,ˈ lá m-markàz,ˈ markáz Tehrā̀n-wela,ˈ xabrà hwə́lle,ˈ mə́re ⁺hudaé gắrag yomə́t šabbàtˈ magón kullùˈ tkànu palxílu.ˈ lá-qablex ki-dukanà dwə́qta pešá.ˈ kəmmə́t ⁺hudaé lwèlu,ˈ tqèlu!ˈ mə́ru ⁺jánəm axní dinàn-ile,ˈ axní héč-⁺wada šabbát šúla là godéx.ˈ axní šabbát tkána là palxéx.ˈ mə́re làˈ magón kullú g-šuqá gắrag tkaná plìxa hawé.ˈ əl-d-áy m-báli zə́lle amrə́nwa baxún kí ⁺m-hudaé zargàr-əš kwéwa.ˈ zargăré ìtwa,ˈ kí dehwè,ˈ šul-dehwà godíwale.ˈ ⁺sarrafè ítwa.ˈ bod-mà?ˈ bód-od áy ixàla léweˈ goymé mənnú šaqlìwa.ˈ mà-t ⁺hudaé wə́dlu,ˈ mà-t mə́ruˈ ebèluˈ ršutà hawíwaˈ gal-fəssé là xdə́ra.ˈ mə́re gắrag tkané yómət šabbàtˈ palxètunu.ˈ ⁺hudaé là-yəllu ma-odíwa.ˈ mə́re mắni-t émnu ⁺hudaá tkanéw dwəqtá hawyà,ˈ b-mandéxe gáat ⁺dussā̀x.ˈ majbùr xdə́ru ⁺hudaéˈ tkánu pəlxàluˈ bắle šúlu là wə́dlu.ˈ xá pardà təltéluˈ ytə̀wlu ⁺qanšár tkaná.ˈ emnú muštárye kí idaá-welu ba-šaqolèˈ ⁺hudaé marà-weluˈ axní ədyóm là zabnéx.ˈ tkaná dwə̀qtela.ˈ má-t wə́dlu hadaé là-xdəraˈ mə́ru gărág šuqè.ˈ mə́ru bod-mà?ˈ axní mà-widexˈ gărág šabbáwe šùla odéx.ˈ axní šabbát šúla là godéx.ˈ mə́ru tkané ki-atxún dwaqètunu,ˈ šuqàˈ malùl xadóra,ˈ šuqàˈ ⁺pasuxtá là maxwulá,ˈ šuqá m-sqilulá pyalà.ˈ bălé atxún tkané kí palxètunu,ˈ ó šuqàˈ hamā́n sqilulá gədyà,ˈ wa-muštaryè-š gdé,ˈ wa-šuqá šulà godá.ˈ bod-ód atxún tkanxún dwaqètunu,ˈ šuqàˈ šúla lá wadè,ˈ goymè šúla la-wadú.ˈ ⁺hudaé majbùr xdə́ruˈ ya-xábra ⁺məmtélule l-markàz,ˈ markáz ⁺yaní Tehrā̀n,ˈ m-Tehrā́n xábra ⁺məmtélu ⁺l-šultanà.ˈ ⁺šultaná nòšew,ˈ šaxsàn,ˈ nā̀š šdə́reˈ geb-d-ó raísət áy komsérət áy Urmìˈ marèˈ yá xabràˈ ya-šulá bod-mà widéteˈ ⁺m-šultaná lá bqirà?ˈ əl-d-ó našá jarimà wə́dlule.ˈ dastúr hwə́llu mə́ru ⁺hudaèˈ ⁺məssé yomə́t šabbát tkanú dwiqè hawé,ˈ wa-yomə́t ay-dín tkánu palxìlu.ˈ dín áy ⁺hudáe dìn-ileˈ ay-góyme-š ay-nòšu-ile.ˈ yá šulàˈ ⁺šultaná là widə́lle.ˈ wa-⁺hudaé ⁺rába ⁺psə̀xluˈ yá šulá xakmá yomé grə̀šluleˈ xakmá šwèˈ bălé ⁺axrdá dùz xdə́ra.ˈ	The Jews of Urmi, I can say, ninety percent of them were in the cloth trade. The cloth trade means the selling of material. It was their job to sell material. There were only a few who had a different profession, such as (that of) a greengrocer or a vendor of bread in the market, or a vendor of butter and cheeses. The Jews could not do these jobs. Why? Because the Jews were not so many that they would buy from that shop and he (the Jewish shopkeeper) could finish the month. The Muslims, moreover, would not buy (food) from a Jew. The Muslims did not buy from a Jew. The Muslims thought us to be very unclean and did not buy (from us). It was for this reason that all of us, (all) the Jews there would sell material. But (in this trade) all their clients were Muslims from the