One of the King's courtiers was a Jew, Salam al-Jamal by name, who later
came to be known by the name of R. Shalom Gamliel. He had befriended Ali,
one of the sons of the King of Yemen, who was Yemen's Minister of the
Treasury, and therefore gained access to the King's Court. All throughout this
time, Salam al-Jamal worked as a shopkeeper, dealing in perfumes, precious
stones and imported cloth, to whom the King would send his servants to
purchase goods from his store. After the death of R. Yehiya Abyadh in 1934,
Salam was appointed by the King to officiate as mediator between the King
(Imam Yahya) and the Jewish community of Yemen, in general, but more
specifically in the role of collecting the poll-tax (Ar. "al-jeziyya") from the
entire Jewish community of Yemen, scattered in 1,432 towns and villages
throughout Yemen1, a position which he held until his immigration to Israel in
1944. Many documents containing the King's seal were preserved by R.
Shalom Gamliel, all of which testify to the great honour and esteem which he
held with the king of Yemen. The following story is related by R. Shalom
Gamliel, how that the entire Jewish community of Yemen was spared the fate
of extermination by his prudence, at a very precarious time in history. For the
chief Moslem cleric2 of Jerusalem had been sent by Hitler in order to gain the
consent of the King of Yemen for the extermination of the Jews there.
(Translated from the booklet, "Gadol Ha-Essah, an Incident that Occurred," by
R. Shalom Gamliel. Published by The Shalom Research Center.)
"With a very steadfast determination and will, I studied the writings
of the Qur'an, and this I attribute to G-d's providence, who seeing
future events knew that one day I would stand in need of it.
Namely, the chief Moslem cleric of Jerusalem, Haj Ameen alHusseini, was to pay a visit to San'a in 5696 Anno Mundi / 1936
C.E., and on the very day of his reception before the king, they
gave him an outstanding welcome; from the place of his hospice, to
the king's court, ministers accompanied him, as did the principal
persons of the city, amongst whom was the Prime-Minister,
himself, the Judge Abdallah al-`Amri, replete with a royal band and
drums, the sprinkling of rose water, and spreading of the red-carpet.
All this was done at the king's orders. Before the chief Moslem
cleric entered the hall of his Majesty the king, I requested leave of
the king. The king interjected that I should sit down, which I did, in
my former place, at the end of the hall beside the first window.3
When the guest came before the king, he did not salute him; neither
did he bow down before the king, even with the slightest show of
1
This high figure for the number of Jewish settlements scattered throughout Yemen was what was
actually told Salam al-Jamal, based upon documents which were in his possession when he stood
before the king, Imam Yahya. Professor Shlomo Dov Goitein, in his own research, counted initially
some 1,050 Jewish villages, to which number was later added another two-hundred.
2
The title of honour given to him in Arabic is "mufti." He was a well-known personage in Israel,
known for his animosity towards the Jews.
3
One of twelve windows which were in that room, according to R. Shalom Gamliel. This reception
hall was, at that time, called "Dar al-Sa'adah," meaning "the Palace of Success." Today, in Yemen, it
has been converted into a museum.
respect. This was because his mind was already conceited by the
great honours given to him upon his arrival. Perhaps even the king
wanted to make a trial of his character, or perhaps it was only the
catalyst from G-d, blessed be He, that would set all things in
motion. He must have thought that the king would never have
arranged such a fine reception for him if it were not that he was
esteemed greater than the king, himself. Wherefore, he did not bow
down before the king, and even stood in an erect posture, and with
a voice of reprimand, said:
'Peace be unto you, O Prince of the believers! What a pity it is, a
real pity, that there is such a holy shrine as this, yet there is within
it the father of all uncleanness!' The king replied: 'To whom do you
refer?' He then waved his hand, pointing in the direction behind
him.4 He then said: 'To this scum, whom it is forbidden to even
look upon!' The king then looked at me, and said: 'Come forward,
Protected Person, to give an answer to justice.' I then came forward,
and took my place beside Husseini, sitting upon my knees as it is
customary in Moslem courts.5 Standing near the king were two of
his servants, Sumsam on his right, and Marjan on his left; their
lances propped above their German rifles which they carried, and
both of them fully understanding the mute voice of the king, who
simply took a glimpse at Sumsam, and Sumsam demanded that
Husseini bend down upon his knees. Husseini ceased not to stare at
the king, neither did he budge. The second servant, Marjan,
approached Husseini, and pointed his lance at his feet, saying
withal: 'Bend down upon your knees! Bend down upon your knees,
O rebellious one!' Husseini then lifted his eyes towards heaven and
said: 'There is no power, nor strength, save G-d, the Most High, the
Al-mighty.' With this, he bowed down upon his knees, distanced
from me by the space of about twelve feet. The king answered
Husseini, by saying: 'Is that so?' Husseini, not knowing what the
king intimated, replied to him: 'What do you mean?' The king said:
'You have claimed that it is forbidden to look upon him. Give a
plausible reason.' Husseini then answered the king: 'It is wellknown that the Jews have denied G-d, have made the calf, 6 have
been ungrateful at their receiving the manna, have worshipped
4
According to R. Shalom Gamliel, this was because the chief Moslem cleric had progressed towards
the king, while his back was now facing Shalom, who was seated in the back of the hall. The guest had
pointed his finger behind him, without turning his head in the direction of Shalom, apparently not
willing to look upon him.
