Friday, September 12, 1947

Yemenite Jews
living in Terror

Forbidden to Quit
Country by Arabs

'ASILY OVERLOOKED at a
J " time when Jewish needs in
Europe overshadow most other
relief problems is the plight of
a few thousand refugees from
the Arab principality of Ye-
men who today are struggling
to survive on the bleak sands
of Aden, a British protectorate
on the Arabian coast at the
southern end of the Red Sea.

Life for Jews in Yemen has
always been one of misery and
• 1 , --'leprivation,
but since the first
It
-r,:-..1-4orld War it has become almost
• 'Unbearable. Discriminatory laws
limit their employment.

They are forbidden to do any
agricultural work, and, although
famed as silversmiths, are barred
from buying metals. - Jewish
testimony is not valid in court,
nor are Jews permitted to use
the common means of transpor-
tation. Jews are looked upon as

BURK'S

Prescription
Pharmacy

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

evil beings whose very touch is
contagious.
• * *
FORBIDDEN TO LEAVE
DESPITE ITS RESTRICTIONS
on Jews, Yemenite law strictly
forbids them to leave the coun-
try. For attempted escape, the
penalty is death. Yet, believing
that their circumstances could
not , possibly be worse, several
thousands in the past few years
managed to cross the border in-
to Aden, the first step in their
journey to Palestine.
In Aden, however, they found
the way to Palestine barred by
rigid quotas and lack of trans-
portation. Days of waiting grew
into months, then into years.
Impoverished, unable to work,
the refugees lived as they could
—in cellars, caves, the streets.
By 1943, conditions had be-
come so bad that the authorities
issued an ultimatum, improve
conditions or the border between
Yemen and Aden will be closed
and no more Jews admitted.
JDC was called on to provide
funds for immediate relief and
assistance in getting certificated
Jews into Palestine. With J.D.C.
help, disaster was averted and
the border remained open.
$ *
JDC SENDS MISSION
AS MORE YEMENITE refu-

ATLANTIC
COMMISSION
COMPANY

7446 W. McNichols Rd.

7210 W. FORT ST.
Vlnewood 1-3822

UNiversity 1-5070

Rosh Hashonah Greetings To All .. .

Author Hailed

DR. JOSHUA LOTII LIEB-
MAN, winner of the 1946 Sigma
Alpha Mu Achievement Award,
in recognition of his note-
worthy book "Peace Of Mind",
which has received recognition
throughout the nation.

gees entered and were unable
to find work, conditions de-
teriorated steadily. To prevent
the outbreak of a threatened
epidemic among the poverty-
stricken, the JDC sent to Aden
in 1945 a medical mission head-
ed by Swiss-trained Dr. Gertz
Beigel. On his arrival in Aden,
Dr. Beigel reported:
"Of the . . . refugees, two-
thirds are in Aden, while a
third are in the vicinity. Their
material situation is such that
over a third are totally destitute,
while the rest make a living
at the following trades: porter-
age, household work and as tin-
smiths, cobblers, goldsmiths and
peddlers.
Many of them, however, beg
in the streets. Even those who
work live in considerable mis-
ery. As to their sanitary situa-
tion, it is very bad indeed. The
lack of water for washing and
the lack of sanitary places make
them dirty from head to foot;

