ETHNONYMS: Self-designations: G'ivri, Isroil', Zhch'uch'ur; Dagchifut
To keep the working mass of Mountain Jews obedient, the bourgeoisie and merchants were active in philanthropy—they built synagogues and opened Jewish religious schools. Their rabbis emerged not only as guardians of the faith but as judges who strictly controlled everyday life in the quarters (or ghettos, magaly) in which the Mountain Jews lived, isolated from the surrounding population.
M. M. IKHILOV (Translated by Paul Friedrich and David Testen)