27 gennaio 2009
Yemeni Jews, minority criminalizes Israeli aggression against Gaza
[15 January 2009]
By: Mohammad al-Matari and Wahib al-Nusari
Translated by: Mahmoud Assamiee
Despite their positive attitude with Palestinians, Yemeni Jewish Minority is
afraid of any reaction from their Muslims neighbors because of brutal genocides
committed by Israel against Gaza people.
Palestine and Yemeni Jews
When ever there are genocides committed by Israel against Palestinians, Jewish
community is exposed to harassment by their Moslem neighbors. Israeli aggression
against Gaza people and killing of the Yemeni Jewish Masha Annihari are two
incidents evoked shedding lights on Jewish minority in Yemen.
"Harassments against us are increasing whenever Israel carries out massacres
against Palestinians. Killing incident of the Jewish Masha Annihari is personal
one and now is in judiciary from which we hope justices to us," said one of
Yemeni Jews.
"Israeli killings of Palestinian people force us to stay at our houses fearing
of harassments by persons do not understand that Yemeni Jews have no thing to do
with what is happing in Palestine," said Rabi of Raida Jews, Yahya Yaeesh.
"What is happening in Palestine does not satisfy God and His Messenger. What is
happening is a crime against Palestine and against all religions," added Yaeesh.
While Suleiman Yacoob, Yemen Jewish citizen says what Israel is doing does not
satisfy any person and that Allah prohibits killing human being. "The Yemeni
Jews are against genocides in Palestine and the harassments we face are
personal," he affirmed.
Yemeni legislations do not differentiate between Muslim and Jewish citizens.
There is no gesture in the law or in constitution denies Yemeni Jews of their
rights, says Yacoob. They are Yemeni citizens and have the same rights and
responsibilities. He even says that they participate in political process. They
vote and run in parliamentarian and local elections.
Saeed bin Israel, another Jewish citizen, says "Jews face several harassments
from some Muslims, namely young people. These harassments happen in markets,
streets and while in their work.
But Suleiman Yaqoob affirms that Jewish sect has strong and humanitarian
relations with Muslims "we share all occasions, wedding parities and Qat
sessions."
Over returning Jewish citizen to justice because of harassments he faces, Yaqoob
says "we prefer being patients and avoiding any harm as much as we can." He
notes that political leadership gives Jewish citizen more care and concern.
Responding to harassments against Jews, Sheikh Abdul-Naser al-Ghuli, the head of
the area where Jewish community live, Raidah, says " incidents in Palestine and
Israeli practices; killing children, women and others are reflected on Jewish
citizen in Yemen. They face harassments by inferior people."
He affirms that dignitaries in the region interfere in protecting Jewish
minority as traditional and tribal duty not only as Islamic one.
Religious freedom does not abolish citizenship
According Yemeni inherited traditions and conventions; the Yemeni Jewish has the
right to own a weapon but is not allowed to carry it outdoors.
"These conventions consider a Jew as Themi (Arabic meaning of Jew of Christian
under Moslems rule) which means that his protection is in Moslems consciences.
This convention represents precautionary measure for avoiding any problem could
happen with others," says Sheikh Fuad al-Malahi, one of dignitaries in the
region where Jews live.
However, Jews prefer solving their small problems themselves through heads of
quarters of the same belief. "We prefer settling our problems as the whole
Yemenis do. If there are great issues, Jews are subject to tribal norms via the
head of the quarters or dignitaries they exist in," says Masha al-Hala.
"Jews do not mind returning to Islamic Law for settling their issues; especially
in issues do not harm their legislations and beliefs. Allah is only one and His
rules, regarding justice and rights are similar in several religions," he added.
In Raidah area where Jews live, there are two churches to them; the first one
Kanis Yaeesh is before the house of Rabi Yaeesh bin Yahya and the second in the
local market. The Kanis or the church is a place for worshiping and performing
prayers besides teaching children basis of Judaism. But after building two
schools for Jews, the role of the church has been limited on worshiping only.
They are only opened during times of prayers and religious occasions.
Jews are enjoying religious freedom enable them complete worship freedom in
zones they live in. They practice all their religious rites in these churches.
They are allowed to build places for their worship without facing harassments by
local Moslems.