villages. Christians, Muslims, Kurds would come and buy goods from the Jews. The Muslims were very jealous of the Jews. Why? They brought fine goods and made good sales of them. The Jews did a good business in the market. But the Muslims did not do a good business. They went to the chief of police and informed him of this matter. The chief of police of his own accord, without asking the king, nor the centre (of government),—the centre was in Tehran—issued an announcement saying ‘The Jews should open their shops on Saturday like everybody else. We do not permit any shop to remain closed’. How the Jews implored and pleaded! They said ‘Sir, it is our religion. We never work on Saturday. We do not open a shop on Saturday’. He said ‘No, like everybody (each) shop must be open on Saturday. I forgot to say to you that there were also goldsmiths among the Jews. There were goldsmiths, who traded in gold. There were jewellers. Why? Because there was no food that the Muslims would buy from them. Whatever the Jews did, whatever they said—they wanted to give bribes, but money had no effect. He said ‘You must open the shops on Saturday’. The Jews did not know what to do. He said ‘If the shop of any Jew from among them is shut, we shall throw him into prison’. The Jews were forced to open their shops, but they did not carry out their business. They hung a curtain and sat in front of their shop. If any clients came to make a purchase, the Jews said ‘We shall not sell today. The shop is closed’. Whatever the Jews did, it did not work. They said ‘There must be trade’. They (the Jews) said ‘Why? What have we done that we must work on Saturdays. We do not work on Saturday’. They said ‘When you close the shops, the market becomes depressed, the market does not appear to be happy, the market loses its beauty. But, when you open the shops, the market acquires this beauty, the clients come and the market does business. Because you close your shops, the market does not do business, the Muslims do not do business’. The Jews were forced to informed the centre (of government) about this matter, that is Tehran, and in Tehran they informed the king. The king himself, in person, sent a man to that chief of police of Urmi, saying ‘Why have you done this thing without having asked the king?’ They fined that man. They made a proclamation and said ‘The Jews can keep their shops closed on a Saturday and they will open their shops on week days (only). This is (in conformity) with the religion of the Jews and of the Muslims themselves. The king has not authorized this’. The Jews were very happy. They dragged on this affair for a few days, a few weeks, but in the end it was settled.

