A Cultural Journey Through Time
Culture
The Traditions of the Jews of Yemen
Yemenite Jews lived far from other Jewish communities and preserved traditions that disappeared elsewhere: an ancient pronunciation of Hebrew, a prayer book called the Tiklal, and the custom of children learning to read the Torah from all sides of a shared book. The poetry of Rabbi Shalom Shabazi, written in the 1600s, is still sung at every celebration.
Yemenite Jews were famous craftsmen, especially silversmiths who made fine filigree jewelry. Weddings began with a henna ceremony, with the bride dressed in an elaborate gold and pearl headdress. On Shabbat morning, families eat jachnun or kubaneh, baked overnight, with grated tomato, hard boiled eggs, and spicy skhug.
Since the airlift of 1949 and 1950, Yemenite Jews have shaped Israeli music, dance, and food, from Ofra Haza to the Inbal Dance Theater. JIMENA shares their story through programs, cooking classes, and oral histories.
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Key dates in the history of the Jews of Yemen, at a glance. |
The story of the Jews of Yemen, from ancient times to today. |
Watch Yemenite Jews tell their own stories. |
Dishes for Shabbat, holidays, and every day, and the stories behind them. |
Histories, memoirs, novels, and children's books in JIMENA's library. |
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