Tzarfat (Hebrew: צרפת, romanized: Ṣārp̄aṯ, Israeli pronunciation: [tsaʁˈfat]) is a Biblical placename that may refer to Sarepta in Lebanon. From Medieval Hebrew and into Modern Hebrew, it has come to be identified with France. The modern term evolved from the medieval Zarfat, as seen in Joseph ha-Kohen's Dibre ha-Yamim le-Malke Zarfat we-'Otoman (Chronicles of the Kings of France and the Ottoman Empire).
The epithet tzarfati (צרפתי) was frequently applied in rabbinical literature to Jews of French birth or descent.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Kahn, S.; Broydé, Isaac; Gottheil, Richard (1901–1906). "Ẓarfati, Ẓarefati ("French")". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
Sources
edit- Falk, A. (1996). A Psychoanalytic History of the Jews. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. p. 364. ISBN 9780838636602. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
- Banitt, M. (1985). Rashi: Interpreter of the Biblical Letter. Chaim Rosenberg School of Jewish Studies, Tel Aviv University. Retrieved 2015-11-09.