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Transcription:

⁺hudáət Urmìˈ ⁺məssén amrènˈ ⁺əččí g-əmmà,ˈ šulú ⁺bazazulà-wele.ˈ ⁺bazazulá ⁺yaní pàrča zaboné.ˈ šulá pàrča zabníwa.ˈ ⁺bassòr ítwa lóka kìˈ jùwe šúla kwéwalu.ˈ mằsal,ˈ baqalàˈ yá măsàlˈ əl-ləxmá zabnána g-šuqà,ˈ káre gúpte zabnanà.ˈ ayné šulé ⁺hudaé là-⁺msewa odíwalu.ˈ bod-mà?ˈ bod-òdˈ ⁺hudaé áxča là-weluˈ kí másalan mən-d-ó tkaná šaqlí ki-o-⁺məssèˈ yarxá ⁺palə̀tle.ˈ goymé-š lá šaqlíwa ⁺m-hudaà.ˈ goymé ⁺m-hudaá lá šaqlìwa.ˈ goymé ⁺rába ⁺rába əllán ⁺təmyè kyíwaˈ wa-là šaqlíwa.ˈ

bod-ó wéla kìˈ kullànˈ ⁺hudáe lòkaˈ pàrča zabníwa.ˈ bás muštaryù-šˈ kúllu gòime-weluˈ m-malwawè.ˈ ⁺yá ⁺arelè,ˈ ⁺yá goymè,ˈ ya kartwèˈ gdéwa ⁺m-hudaé ⁺mā̀l šaqlíwa.ˈ aynèˈ goymé ⁺rába paxilulà godíwa ⁺m-hudaé.ˈ kí bod-mà?ˈ ayné jwā̀n ⁺mā́l madulú,ˈ jwā̀n zabonú.ˈ ⁺hudaé šúlu jwā̀n-ile g-šuqá.ˈ bắle goymèˈ šúlu jwā́n lèwe.ˈ zə́llu gébət ay-⁺rəwwət ay-komsèrˈ ya-xábra ⁺məmtèlule-llew.ˈ ⁺rəwwə́t komsèr,ˈ m-nòšewˈ lá ⁺m-šultanà bqə́re,ˈ lá m-markàz,ˈ markáz Tehrā̀n-wela,ˈ xabrà hwə́lle,ˈ mə́re ⁺hudaé gắrag yomə́t šabbàtˈ magón kullùˈ tkànu palxílu.ˈ lá-qablex ki-dukanà dwə́qta pešá.ˈ kəmmə́t ⁺hudaé lwèlu,ˈ tqèlu!ˈ mə́ru ⁺jánəm axní dinàn-ile,ˈ axní héč-⁺wada šabbát šúla là godéx.ˈ axní šabbát tkána là palxéx.ˈ mə́re làˈ magón kullú g-šuqá gắrag tkaná plìxa hawé.ˈ

əl-d-áy m-báli zə́lle amrə́nwa baxún kí ⁺m-hudaé zargàr-əš kwéwa.ˈ zargăré ìtwa,ˈ kí dehwè,ˈ šul-dehwà godíwale.ˈ ⁺sarrafè ítwa.ˈ bod-mà?ˈ bód-od áy ixàla léweˈ goymé mənnú šaqlìwa.ˈ

mà-t ⁺hudaé wə́dlu,ˈ mà-t mə́ruˈ ebèluˈ ršutà hawíwaˈ gal-fəssé là xdə́ra.ˈ mə́re gắrag tkané yómət šabbàtˈ palxètunu.ˈ ⁺hudaé là-yəllu ma-odíwa.ˈ mə́re mắni-t émnu ⁺hudaá tkanéw dwəqtá hawyà,ˈ b-mandéxe gáat ⁺dussā̀x.ˈ majbùr xdə́ru ⁺hudaéˈ tkánu pəlxàluˈ bắle šúlu là wə́dlu.ˈ xá pardà təltéluˈ ytə̀wlu ⁺qanšár tkaná.ˈ emnú muštárye kí idaá-welu ba-šaqolèˈ ⁺hudaé marà-weluˈ axní ədyóm là zabnéx.ˈ tkaná dwə̀qtela.ˈ má-t wə́dlu hadaé là-xdəraˈ mə́ru gărág šuqè.ˈ mə́ru bod-mà?ˈ axní mà-widexˈ gărág šabbáwe šùla odéx.ˈ axní šabbát šúla là godéx.ˈ mə́ru tkané ki-atxún dwaqètunu,ˈ šuqàˈ malùl xadóra,ˈ šuqàˈ ⁺pasuxtá là maxwulá,ˈ šuqá m-sqilulá pyalà.ˈ bălé atxún tkané kí palxètunu,ˈ ó šuqàˈ hamā́n sqilulá gədyà,ˈ wa-muštaryè-š gdé,ˈ wa-šuqá šulà godá.ˈ bod-ód atxún tkanxún dwaqètunu,ˈ šuqàˈ šúla lá wadè,ˈ goymè šúla la-wadú.ˈ ⁺hudaé majbùr xdə́ruˈ ya-xábra ⁺məmtélule l-markàz,ˈ markáz ⁺yaní Tehrā̀n,ˈ m-Tehrā́n xábra ⁺məmtélu ⁺l-šultanà.ˈ ⁺šultaná nòšew,ˈ šaxsàn,ˈ nā̀š šdə́reˈ geb-d-ó raísət áy komsérət áy Urmìˈ marèˈ yá xabràˈ ya-šulá bod-mà widéteˈ ⁺m-šultaná lá bqirà?ˈ əl-d-ó našá jarimà wə́dlule.ˈ

