Jewish Scene
Yemen's few Jews face rebel threats
AFP
Published: 01.05.07, 15:05
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23 Talkbacks for this article
1. But they are only people who have lived there for Centuries
What threat are they ,   Alan SA   (05.01.07)
2. Yemen
mike ,   Chiang Mai, Thailand   (05.01.07)
I find the headline of your story on the sensational side. The fact that 9 families out of the 300-400 jews in Yemen faced threats i.e a small minority seems to have been overlooked I say this not because of just your article but due to the fact that I visited the Jewish Community in Kharef in Jan this year. So I can correct some mis-information first hand. I met several young Jews who had returned to Yemen after living in Israel for several years - they claim discrimination as a big motive for the return!! The Jews there do carry guns (and chew Ghat) They are left alone by the Muslim community and are respected for their beliefs They are free to leave when ever they want and travel to Israel and the US often Just before I left for Yemen in Jan, I was in Israel when this story broke and was sensationalised by the press. No where was it mentioned that there is a low level civil war going on in Sada and that not only Jews are the targets!!!!
3. #2: Thank you for the good news about the Jews of Yemen
Abdullah ,   EuMe   (05.01.07)
4. make alliyah before its too late.
(05.01.07)
5. Not Carrying Weapons Is A "Jewish Tradition"?
Yishai Kohen ,   YeShA, Israel   (05.01.07)
This is a complete lie. Non-Muslims not carrying weapons is Islamic law. Dhimmi (infidels) are discriminated against severely, and while of course Muslims have the right to bear arms, the infidels don't. This alsomakes it easier for the Muslims to enforce all of the other restrictions against them.
6. #4 Many of these people are poor, they need YOUR HELP
Jew ,   Earth   (05.01.07)
7. read #2, Antisemitism is like fuel for israel
:P   (05.01.07)
The propaganda that the whole world hates jews is false. It's a fashion in Israel to accuse everyone of antisemitism, the truth is that jews in the east live in good relations with everyone around, some of those who came to Israel regret. There are large jewish communities in Morocco, Tunisia, and Iran, and no one forces them to stay there, they simply preffer not to be called "marokai'm" or "mizrachim", at least they're being allowed to enter clubs or culture events unlike in Israel.
8. The Jews been there even before I SLAM
ben ,   singapore   (05.01.07)
....I met a yemene Jew and I heard it is harsh there. But these idiots are stubborn, they dont want to go to Israel ! You see, the jews there have no choice. Take them back home, please. Booody hell, the UN should have an office for this rescue. That Isarel Rep at the United Nation should table a motion. The idots are shut down, the moment the hold official position there !
9. This is an AFP article
Jeff ,   Philadelphia, PA   (05.01.07)
Obviously, it's going to have some errors. However, don't be surprised if these nine families comprise a substantial portion of the Yemenite Jews who are left. If there are 10 people in a family, nine families would amount of 90 people, or about a quarter of Yemen's Jews. Mike's characterization that Yemeni Jews are "respected for their beliefs" is more of the same garbage we've always heard about dhimmis. There is a low level civil war going on and Jews, as a tiny minority with different beliefs, are obviously an easy target. Fortunately, the central Yemeni government is trying to help them, but at some point it becomes a bit pointless. I also doubt that discrimination was a major motive for the youths coming back to Yemen. It's more likely the strains of integration felt by most new immigrants from extremely poor backgrounds. Not to mention the family obligations that they have with elderly relatives back at home being threatened by a civil war.
10. All civilians, male or female, should carry weapons
Adamush   (05.01.07)
11. COME HOME BROTHERS, we are waiting for you all.
j ,   jerusalem, israel   (05.01.07)
Come home, please come home.
12. Yes, Come home to your Home Land Land of Israel
Gidi ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (05.02.07)
13. Maybe the Huthi clan should meet Durmush clan for a friendly
Alan ,   SA   (05.02.07)
14. white skinned yemenites
hanina   (05.02.07)
hey some of us are lilly white. You would never know. just like everyone else who gets stuck on the road now and then from mechanical failures we say the same thing. G-d knows I'm here, and he will either send for someone to come get me, or he will do it himself. and if he takes his time, he might be looking for his keys. we have to be patient and sometimes just start walking.
