Yemen & Aden

Ancient Yemenite community preserved tradition and faith in a hostile environment.

There was Jewish activity in Yemen, on the southern coast of the Arabian peninsula, already in the second temple period. Yemenites maintained ancient traditions, especially in use of calendar, vocalizing manuscripts, and pronounciation of Hebrew. They were in regular contact with the Babylonian and Egyptian communities. Maimonides was an important influence and his books were copied and studied. Jews were jewelers and silversmiths, craftsmen, peddlers and lowly shoe repairmen. They remained the poorest in an impoverished country. Recurring waves of fanaticism led to oppression and encouragement to convert. Waves of emigration began in the 1880s, and reduced a population of 70,000 to fewer than 100 today.