Yemenite Jewish Edah

I used this Sunday's session to introduce the Yemenite edah to the students. This is a unique edah which was the only one to continue speaking Hebrew on a daily basis (not just for ritual purposes) in the Diaspora. Hebrew scholars believe that the Yemenite pronunciation of Hebrew is very close to how the language was pronounced back in the days of the United Monarchy of Israel under Kings David and Solomon, some 3,000 years ago. It was an isolated community (thanks to the mountain range dividing the country from the rest of the Arabian Peninsula), and was persecuted for much of its history by fanatic Muslim rulers. Today there are only about 50 Jews left in the capital city of Sanaa, and they live in the protection of the president's palace, which itself is under siege by rebels. Just a few weeks ago, 19 Jews (not part of the 50 mentioned above) were secreted out of the country to Israel, bringing with them an 800-year old Torah scroll.

I began by showing three YouTube videos. After viewing the first one, "History of the Yemenite Jews," which has no dialogue, I asked the students to share their impressions from the film of the culture and physical features of Yemenite Jews. I then shared a YouTube segment taken from a 1988 Israeli MTV video of the Yemenite-Israeli singer Ofra Haza singing "Im Nin'alu", a song taken from the Yemenite Diwan (their prayer book). The Yemenite Jews deeply mourned the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. (they found out about it many years after its destruction because of their isolation from other Jewish communities). They vowed never to play joyful music again until the third Temple should be rebuilt in Jerusalem. What resulted was a very "beat-heavy" style of music, and the creation of the dumbek - the Yemenite drum. Often, they use tin cans to create a beat for their music. The final YouTube segment that I shared with the class, "Teiman: Music of the Yemenite Jews" highlights their music, within the context of a Yemenite Jewish henna wedding ritual.

After the YouTube segments, we read a short summary about the history and culture of the Yemenite Jews taken from the book, "One People, Many Faces," a part of the Israel Connection curriculum focusing on the return to Israel of many members of the Jewish Diaspora and on the contributions of each edah to Israeli culture.

We concluded the session, by learning how to make a very simple Yemenite copper wire beaded bracelet. The Yemenite Jews are famous for their silver and copper jewelry. This skill was taught for generations by fathers to sons. We will be sharing how to make these bracelets next Sunday, with other 5th and 6th graders at our "Taste of Jewish History and Culture" event, which will include a "mini-Edot Fair."

While Emily sizes the copper wire around her wrist, Kyra chooses beads for her bracelet.

Choosing just the right beads can be an important decision to make. Yemenite Jews, like many Muslims, believed that round, shiny beads or coins could protect a person from demons by attracting the demons, then trapping them in the round shape. Jordan, Leo and Joey are advising each other here.

Once the beads are chosen, it's time to thread them on the very, very thin copper wire.

Total focus is required to be sure the beads don't fall off the wire while being threaded.

Notice the special jeweler's pliers Alex is using to wrap the copper wire into a spiral shape. These pliers are a basic tool of the jewelers.

And when it's finished, a very happy Seth rejoices in the beautiful bracelet he's created.

Between sessions, six of our Edot students helped lead the other students and teachers in prayer during our final Creative Tefillah session of the year. They had worked together with Rabbi Miller the previous Wednesday, to develop a theme for the prayers they would lead. The theme they chose was Presidential Elections.  Rabbi Miller was a bit hesitant to use the theme when the students first suggested it, since we cannot endorse any particular candidates from the bimah. But she relented when the students assured her that no individual candidates would be endorsed.

First, Aaron introduced the Barechu call to worship:

Then Kyra and Ella introduced the "Sh'ma":

Aaron came up again to introduce the "V'Ahavta" chant:

Followed by Alex and Ari introducing the "Mi Chamocha" song:

Finally, Brahm introduced the "Avot v'Imahot" blessing of the Amidah:

Yasher Koach to all the Edot students who helped lead our Sunday creative tefillah sessions this year. Before we know it, they'll be leading the congregation at their Bar/Bat Mitzvah service!