15. a message from a yemenite jewish
lauza ,   yemen   (05.02.07)
i am a jewish girl here in yemen, my family moved to canada so many years ago, before i got lost when i was a child, i raised with a muslim family and i thought that am a muslim, but just three years ago when the father died and all of them inherit the moeny except me , they told me that i am not part of them and i am a daughter of jewish family who traveled to canada 17 years ago, i left the house, and i wondered among jobs , i couldnt go anywhere, whether to jews no to muslims i feel i am lost, i really want to get out of here to canada to join my family, can u help me
16. #15 Yemenite Canadians
Glenn ,   Canada   (05.02.07)
Can you disseminate this call? Somebody among you must know about this. This happened 17 years ago. Not many families fit this arrival date. Please help. Lauza, do you have any other information about your family, such as home village, names, number of Jewish brothers and sisters, anything that your Arab family told you about? Keep on reading Ynet. Somebody should be able to answer this call.
17.  @ 15 lauza , yemen (05.02.07)
ben ,   singapore   (05.03.07)
Please email your details to the Isareli Embassy in Turkey. Are you able to do that ?
18. #15 Lauza - Web contacts
Glenn ,   Canada   (05.03.07)
Google: Minister of Immigration Canada. Her name is Diane Finley you can write to her at Minister@cic.gc.ca Somebody in the ministry should get back to you.
19. i lose hope
lauza once again   (05.04.07)
dear Glenn from canada , thank u very much that u care about my story , but believe me in my case there is no hope , l mean i really have no idea what to do , even the family i lived with they dont know alot about this, and they told me that they found me when i was in a jewish neighborhood , wearing as jewish and rather speaking some hebrew, so they got to know that i am jewish, then i was crying they took me to their home, i lived there and as a little child i forgot all about my past and grew up as muslim with the family who were really nice to me, they went to search for my parents but they were told that my family had moved to canada when they lost hope to find me and they thought that i might died, now i am not sure of anything it is useless believe me, i dont know , i am really confused , sometimes i feel i should forget about all and develop my life as a muslim person, sometimes i long to my past and real family and my jewish traditions but i feel there isnt any hope so what to do?? can u guide me anyone of u i am totally lost devastated jewish
20. Lauza
Glenn ,   Canada   (05.04.07)
Even though I'm not qualified to give advice on something as important as your life, I have a few words for you. What I would do in your place is to try to pursue the search for your relatives first. Use the internet. It's your best resource right now. Google Canada Synagogues and you'll get a list of different denominations. Start e-mailing them and telling them your story. Maybe one or more of them will turn out to be helpful and they might even find your family. Canada is also looking for immigrants and you may consider the possibility of coming here as an immigrant or a temporary worker. Write to the Ministry of Immigration, as I indicated on my other TB and find out your possibilities. Ask them for a list of trades that are needed. You may tell them of your qualifications, whether you have experience in agriculture, or looking after children, etc. I'm not sure how helpful that would be to you. Some people find it very easy to immigrate to Canada, others don't. It's hard to predict. What about approaching Yemenite Jews? Maybe they would be able to help you or give you advice. Keep on making contacts with Canadian synagogues through the internet. Even if people can't find your family, they may have good ideas for your search. I have only one personal advice. Don't give in to despair. It may take a long time but be persistent. In the meantime, try to better your life as much as possible. Can you get more training and education? That's always the way to a better life. I hope that even if you don't find your family, you will have a good and meaningful life. All the best to you.
21. These posts from Lauza don't ring true
(05.05.07)
I simply don't believe a Jewish Yemenite family would simply lose their child one day and forget about it so easily, not could any family for that matter.
22. #21 There may be more to the story
Glenn   (05.05.07)
but it seems that's the version she was told by the Arabs. She might have been stolen as an infant, who knows? Maybe Lauza can access her records, if any, according to her Arab identity. Where and when do they start?
23. important FYI
guest ,   canada   (01.24.08)
it was ( maybe still is) very common for Yemenite jewish children to be abducted by Muslims and raised as one of them.
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