Magic Carpet Exodus of Yemenite Jewry - Esther Meir-Glitzenstein - Bog

In 1949-50 Operation Magic Carpetbrought the majority of the Jews of Yemen to Israel through secret co-operation between the Imam of Yemen, the British colonial rulers of Aden, the Israeli Government, and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). In order to immigrate to Israel, Yemenite Jews sold or abandoned their property, took their sacred books with them, and set out on foot, trekking many difficult and treacherous kilometres to reach the southern border of Yemen and cross into Aden. When they arrived in Aden they were located in a transit camp, from which they were later flown to Israel. Operation Magic Carpetstrengthened the Zionist claim of a historic Jewish right to the Land of Israel. As a result a heroic myth developed, presenting the bravery and ingenuity of Israelis who set out to rescue their distant brethrenfrom lives of distress, degradation, and persecution in the context of the return of ancient Hebrewsto Zion and its concomitant realisation of theeschatological visi