The political situation of Jews in Yemen under the ruling authorities

Abstract

   The beginning of the appearance of the Jews in Yemen. Opinions vary and differ regarding the timing of the Jews' arrival in Yemen. However, the Jewish community in Yemen is considered one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. At the beginning of the emergence of Judaism in various regions of Yemen, some inscriptions were found that referred to Jewish rabbis and their graves, such as in the Cemetery of the Great Rabbis, which indicated the Jewish presence in Yemen. Yemeni Jews claim descent from those who accompanied the Queen of Sheba upon her return from visiting King Solomon.

    Like other residents of Yemen during the reign of Imam Yahya Hamid al-Din, the Jews were affected by the difficult circumstances that Sana'a experienced. Perhaps the most serious of these crises occurred in 1905, which witnessed an economic collapse that led to a major famine, affecting Jews and non-Jews alike. During the reign of Imam Yahya Hamid al-Din, the Jews continued to practice their religious rituals with complete freedom. Islamic administration in Yemen developed significantly during the Imam's reign. Jews were not subjected to harassment under Imam Yahya Hamid al-Din. Rather, they were an integral part of Yemen's fabric and a key segment of society. They were skilled workers in many areas of work and commerce, particularly those unique to Jews, such as trade and other important professions.

   During the reign of the Imams, the Jews were subjected to a tax, the collection of which was the primary responsibility of the Chief Rabbi of the Jews, without any resentment. Under Imam Yahya Hamid al-Din, the Jews were content and uncomplaining about this matter. The Imam did not treat all Jews equally in this tax, but rather took into account the principles of age and economic status. Regarding age, only those over the age of thirteen were required to pay it. Regarding economic status, the Imam distinguished members of the Jewish community in terms of their living conditions and financial status, and worked to improve them. After 1872, the number of Jews in Yemen grew under the Ottoman presence. Some worked in trade with the Ottomans, some served as emissaries from the Sana'a community to Jewish centers in Palestine, Alexandria, and Istanbul, some supplied the Ottoman army with supplies, and some exploited new trade opportunities with the Ottomans. Other Jews served as conduits for news and events outside Yemen through their connections with the Ottomans and their work in trade, and as intermediaries between Yemeni Jews and other parts of the Jewish world. Jews had lived in Yemen for nearly two thousand years, believing themselves to be in exile. When British forces arrived, they welcomed them enthusiastically, hoping to secure political and administrative positions in the country. Therefore, Jews were staunch supporters of British rule.