VIRTUAL JEWISH MUSEUM

Arabia.map

Yemen.synagogue

This postcard shows a rare scene of men in a synagogue in Sanaa Yemen. Their building would be simple on the inside and look very ordinary on the outside. Jews needed to keep a low profile to avoid attracting unfavorable attention from the Moslem government. The men pictured are wearing tefillin and studying Torah books.

Yemen.postcard series.backs

The postcard was printed in Berlin. As the back explains, it is part of a series on Yemen using photos taken by Herman Burchardt who traveled there to record their life. The cards were sold in Germany as a fundraiser by 'The Aid Committee for Yemenite Jews'. Burchardt was a wealthy Jewish explorer who personally took 2000 photos all over the Middle East. He visited Yemen in 1902, 1907, and was murdered there in 1909.

Synagogue in Sanaa

Another Burchardt photo of a synagogue interior. Here we don't see tefillin but talitot are evident. The peyot are long and curled and the men wear a type of fez. The man on the left must be the 'Mori' (rabbi) teaching Torah. The Ark is open, probably to include the Sifrei Torah in the photographer's picture.

Yemen.rabbinic court

This scrap of paper is a rabbinical court promissory note recording the debt of Yachya ibn Yachya from Ten'im, Yemen to Saalem ibn Yachya from Alchaznin. It is in the amount of 10 Riyals. Witnessed by 'Mori' Yosef Hayim AlKairoani & 'Mori' Musya Said Alghasi on Friday, 7 Tishrei year 2261. That is the ancient calendar year of minyan shatarot which starts in 311 BCE equals 1950 in today's calendar.

Yemen.rabbis

Printed and mailed in Austria, this postcard pictures 'Yemenites'. Their hair, caps and Talitot identify them as Jews. They are studying from one book, perhaps a Talmud. Books were scarce in Yemen, and usually hand-copied. Several students often shared one volume and famously learned to read from different angles, even up side down, depending on their seat location. Perhaps they are in synagogue, where benches line the walls.

Yemenite Machzor outside

Yemenite Siddur.Avinu Malkeinu

Books were scarce and the Yemenite community never had a Hebrew printing press. (Aden did.) So except for a few imports, books were all hand-copied. Prayerbooks, Tanach, Mishna, Shulhan Aruh, and halachic guides. This book is a hand- copied Machzor - High Holiday prayer book. Shown is the prayer 'Avinu Malkeinu'. The text is very familiar, with occasional variations.

Yemenite siddur Kol Nidrei

This page shows the Yom Kippur night Kol Nidrei prayer. Similar to other versions but slightly different. The writing is very neat and legible. It is in 'Rashi style' with opening words in square print.

Yemen.Sharing a Book

A photo showing Yemenite children sharing one book, at different angles.

Yemen.selichot.Babylonian nikud

An uncommon Selicha text written on parchment that has scored guidelines ('sirtut') like a sefer Torah. One leaf from a booklet. Remarkably, the text has vowels all ABOVE the words and not below them. This is the Babylonian system of vocalization that developed by the 7th century but mostly disappeared by the 10th, in favor of the Tiberian system we still use today. Babylonian traditions were known to Yemenite Jews and had a strong influence on them.

Yemen.sefer.kosher

The final page of a hand-written book dealing with the kosher status of animals that ate harmful substances. It quotes the Rambam. At the end the author recorded his name and date: Tenetz b. Tzalach, known as Zechariah, on the 22nd Adar 2199 (using Minyan Shtarot - the ancient document dating system that began under Greek rule but had been discarded by most other communities). Counting from 311 BCE this is 1888. The edge appears singed by fire.

Yemen.Diploma to be a Shochet

This hand-written diploma was issued by a traveling court of rabbis who tested and authorized students to be Shochtim, ritual slaughterers. They arrived at 'Al Nawama' and tested Yachya ibn Musals Menahem. He was expert in all the laws, and preparing the knife. He is even expert in Nikur, extracting the forbidden sinew. So all may eat from his work. Signed by 3 rabbis and dated 2256 year (ca. 1945) according to Minyan Shatarot, the ancient Seleucid document dating system.

Yemen.Torah study

This Yemenite scholar is studying from a large Torah book. The scene could be in Yemen, judging by the furnishings, style of textiles, and the low seat he is sitting on. Considering how many books are in the picture, this may be a synagogue. If it is from Israel, they certainly tried to preserve the same style and atmosphere that Yemenites had in 'the old country'.

Yemen.ketuba replacement

This ketubah is hand-written in Rashi style . Much of it is standard text found in ketubot all over the world. But it begins differently. Salim ibn Yuda came before the 3 undersigned rabbis and told them that the originall ketuba given to his wife Badra had been lost. As the halacha states, he needs a replacement - this document, which is called a Ketuba d'Erchesa. Dated 13 Elul 2212 = 1911. Signed by 3 judges, al with the first name Yachya!

