Parashah Vayetze (וַיֵּצֵא – And he went out), Genesis 28:10–32:3.
Ya’akov flees from Esau’s anger and stops in Luz. There, God promises him a great offspring and the possession of the land of Israel. Acknowledging the divine presence in this place, Ya’akov consecrates it and names it Bethel. He then travels to Haran to Laban’s house. Ya’akov works there for fourteen years, marries Leah and Rachel, and invests six more years to build up his livestock. Fleeing from his father-in-law’s tricks, Ya’akov leaves Haran with his family and all his possessions. Finally, he prepares for the reunion with Esau, his brother.
Genesis 28:15
וְהִנֵּה אָנֹכִי עִמָּךְ, וּשְׁמַרְתִּיךָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר-תֵּלֵךְ, וַהֲשִׁבֹתִיךָ, אֶל-הָאֲדָמָה הַזֹּאת: כִּי, לֹא אֶעֱזָבְךָ, עַד אֲשֶׁר אִם-עָשִׂיתִי, אֵת אֲשֶׁר-דִּבַּרְתִּי לָךְ.
Behold, I am with you, and I will keep you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
Operation “Magic Carpet” (1949-1950)
At the creation of Israel, Jewish communities in predominantly Muslim countries faced significant threats. Israel responded to these challenges by organizing Operation “Magic Carpet,” aimed at evacuating around 45,000 Yemenite Jews.
In the Jewish quarter of Sanaa, Qa Al-Yahud, with its narrow streets and two or three-story mudbrick houses(1), the Jewish presence has vanished, with the Houthis driving out the last ones in 2016(2). Nowadays, most Yemenite Jews reside in Israel.
(1) The Old City of Sanaa, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986, is an architectural treasure with a Jewish history of over 2,000 years. It exceptionally illustrates ancient urban planning. Its ten-story mudbrick buildings adorned with intricate geometric and floral sculptures provide a unique aesthetic. This old city bears witness to Yemen’s historical and cultural richness but faces preservation challenges due to the turmoil caused by the Houthis.
(2) According to a United Nations report released in March 2022, only one Jew remains in Yemen out of the 2,000 who were still there in 2016. This individual is likely Levi Salem Musa Marhabi, who has been illegally imprisoned and tortured multiple times by the Houthis. He lives in inhumane prison conditions, and his health is deteriorating. In November 2020, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for his immediate release.