The widow of Yahya Ben Youssef, one of the last Yemenite Jews who died in June 2024, has left Yemen for Israel, a source in Yemen told Ynet on Tuesday. The couple had no children.
Only four Jews now remain in Yemen, a country partly controlled by the Houthi regime, with one detained since late 2015 for allegedly smuggling a Torah scroll to Israel. Ben Youssef, who refused to leave his homeland, was buried by his Muslim neighbors in the village of Madar, north of Sana’a, according to an obituary notice.
A Facebook group for Yemenite Jews noted that with too few Jews left in Yemen to perform burial rites or recite Kaddish, his Muslim neighbors ensured a dignified funeral. Videos of the burial were shared, highlighting a poignant act of unity and respect by the local Muslim community for one of the last six Jews in the country.
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Yahya Ben Youssef's burial in Yemen
The post emphasized the significance of this gesture: “This powerful moment underscores the enduring humanity and compassion that still exist in rare places, transcending religious divides, especially in these challenging times.”