An important update on the Jews of Yemen

By: Malka L. Josephs

History Repeated

Nestled in a small village, a community’s peaceful life is suddenly and shockingly interrupted: “All Jews must flee immediately. Your corrupt religious beliefs render you all guilty and your fate is sealed. No one in this life will be able to help you. Every single man, woman and child must immediately flee – or face the sword as an alternative. Death to any Jew who dares to remain!”

The Spanish expulsion?

Nazi Germany?

From Drop Box

No, this all-too-familiar scene has been played out not only in our past history, but it actually took place only two years ago in the formerly thriving religious community of El Salem Gharir in Yemen. The horrifying spectacle of families being airlifted by government helicopter out of Gharir to the marginally safer capital city of Sana’a marked the beginning of a dramatic downward spiral in the increasingly dangerous anti-Semitic treatment of the Jews of Yemen. This documented event was recognized throughout the world as a breach of basic human rights and was reported by the secular media and press including Amnesty International and the U.N.

Ever since ninety-five percent of Yemenite Jewry left their country close to sixty years ago, and left their thousands of years of history behind, the four to five hundred Jewish people that remain in Yemen have held steadfast to Torah and, to the best of their limited abilities, have built themselves small observant communities. The main Jewish center is in the town of Raidah. There they exist with a Shul, Mikva, private Shchita and a Cheder. These Yidden, bereft of the guidance of their elders and the prominence of their once strong and thriving thousand year continuous community, have nonetheless been Moser Nefesh to hold on to their faith, despite increasingly challenging obstacles.

Recent world events have shifted the political landscape for the twenty-two million Arabs who inhabit Yemen. With an Anachronistically feudal government, and Al Qaida on the rise and growing stronger, the local sheiks hold most control over the towns and feel less and less of a need to show the Jews any sort of protection. Just the opposite – the local population, almost all of whom carry guns and even enter their courts armed at all times, have been repeatedly threatening the Jewish families. The kidnappings, death threats and violence against our brothers and sisters in the region have escalated to a point where it is no longer safe for any Jew to remain in Yemen. Gedolei Yisroel, Rabbonim and Askanim agree: it is time to band together and take on this tremendous Mitzva of Hatzalas Nefashos.

A Nightmare in Broad Daylight
One of the most Chashuva Jews in Yemen, a man by the name of R’ Moishe Ya’ish Nahari, was a beloved Rebbie and community Askan who helped to establish the Chinuch in the town of Gharir. He, along with many others, had been threatened on numerous occasions and told that if he did not convert to Isalm he would be killed. On the 14th day of Kislev, right in front of his own home and in broad daylight, Rabbi Nahari was shot to death in cold blood. The local sheiks and organized governmental groups wouldn’t help the widow or her family, and the government couldn’t get the local Jews out even to capital city. Even with ongoing threats and unrest in the region, there is still fear of terrorism backlash. It has become clear that the Jews in Raidah are no longer safe and that there is in fact no true safe haven for them in the region.
Unfortunately, the situation in Yemen is not limited to one isolated event. Stories of violence abound, and it seems that every day that goes by our brethren are at greater and greater risk of abduction, attack and even murder. Children have been kidnapped; a young woman who had been educated in the United States for four years went back to Yemen and suddenly disappeared. The government couldn’t help, and even when they found her, she could not be released and remains trapped with her captors to this day – unable to rejoin her family and community despite the brave efforts of Jewish activists in Yemen and America. There have been reported incidents of flash grenades and other random acts of violence against the Jewish population. Anyone found helping a Jew to flee is immediately threatened by local “authorities”. One widow who recently begged for police protection after an assault on her family, was told that they simply can’t help her. During the Gaza war, when tensions became palpably high, most Jews tried to remain off the streets, but two Jewish residents were reported injured by locals and had to be hospitalized. The Jewish people of Yemen feel the ground under their feet burning with the hatred and the imminent danger that surrounds them. Desperate for regular police protection, which is not offered, they have turned to the American Jewish community for salvation. In an effort to help as many Jews as possible, all refugees are given the choice of where to go once they leave Yemen; whether Eretz Yisroel, Europe, or America, however most of the families are choosing to come to American shores.
What Can We Do?
Under the Guidance of our Gedolei Yisroel, the Askonim have been actively forming initiatives in every large Jewish community to raise the necessary funds to rescue our brothers and sisters from danger and bring them out of Yemen.

The Skulener Rebbe Shlita, has spearheaded a number of meetings of Gedolim Rabbonim and Askanim. The rescue operation is run by a Va’ad Harabbonim with respected Rabbonim such as Rav Hershel Halpert – Viener Dayan & Rav M.M. Weiss – Pupa Dayan from Brooklyn; and Rav Chaim Flohr, & Rav Schneebalg from Monsey. Additionally, noted Balabatim such as R’ Shea Herzog, R’ Heshie (Yair) Greensweig and R’Aryeh Derdig are in charge of the practical aspects of this rescue. They are personally responsible for all the money that goes in and out of the campaign, and they sign the checks.

This past Shabbos was a “Shabbos Hatzolas Taimon” in Monsey, New York where a community-wide appeal promoted awareness of this vital issue. This week another will be held in Boro Park. Other communities such as Flatbush and Lakewood are soon to follow.

Bringing the desperate families out to safety takes money. Millions of dollars are needed not just for the actual transportation, but for visas, temporary living situations in Vienna and then settling the families into their new surroundings. As the Rachmostrivka Rebbe, Shlita, pointed out: it is not enough to just physically transplant these individuals, we must take care of their every need – physical and spiritual so we do not wind up losing them again. They must be integrated into their new community, which includes finding jobs and schools, as well as providing tutoring and mentorship. Many families will be in need of professional counseling as well to try to undo the damage inflicted through years of living in fear. All expenses are carefully monitored and overseen by the Vaad.
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This is Klal Yisroel’s project. It is not the responsibility of one group or one neighborhood, but the fate of these 420 Jewish people is in all of our hands. It is up to each and every one of us to take the reins – heeding the call of our people for Hatzalos Nefashos.

To learn more, or to make a donation, please contact: Rav Hershel Halpern – Viener Dayan 1346 45 Street Brooklyn N.Y. 11219. Checks can be made out to Hatzulas Pleitey Taimon

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