dastúr hwə́llu mə́ru ⁺hudaèˈ ⁺məssé yomə́t šabbát tkanú dwiqè hawé,ˈ wa-yomə́t ay-dín tkánu palxìlu.ˈ dín áy ⁺hudáe dìn-ileˈ ay-góyme-š ay-nòšu-ile.ˈ yá šulàˈ ⁺šultaná là widə́lle.ˈ wa-⁺hudaé ⁺rába ⁺psə̀xluˈ yá šulá xakmá yomé grə̀šluleˈ xakmá šwèˈ bălé ⁺axrdá dùz xdə́ra.ˈ

Translation:

The Jews of Urmi, I can say, ninety percent of them were in the cloth trade. The cloth trade means the selling of material. It was their job to sell material. There were only a few who had a different profession, such as (that of) a greengrocer or a vendor of bread in the market, or a vendor of butter and cheeses. The Jews could not do these jobs. Why? Because the Jews were not so many that they would buy from that shop and he (the Jewish shopkeeper) could finish the month. The Muslims, moreover, would not buy (food) from a Jew. The Muslims did not buy from a Jew. The Muslims thought us to be very unclean and did not buy (from us).

It was for this reason that all of us, (all) the Jews there would sell material. But (in this trade) all their clients were Muslims from the villages. Christians, Muslims, Kurds would come and buy goods from the Jews. The Muslims were very jealous of the Jews. Why? They brought fine goods and made good sales of them. The Jews did a good business in the market. But the Muslims did not do a good business. They went to the chief of police and informed him of this matter. The chief of police of his own accord, without asking the king, nor the centre (of government),—the centre was in Tehran—issued an announcement saying ‘The Jews should open their shops on Saturday like everybody else. We do not permit any shop to remain closed’. How the Jews implored and pleaded! They said ‘Sir, it is our religion. We never work on Saturday. We do not open a shop on Saturday’. He said ‘No, like everybody (each) shop must be open on Saturday.

I forgot to say to you that there were also goldsmiths among the Jews. There were goldsmiths, who traded in gold. There were jewellers. Why? Because there was no food that the Muslims would buy from them.

Whatever the Jews did, whatever they said—they wanted to give bribes, but money had no effect. He said ‘You must open the shops on Saturday’. The Jews did not know what to do. He said ‘If the shop of any Jew from among them is shut, we shall throw him into prison’. The Jews were forced to open their shops, but they did not carry out their business. They hung a curtain and sat in front of their shop. If any clients came to make a purchase, the Jews said ‘We shall not sell today. The shop is closed’. Whatever the Jews did, it did not work. They said ‘There must be trade’. They (the Jews) said ‘Why? What have we done that we must work on Saturdays. We do not work on Saturday’. They said ‘When you close the shops, the market becomes depressed, the market does not appear to be happy, the market loses its beauty. But, when you open the shops, the market acquires this beauty, the clients come and the market does business. Because you close your shops, the market does not do business, the Muslims do not do business’. The Jews were forced to informed the centre (of government) about this matter, that is Tehran, and in Tehran they informed the king. The king himself, in person, sent a man to that chief of police of Urmi, saying ‘Why have you done this thing without having asked the king?’ They fined that man.

They made a proclamation and said ‘The Jews can keep their shops closed on a Saturday and they will open their shops on week days (only). This is (in conformity) with the religion of the Jews and of the Muslims themselves. The king has not authorized this’. The Jews were very happy. They dragged on this affair for a few days, a few weeks, but in the end it was settled.