Zorfashazi
Zorfashazi Jews, also known as Eastern Jews or simply Zorfashazim are a Jewish diaspora population who coalesced as a distinct community in Corumm in the 13th century.
Zorfashazi | |
|---|---|
 Dom Dode Central Synagogue | |
| Total population | |
| 1.480.000 (2025) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Corumm | 480.000 |
| Levantia | 200.000 |
| Languages | |
| Jaddish, Corummese | |
| Religion | |
| Judaism | |
The traditional diaspora language of Zorfashazi Jews is Jaddish (a hebrew language which incorporates several dialects), with Hebrew used only as a sacred language until relatively recently. Throughout their time in Corumm, the Zorfashazi have made many important contributions to philosophy, scholarship, literature, art, music, and science.
Zorfashazi originate from the Jewish refugees from Audonia who were taken in by the Qian dynasty and settled in the Pachin valley, in central Corumm . There they became a distinct diaspora community with a unique way of life that adapted traditions from their homeland to their new environment. The Zorfashazi religious community enjoyed imperial protection and developed in several Corummese towns within Pachin. The city of Dom Dode is the principal center of the community and houses the largest synagogue in the country.
History
Originating in Audonia thousands of years ago, Judaism and its followers would fall under the shadow of Oduniyyad rule. Curtailed in their rights and freedoms as dhimmi, the jews persisted for many years until the ascent of Caliph Ruwaid. Ruwaid ordered the start of terrible persecutions of non muslims. Killings, ransacking of synagogues and forced conversions were inflicted on jews all across the caliphate. The Chief Rabbi of Bardabeh appealed to the greatest enemy of the caliph for help, the emperor of the Qian dynasty. At the end of the Third Oduniyyad-Qian war, the victorious Emperor Fanqie included among his conditions for peace, a demand to be given the jews over as subjects. The exact phrasing has survived in historical texts and is as follows: 'that the cruel Arab who is blind in one eye by zealotry, pass unto me the Jews from his care that my realm benefit from the work of their minds and their hands'.
Rites
Notable Zorfashazi Jews
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Avidor Boruch also known as Wang Ming. Served as Director of the Imperial Observatory in the Qian period.
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Benson Salomons, only Jewish member of the People's Assembly.
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Meyer Rozik, dwarf folk singer.
