For the first time, Israel marked an official national day Monday to commemorate the immigration of Yemenite Jews and to honor the memory of those who perished on the journey. The initiative was led by Knesset lawmaker Yonatan Mishraki of the Shas Party, chair of the Knesset Health Committee, who successfully passed the historic legislation.
The law establishes an annual day dedicated to celebrating the rich heritage of Yemenite Jewry and their historic immigration to Israel, aiming to connect Israeli society with the values and culture of this unique community.
The date was carefully chosen to coincide with the departure of the first plane from the Hashed transit camp in Aden to Israel, part of Operation On Eagles’ Wings following the establishment of the state. Around 50,000 Jews were brought from Yemen to Israel during this operation.
Yemenite immigration began as early as 1881, in what became known as the "A'aleh BeTamar" movement — a biblical reference from Song of Songs symbolizing redemption through faith and perseverance. Early groups of Yemenite Jews made an arduous journey on foot to fulfill the biblical commandment of settling the Land of Israel.
At the Hashed camp, which was built to accommodate just 500 people, some 13,000 immigrants stayed during its peak under extremely harsh conditions. It is estimated that between 650 and 900 people died en route or while at the camp.
President Isaac Herzog, in a recorded statement, said: “For the first time in Israel’s history, the national calendar now includes a day dedicated to the immigration of Yemenite Jews — a natural, ongoing aliyah that predates the state and even the broader Zionist movement. On this historic day, the State of Israel looks to Yemenite immigrants and their descendants and says clearly: 'thank you. May this day be a symbol of hope, identity and unity, not erasure'.”
Mishraki added: “This is a historic moment. The story of Yemenite Jewry is not a footnote — it is a cornerstone in the building of the Land of Israel. When I passed this law in the Knesset, my hands trembled. I didn’t do it as a bureaucratic exercise. I felt thousands of souls standing behind me, demanding their dignity. For too long, this story was whispered — a tale told only within the community. The law is a declaration: the history of Yemenite Jews is not ‘folklore.’ It is a story of heroism that should be taught in every school, youth movement, and officer’s training course.”
The law outlines three key components for the day: a special Knesset session near the 15th of Kislev; an annual scholarly conference led by the Heritage Ministry focusing on the full arc of Yemenite aliyah — from 1881 to Operation On Eagles’ Wings — and the commemoration of those who died along the way; and educational programming in schools across the country to transmit the values and traditions of Yemenite Jewry to future generations.