Jews of Yemen – Personal Stories

This page contains interviews with Jews of Yemen who tell their personal stories about obstacles and adventures during their journeys from Yemen and their first years in the land of Israel.


 Also in the Jews of Yemen Docuweb:

Personal Stories

More content for this page is coming soon

The Story of Miryam: Part 1 of 3

Miryam tells her personal story about fleeing Yemen at the age of seven and coming alone to Israel describing her difficult childhood in Yemen and her journey, in 1928/29, through Aden to Israel.

Recorded by Miryam’s daughter Avigail in 2002. Music from a 1940’s recording performed by Bracha Tzfira. Lyrics written by David Shimoni. Melody based on Bukhari folk music. Original illustrations in the video by Sara Tzadok


The Story of Miryam: Part 2 of 3

Miryam tells the story of her life as a young girl living alone in pre-state Israel during the 1930s.

Recorded by Miryam’s daughter Avigail in 2002. Music in the video: Melody – based on Bukhari folk music. Performed by – Israeli Flute Quartet Arranged by Yoav Talmi and produced by the Israel Music Institute


The Story of Miryam: Part 3 of 3

In this part Miryam tells her story from the time of her marriage in 1940. Miryam arrived alone at the age of 7, without her parents, from Yemen to pre-state Israel in the late 1920s. She managed to create a home, with a family of 7 children.

Recorded by Miryam’s daughter Avigail in 2002. Music: Melody – based on Bukhari folk music. Performed by – Israeli Flute Quartet Arranged by Yoav Talmi and produced by the Israel Music Institute




Memories of Yefet Tzadok: Part 1 of 3

Yefet tells his personal story of growing up in Al-Bayda Yemen. He describes his childhood in Yemen where, at the age of five, he lost his father. His widowed mother raised 3 children alone.

The video was recorded by Yefet’s daughter Avigail in 1990. Background music in the video is Yashkef Elohim Poet: Yehosaf Ben Israel (16th – 17th Century). Performed by: Benjamin Nahum.


Memories of Yefet Tzadok: Part 2 of 3

In this video Yefet describes leaving Yemen alone at the age of 12, his journey to Aden and how he lived and worked there for 8 years until his arrival in the land of Israel in 1930.

The video was recorded by Yefet’s daughter Avigail in 1990. Background music in the video is: Eshal Elohai. Poet: Yehosaf Ben Israel (16th – 17th Century). Shabbat Menucha. Poet: Rabbi Shalom Shabazi (17th Century) Performed by: Benjamin Nahum.


Yefet tells the story of his life in the land of Israel in 1930s/40s, how he struggled to find work and how he eventually succeeded to build a home in the farming village of Kiryat Shaul.

The video was recorded by Yefet’s daughter Avigail in 1990. Background music in the video is: Ayelet Chen. Poet: Rabbi Shalom Shabazi (17th Century). Musical composition: Rami Danoch Singer: Unknown




Memories of Childhood in Yemen

Neomi Ladani describes her life as a child in the village she was born in Yemen, reflecting some of the traditions and culture of the Jewish community there.




Memories of Personal Journeys to Aden

People tell personal stories of their journeys to Aden in order to make aliyah to Israel. For information about the ‘On Wings of Eagles’ covert operation from Aden to Israel see https://wysinfo.com/jews-of-yemen-on-wings-of-eagles-operation/

Personal Story of Rina Raibi: Meeting the Sheik’s Wives in Jibla


Rina Raibi describes her experience in Jibla while on route to Hashed Camp near Aden. Rina was 105 years old when she told us her story.



Personal Story of Moshe Oshri: Saving the Sacred Books


This video presents the personal story of Moshe Oshri, who recalls the day they left their village in Yemen when he was 12 years old, the long journey to Hashad camp beside Aden and his memory of the flight from Aden to Israel.

Personal Story of Yeshayahu Zadok: A Young Man’s Adventures to get to Aden


Yeshayahu Zadok was part of a family of goldsmiths for over six generations in Yemen. He describes four attempts, as a young man, to cross from Yemen into Aden in order to immigrate to the Holy Land. With his final venture, he succeeded.

Yihye Uzeri tells his story about the loss of his both children


Yihye Uzeri tells his personal story about the loss of two children. One disappeared from a WIZO baby home in Tel Aviv without a trace. The other died in his arms and was buried in a field beside his home. The grave was never found again.

This page is under construction

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You can find all of our videos on the Wysinfo Youtube channel.