Page Nine

they are suffering from malaria the Yemenite Jews living out-
and itching ailments contracted side the camp.
on the way from Yemen.
While the condition of the ref-
They live in great overcrowd- ugees, especially those in the
ing: in courtyards, back streets, camp, has improved substantially
on stairways and many literally in the past year—thanks to
in the streets. Many orphans. JDC supplies, medical services
whose number is estimated at and other aid—the situation can-
300, are in desperate circum- not be permanently improved
stances . . ."
unless large numbers leave for
*
Palestine.
PROVIDE INFIRMARIES
In the words of Dr. Beige],
AFTER AN INITIAL survey, "We pray that we will soon be
the JDC mission decided that privileged to accompany these
only easing the overcrowding refugees — who have been
and proivding adequate sanitary through tortures of hell from
facilities could improve condi- the slavery in Yemen to the
tions. Promptly, JDC established graves of Kettabah and the
clinics and infirmaries in Aden dung-heaps in the streets of
and Shiekh Othman, where some Aden—and to see them at rest
of the refugees had settled.
in the land of Israel." -
In close cooperation with the
Jewish Agency, plans were laid
for a refugee camp to house
1,000 of the most destitute. The L'Shono Ton) Tikusevii!
battle, against disease had be-
gun.
The refugees welcomed the
idea. Thousands sought admis-
sion to the camp. The JDC gave
DR. S. COI/
priority to the orphans, to the
aged, and to those refugees who
had been longest in Aden.
Planned to give the maximum
1107 FARMER
protection from merciless sun
and to withstand the monsoon
RA. 6776
periods, a camp of eight-man
huts laid out in long rows and
separated by wide streets, was
planned. Refugee labor built the
camp.

CLOTHING ISSUED

WHEN THE JDC MISSION
came to Aden, infant mortality
was a shocking 90. per cent. To-
day, particularly in the camp,
it has dropped to a very low
point. In a year, scabies, once
particularly prevalent especially
among the orphans, has been vir-
tually eliminated. Malaria and
tropical ulcers have disappeared.
During the past year, JDC
has issued a complete outfit to
almost every camp resident, and
kept the camp tailors busy mak-
ing clothes. Wherever possible,
clothing was also distributed to

Beaut y Salon

DEXTER - WEBB
BEAUTY SHOPS

11707 DEXTER BLVD.

13834 LINWOOD AVE.

TOwnsend 8-6295

New Year Greetings and Best Wishes

ROBINSON STEELJCO.

Season's Greetings

A. HARRIS 8 CO.

Celery the Year Around

TOMATOES — CELERY

J

17384 CONANT AVE.

Central Produce Terminal

TWinbrook 2-7305

At the dawning of the New Year, we greet our many friends,
relatives and Detroit Jewry, wishing them Happiness,
Health and Contentment in the fullest measure.

FINKELSTONE'S
DELICATESSEN

Myrtle Schanerberger

NOrthlawn 9369

140 TWELFTH ST.

New Year's Greetings

SEASON'S GREETINGS

•

REFINING COVI<Y

Mallory Hats $7.50-$15.00
Jayson Shirts and
Pajamas

1826 ILLINOIS

TE. 1.3266

New Year's Greetings

and Best Wishes to Al!

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. R. Roth
Mr. and Mrs. Julius Green

8800 - 12th Street

1414 FARMER ST.
RA. 4244

S

To All .

SEASON'S
GREETINGS

L'Shono Tovo Tikoseou!

11832 DEXTER

Interior Decorating Studio

Rosh Hashonah Greetir

18244 NORTIILAWN AVE.
Extend Best Wishes for a
Happy and Prosperous
New Year

FOR MEN

Butcher Shop

MA. 78C7

DAVE YAFFE
and Family

AETNA SMELTING AND

INCORPORATED

TEmple 1 - 7900

VI. 1-9185

REZNIK STYLIST

Oscar Klausner

1599 E. WARREN

7426 MICHIGAN

13804 LINWOOD

SCHECTER'S

FRIGID FOOD PRODUCTS

EVELYN'S
SMART APPAREL

Mr. and Mrs.

Rosh Hashonah Greetings

Rosh Hashonah Greetings

BON MARCHE

ROSH HASHONAH
GREETINGS TO ALL

BEST WISHES FOR
A HAPPY NEW YEAR

SCHECTER BROS.

F. M. SIBLEY LUMBER CO.

Kosher Meat and Poultry
Market

E. A. ALD ICH
COAL CO.

FITZROY 5)00

12020 DEXTER BLVD.
TO. 8-2120

14335 SECOND BLVD.

TO. 8-5311

L'Shono

Toro Tikosevie

SAM STEWART
SERVICE STATION

12161 DEXTER
NO. 9846

NC1C

Year Greetings to All

NATE'S
DELICATESSEN

11529 DEXTER