Yemen.ketuba.divorcee

This ketuba was written on 20 Tishrei 2256 (27 Sept 1945), using the ancient dating of 'minyan shtarot', in the town of Almata'af. Salah b. Yosef Al-Kara married Rahel b. Awas. As the bride was a divorcee, the ketubah money is stated as 100 zuzim, not the usual 200. signed by Mansour b. Yachya and Yachya b. Said.

Yemen.teaching

Girls were taught by family to run a Jewish household & follow Torah laws. Boys attended a local one room school in someone's house where from age 3 - 13 they studied with the 'Mori'. First reading, and memorizing weekly Torah portions, including Aramaic translation. Later, Mishna and Arabic. At 12 a boy would become an apprentice in a trade. Above a grandfather in traditional garb teaches his Israeli grandson Torah.

Yemen.family

Yemenite family photographed by Burchardt. We see peyot, kippot, and very short haircuts on the males. The boy may be wearing a small talit. The females, even the young girl, are fully covered head to toe - perhaps dressed up in their most ethnic clothes for the photo.

Yemen.women & children

The caption reads 'Jewish women and girls in Sanaa' although it seems a few are boys. Yemenites 100 years ago. All the children are barefoot yet everyone is well covered, including their heads.The women are covering their faces before the camera. Sanaa is the capital of Yemen and at one time held over 10,000. Now only a few dozen remain.

Yemen.Jews

'Yemenite Jews'. The children are obviously posing, and probably can't imagine what the point of it is. There can not have been many cameras among the Jews of Yemen. Large Kippot, long Peyot, very short haircuts, and bare feet are evident.

Yemen.men's clothing

Men's clothing was not so different from Moslem outfits, except darker and simpler. Jews wore a smaller cap with a smaller turban wound around it. There was an inner robe and an outer cloak. Over everything men wore a rectangular shawl which could have tzitzit attached. (Look at the man on the right.) Of course peyot and a beard were signs of Jewishness.

Yemen.women's clothing

Jewish clothing couldn't be too showy or colorful in Moslem society. However indoor clothing, & especially festive clothing was the exception. Here we see young women, now in Israel, wearing festive costumes. The dresses have beautiful embroidery on them. The head covering is a 'Gargush', a hoodlike covering with embroidery & silver work. The coins represented their dowry upon marriage. It was also their bank. Women wore the family savings on their bodies, as much for protection as for beauty.

Yemen.smoking

This Yemenite Jew wears a black cloak. We can't see the knee-length shirt he must be wearing underneath. He has a large kippa and long peyot. Perhaps he is a peddler, carrying merchandise on his back. He stands in front of a stone building and is smoking an unusually long pipe, which was found in that part of the world. That is probably what caught the photographer's eye.

yemen.silversmith

'The silversmith El Abyad in his Workshop'. This Burchardt photo captures what looks like 3 generations of craftsmen in their shop. Since Moslems considered jewelry-making to be forbidden under the laws of usury, this profession was left almost entirely to Jews. The silver-smiths of Yemen in particular gained a reputation for making lovely, intricate Jewelry and ceremonial items.

Yemen.kamea.silver ornament

A classic Yemenite amulet of silver. The intricate designs give it a distinctive look. These were worn around the neck on a chain. They usually contained a mystical formula on paper rolled up inside. This one is quite substantial, four inches wide and almost 2 inches high. It hasn't been opened.

Yemen.jewelry group

Examples of Yemenite jewelry made by artists who emigrated to Israel. Here we see a pin, an earring and cufflinks.

Yemen.jewelry.pin

The pin is an example of filigree. That is a type of jewelry making that uses fine silver wire, bent and rolled in a variety of shapes.

Yemen.correspondance

This envelope went from Sanaa Yemen to Tel Aviv Palestine in 1934. The address is very neatly written in both Arabic and Rashi style Hebrew. To the honorable sir Ye'udah Sa'id Amar. Notice that Yehuda is spelled without a Hey in the religious manner.

Yemen.correspondance.back

There is no return address. We can't tell if it was business or personal. There were Jewish merchants in the capital city of Sanaa, engaged in retail and wholesale business. Some supplied the British army in Aden and others dealt internationally. As we can see, they did have postage stamps.

Yemen.Palestine.cover

Modern emigration from Yemen to Eretz Yisrael began in 1881 and increased after WWI. The point of departure was the British controlled Port of Aden, where a Jewish Agency office helped obtain documents, gave health exams, and arranged tickets. Between the 2 wars, about 8,000 Yemenite Jews reached Palestine. This was the essential 'certificate' required for entry. They were in big demand.

