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Iranian Mandaean scribe From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Šganda Salem Choheili (Persian: سالم چحیلی; born 1935 in Ahvaz, Iran[1]} is an Iranian Mandaean scribe, teacher, and author. He is also a shganda and yalufa (learned Mandaean layman)[1] and is one of the leaders of the Mandaean Council of Ahvaz.[2] Salem Choheili is a fully fluent speaker of Neo-Mandaic.[3]: 211
Salem Choheili | |
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![]() Salem Choheili reading the Left Ginza in 2015 | |
Born | 1935 Ahvaz, Iran |
Nationality | Iranian |
Other names | Bayan bar Šarat |
Occupation(s) | Scribe, teacher, author |
Organization | Mandaean Council of Ahvaz |
Notable work | Mandaean Book of John manuscript (1989) Ginza Rabba (2021, Persian translation) |
Title | Shganda |
Salem Choheili was born in Ahvaz, Iran in 1935 into the Kuhailia (Persian pronunciation: Choheili) family.[1] His Mandaean baptismal name is Bayan bar Šarat (Classical Mandaic: ࡁࡀࡉࡀࡍ ࡁࡓ ࡔࡀࡓࡀࡕ, romanized: Baian br Šarat, lit. 'Bayan, son of Šarat').[3]
As a child, he learned to speak colloquial Mandaic from his parents.[2] Salem Choheili later served as Slovak linguist Rudolf Macúch's primary Neo-Mandaic linguistic informant in 1989,[4]: 37 as well as a guide for Norwegian-American scholar Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley during her 1996 field trip to Iran.[3]: 211
After serving in the Iranian military, Salem Choheili focused on transcribing Mandaic manuscripts.[2] On April 12, 1989, he finished copying a handwritten manuscript of the Mandaean Book of John. Dr. Sinan Abdullah, the son of physicist Abdul Jabbar Abdullah, brought a photocopy of the manuscript to Niskayuna, New York, United States, which was later transferred to Colonie, New York.[5]
In addition to publishing Mandaean scriptures printed in the original Mandaic alphabet, Salem Choheili has written various Persian-language books on Mandaean history, religion, and language. In 2021 (1400 S.H.), he completed a Persian translation of the Ginza Rabba.[6][7][8][2]
Although not a formally ordained Mandaean priest, Salem Choheili serves as a shganda (priestly assistant) in the Iranian Mandaean community[3] and is currently a member of the Mandaean Council of Ahvaz.[2] He has taught Mandaic to Iranian Mandaeans for decades and runs a Mandaic language school in Ahvaz.[1][9]
As a member of the Choheili family, his relatives include Jabbar Choheili (1923–2014), Salah Choheili, and Najah Choheili.[3]
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