An innovative digital project to preserve, document, and share the Juhuri language (Judeo-Tat) — the language of the Mountain Jews of the Caucasus. Combining academic research with modern AI technology.
Juhuri (also known as Judeo-Tat) is a Jewish language from the Iranian language family, rooted in Middle Persian dialects of the Sasanian era (5th–7th centuries). Spoken by the Mountain Jews (Caucasus Jews) of present-day Azerbaijan and Dagestan, it developed a distinct character over the centuries, incorporating Hebrew and Aramaic vocabulary alongside Turkic and Caucasian influences.
UNESCO classifies Juhuri as "Definitely Endangered," with a declining number of fluent speakers, particularly among younger generations. The largest Mountain Jewish communities today are in Israel, New York, Russia (Moscow and Derbent), and Azerbaijan.
During the Sasanian Empire, Jewish communities establish themselves in the Eastern Caucasus — in Derbent, Azerbaijan, and Dagestan. From the Persian dialects of the era, the language that will become Juhuri begins to take shape.
Mountain Jews develop a rich tradition of poetry, stories, and folklore in Juhuri, including the shirvoni genre. Written Juhuri literature emerged primarily in the 20th century.
Under Soviet rule, Juhuri transitions from Hebrew script to a Latin alphabet (1920s), then to Cyrillic (1938). The community preserves its identity despite pressures.
Large waves of emigration to Israel, New York, and Moscow. The Juhuri language begins to be displaced by Hebrew, Russian, and English.
Juhuri Heritage launches — the largest digital dictionary with over 46,000 entries, preserving the language for future generations.
Type a word in any language — Hebrew, Juhuri, Russian, or Latin transliteration.
Get translations, pronunciation, usage examples, and dialect information.
Add new words, correct translations, and help preserve the language.
Use the AI tutor to learn Juhuri at your own pace.
The largest community — Or Akiva, Haifa, Acre, and more
New York (Brooklyn, Queens) — the largest community outside Israel
Moscow, Derbent (Dagestan) — historic place of origin
Qirmizi Qasaba ("Red Town") near Quba — a unique historic Jewish settlement. A small community remains in Baku
The Juhuri Heritage Dictionary is the largest digital Juhuri dictionary, containing over 46,000 entries with translations into Hebrew, English, and Russian, Latin transliteration, pronunciation guides, and vowel markings. Built from academic research and community contributions.
We believe that a language is the soul of a community. Preserving Juhuri is essential for passing on the heritage of the Mountain Jews from generation to generation. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive and accessible digital platform for learning, documenting, and celebrating Juhuri culture.
Behind Juhuri Heritage is a dedicated team of linguists, developers, and community members. We are always looking for new volunteers.
Contact us