Yemen.Palestine certificate

Yehia Ookashi and his wife Badra are pictured. They were fortunate to obtain this certificate which includes sons Yehya, Yousef, and Moosa. He was approved for Aliya on 22 June 1932, got this certificate on 7 July, left Aden on the ship Andre Lebou bound for Port Said, and arrived on 3rd of August. His tickets and fees cost 292 Rupees and 12 Annas.

Yemen.Palestine.details

Other details include the ages of all five family members. His occupation was laborer. He spoke Hebrew.

Yemenite Schoolchildren in Palestine

This class picture is from an elementary school for Yemenite children in Palestine. The class is 4th grade section 2 and the photo was taken in 1941. We count 30 boys surrounding their 'Mori' (Rabbi/teacher). Four other adults join them.

Aden.map

Aden was an important Jewish community in the Middle Ages. They had major libraries & were in contact with other eastern communities. 3000 families had dwindled but swelled under British occupation starting in 1839. They were craftsmen and businessmen. Aden was more modernized than the Yemen interior. An Arab mob attack after the UN partition plan of 1947 led to almost total emigration. The last 150 Jews left after the 6 Day War in 1967. Outlying pockets of very old communities left as well.

Aden.printing.book

Adeni Jews had a long history of learning and collecting manuscripts and books. In 1891 Menachem Awad founded a printing press that produced scores of titles including this one, Sefer Petach HaOhel. It deals with laws of divorce. In the back are other laws and prayer, for engagement, marriage, and Sheva Berachot. Printed in 1945.

Aden.Judeo Arabic printing

In the absence of a printing press, Yemen's Jewish books were all hand printed. But nearby Aden did have a press and seems to have supplied some books. This one is an explanation of the book of Esther. The front cover dates it, through starred letters, to 5689 = 1929.

Aden.Judeo arabic page

While the cover and title page are in Hebrew, the rest of the book itself is entirely in Judeo Arabic, printed in Hebrew letters.

Aden.business.Palestine

This envelope bears writing in English, Arabic and Judeo-Arabic, written in 3 alphabets. Sent from Aden Camp by M. Samuel & Co. at the Cloth Bazaar, to the Hibshoosh Brothers in the Arab market at Jaffa Palestine. The envelope is Registered, so contained something valuable. It was insured for 55 British Pounds. The Hebrew writing mentions a Sr. Hayim Suleiman.

Aden.business.Palestine.back

M. Samuel & Co. sealed this registered packet with wax seals bearing their imprint. We can trace the travels of the envelope by the postal cancels. First Aden Camp, then Aden proper, Port Taufiq, Port Said, and finally Tel Aviv.

Aden.mail.Aden camp

Aden, a port on the edge of Yemen, was ruled by the British from 1838 - 1967. The coastal city of Crater (named for an ancient volcano), came to be known as Aden Camp. This envelope is addressed in English and Hebrew to Habrit HaIvrit HaOlamit in Tel Aviv, in 1942. It is marked 'Hebrew on top for the convenience of the censors. It was in fact censored first by the British and then by the Egyptians during WWII.

Aden.mail.Aden camp.back

Aden had been governed as part of British India. In 1937 it became the separate British Crown Colony of Aden. The currency was now African Shillings and that shows on these Aden stamps, along with the portrait of King George VI.

Aden.receipt.Hebrew

Menahem Yakob Shabetai stamped and signed this paper. It seems to be a record or receipt of payment of 12 francs to a Shmuel Nahum in Jerusalem. It is stamped Aden-Camp and dated 21 March 1946.

Aden.mail.personal

This is a lightweight air letter that has been pre-printed with the business name and address inside and out. The name Ben-Tob and the wish at the top of the letter 'Tizku Leshanim Rabot' identify the sender as Sepharadi. In 1951, Jewish families still lived and did business in Aden.

Aden.mail.personal.message

Dated 26 April 1951. Notice the term British Arabia under the city Aden. British Petroleum had a major oil refinery here. The letter is a personal one, father to daughter, written in almost completely modern script. 'Speak only English to Uri (grandchild). He'll learn Hebrew soon enough from the children.'

Aden.shekel receipt

The 'Shekel' was the annual dues collected by the World Zionist Organization, in most countries of the world. These receipts can form a collection of their own. It was a method of fundraising but also helped to unite Jews in many lands in support of a Jewish state. The actual amount varies by country. Notice 'ADEN' in Hebrew in the lower right corner. This one was issued to Suleiman Avraham Nemar.

Yemen.Alschich cover

R' Shalom Alschich was born in Yemen in 1859. He made Aliyah with family and followers in 1891 from Saana. He was chosen head of the Yemenite Jerusalem community in 1893 serving until death in 1944. This envelope was sent to him from Bone/Annaba Algeria in 1937, addressed in French and Hebrew. From the back we read that it was sent on behalf of R' Meir Rofe.