Jewish minority is coexisting with Muslim majority in the area. Member of local
council in the region Abdurraqib Muthafar affirmed no existence of "any
racialism sigh towards the Jew from perspective of citizenship, cohabitation and
rights."
"They are (Jews) part of the society they enjoy the same services, projects and
interests within the geography they live in," he said. He added that there is no
difference between the two parts only in religion issues.
Similar traditions
Social occasions and traditions of Jews do not differ much with of Muslims.
Differences are limited only on occasions with religious basis such as marriage.
Their religious teachings argues on early marriage, thinking that early marriage
prevents youth against committing adultery and that female is aging early.
Like rest of Yemenis, Jews suffer from the problem of high dowries. Marriage
contract is conducted with attendance of the marrying couple (the bride and the
bridegroom).But unlike Muslim they do not authorize relatives of the bride or
the bridegroom to sign marriage contract but the couple sign it themselves.
"Marriage contract is signed with attendance of ten Jews; two of them are
witnesses of signing the contract written by religious man or Rabbi. the rest of
the attendances are reading texts of Torah," said director of Ashabazi School in
Raida Fayz al-Jeradi.
He further said, the contract is written in Armenian because most of Talmud
language is Armenian. "Wedding party lasts for seven days in every house of the
two families (of bride and bridegroom). The bride does not wear the white dress,
usually used by every bride in the world but the old dress Yemeni bride used to
wear in the past. She also does not wear the crown," he added.
Over polygamy, researcher Zaid Hajar says "we find great ratio of married men
are looking for new marriage, especially among Jewish well to do sects."
"Like Muslims, we marry more than a wife. If one of us is qualified and able to
marry, no matter of having multi-wives," said Rabi Yaieesh bin Yahya, who died
last year.
Concerning divorce, the Jewish citizen has the right to divorce his wife if he
wants. Upon this divorce the woman could get her delayed dowry they both agreed
upon. He also can restore his wife during the early months of divorce period
called in Arabic Eddah. But if he wants to restore his wife during this period,
their return to each other becomes forbidden as the case in Islam.
"Divorce is difficult twenty times of getting married," says al-Jeradi who is
also teacher of Hebrew. Concerning male circumcision, this process is conducted
the eighth day of birth of the baby in a ceremony to which family members invite
their relatives to a banquet. The family slaughter sheep for the banquet.
Concerning dying rituals among Yemeni Jews, they are not differ so much of
Muslims only in some cases. Before the patient's soul leaves the body, the dying
patient is laid toward Jerusalem. Then after washing, enshrouding and perfuming
him, his relatives and friends lead by their Rabi are mourning.
Jews Festivals
Jews give religious Eids great attention due to religious rituals. Yemeni Jews
have several festivals and the have their special way for celebrating them.
"Jews have seven festivals around the year according Jewish calendar starts in "Tashrine"
October, the new year. Among these festivals are three in one month, "Nisan" or
April," said Saee bin Israel.
According to bin Israel, Jews festivals start on Tashrin or October. In this Eid
or festival Jews pray and perform rites such blowing in the horn of the ram
symbolizing the escape ram Allah gave it to Ibraham to slaughter for saving
Ismael.
Then there is the Hebrew New Year which is called Kippur day. This festival
marks the day when God accepted repentance of those who worshiped the bullock.
While Eid al-Fish is the greatest ceremony for the Jews because this festival
marks the day when Allah saved His prophet Muses from Pharaoh and then Jews have
been saved and freed of Pharaoh's Tyranny.
This Eid or festival is equal to Muslims' Eid al-Adha. Jews slaughter emulations
for praising God.
Jews and Muslims, similar prayers
Over Jews prayers bin Israel says" Jews have three prayers a day, Fajer (early
morning), al-Asr (afternoon prayer) and Maghreb (sunset prayer)." Every prayer
has four Raka'ats or bowings but there is no Sujoud or (prostration) except in
Fajr prayer.
Over Eid praye, Jews consider this prayer additional one besides Fajr prayer.
After performing Eid praye, they supplicate to God for forgiveness and asking
happiness and protection against evil.
Saba
27 gennaio 2009
ORGANIZZAZIONE COMUNISTA INTERNAZIONALISTA