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Yemenite Jews in Israel

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Yemenite Jews in Israel Conferences Compromises and Contributions: Yemenite Jews in Israel The Chais Auditorium opened its doors rulings made by the Chief Rabbinate, but rather the alarming five-fold to what, at first glance, appeared to be but these changes were not as dramatic increase in the instance of diabetes a heavy academic discussion entitled, or as earth-shattering as people within the community. "Cultural Compensations of Yemenite expected, and many proved, in fact, to Jews in Israel." Academic yes, but be better for the populace. Prof. Yael Gilat, a graduate of the Open also, entertaining. University of Israel, and now lecturer at Prof. Gimani and Dr. Dani Bar-Maoz Oranim College, spoke about changes And, while the topic may seem sectoral, of the Open University touched upon in jewelry designs that took place the message is universal. To understand the impact of aliyah on Yemenite in the aftermath of the community's this fully, Dr. Aharon Gimani of Bar- women. Life in Israel led to a number aliyah. While many of the designs Ilan University, specialist on Jewish of revolutionary changes. Yemenite were considered quite extraordinary, life in Arab countries, examined the women played a noteworthy role in modern market demands led to the de- community's rich roots. Israel's underground movement (there emphasis of much of the spiritual and had been several waves of Yemenite mystic content that had been closely "It's true that every community Jews emigrating to Israel prior to identified with Yemenite jewelry- observes its own customs," Prof. the establishment of the State), and making throughout the centuries. Gimani explained, "but the Yemenite the women played a greater role in customs are probably the closest of education. Other changes, perhaps Dr. Bat-Zion Eraki Klorman, Head any other community to those of the unwelcome, caused rifts between of the Open University's Department Second Temple Period." younger and older generations, but in of History, Philosophy and Jewish the end, these changes helped to bring Studies, and organizer of the event, For hundreds of years, Rabbis Yemenite Jewry into the fold of the wrapped up the seminar with a stirring would travel to Yemen to 'verify' the new society evolving in the new State. reading of two poems by famed community's level of religiosity. But, Yemenite poetess, Bracha Serri. when Operation Magic Carpet brought Prof. Weingarten, head of the Family the bulk of Yemenite Jewry to Israel Health Clinic in Rosh Ha'ayin (a city Whether or not your roots are between 1949-1950 the question of 10 kilometers east of Petah Tikvah embedded in the Yemenite community, religiosity was no longer an issue. with a large Yemenite population) took the Open University's presentation True, Prof. Gimani explained, certain the audience on a visual tour of modern conveyed universal messages about Yemenite customs had to change (such day Yemenite Jewish life. His focus, how an ancient society with well- as parents arranging for pre-puberty however, was not the community's entrenched customs can confront marriages of their children) due to coloful roots and culinary delicacies, modern day challenges. Maimonides and the Yemenite Jewish Community "No one holds Maimonides in such great esteem as the Yemenite Jewish community," says Bar-Ilan's Dr. Aharon Gimani. When Saladin became sultan in the last quarter of the twelfth century and the Shi'ite Muslims revolted against him, the trials of the Yemenite Jews began. There were few scholars among them at that time, and a false prophet arose. One of Yemen's most respected Jewish scholars, Jacob ben Nathanel al-Fayyumi, asked renowned Sephardic Jewish theologian and Spanish physician resident in Egypt, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (Maimonides) for his advice. Maimonides response – called "Iggeret Teman" (The Yemen Epistle) – was so powerful that even today the community proudly refers to it. Maimonides interceded with Saladin in Egypt, and shortly thereafter the persecution came to an end. 22.
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