5
Here, R. Shalom Gamliel relates as a note in his book that, at this point, Husseini moved away from
him about the distance of twelve feet, so as not to be "defiled" by the Jew. He also explains that
Moslem custom was to have the plaintiff and defendant sit on their knees, contrary to the teaching in
the Law of Moses where the plaintiff and the defendant are required to stand.
6
An allusion to Exodus 32: 1-ff.
calves and idols, and have committed every sort of wickedness.
Therefore, G-d has scattered them in the world throughout, and Gd, may He be extolled, has said that they should never find respite.
And now they are killing our Moslem brethren in Palestine, and in
Jerusalem the holy city, with great atrocities committed by them!
Moreover, they have destroyed the religious sites of Christiandom.
But G-d has already caused Hitler to reign over them, even to
utterly destroy them from the world. Now he is the one who
obligated me to come here,7 because of their intense hatred to Islam
and to [all] Moslems. And just as it is well-known that the
staunchest enemies of those persons who believe are the Jews
[themselves]! It is, therefore, imperative that they be destroyed
quickly! How much more, then, is it forbidden to even look upon
them!'
The king then turned to me and said: 'Is that so?' I answered
him, saying: 'Our lord, Commander of the believers, may G-d
strengthen you. We, the Jews, are thy servants, who seek refuge
beneath the shadow of your glorious wings, who are obedient,
paying the poll-tax in full, all of the Jews in all of the Yemen,
beneath thy benevolent protection, both honouring and admiring
Islam and all Moslems, according to the verse in the glorious
Qur'an: Until they have paid the poll-tax by their hand, and they
have been brought low. 8 We have no connexions, nor business,
with the Jews abroad; Not in Palestine, neither in other places. All
of thy servants, the Jews who art in Yemen, accept thine authority,
with trust in G-d, and trust in our lord the king. It is true that G-d,
may He be extolled, dispersed us in the world because of our
iniquities, after He had warned us time, and time again, in the
glorious Qur'an, saying: O children of Israel, remember my bounty
that I so bountifully provided for you, and that I had set you above
all peoples. 9 Now we have, both, sinned and rebelled against our
Lo-rd, so that He exiled us. Yet, now, we come under the shadow
of thy protective wings, accepting the authority of Islam and of all
Moslems. Wherefore, also, it has been permitted to look upon us
from the stand point of the glorious religion, to pity us, and to
contract business with us, reciprocating the complete honour with
7
This very astonishing fact puts the date of Hitler's designs to affect genocide well before his orders to
Heinrich Himmler to carry out his extermination orders. In effect, the sporadic killing of Jews began
before the autumn of 1941, yet, became more open and in earnest in the winter of 1941. For, according
to Adolf Eichman's diary, in the autumn of 1941, Eichman was given orders by his superior to go
personally to Heidrich. Heidrich told Eichman privately that the Fuhrer (Hitler) had directed the
physical extermination of the Jews. Himmler gave instructions to Glubutznik how this extermination
was to be implemented. Eichman then went to learn the plan from Glubutznik himself.
8
Qur'an, Ninth Surah, "the Answer," vs. 29.
9
Qur'an, Second Surah, "the Cow," vs. 47 & vs. 122.
which the Jews, thy servants, give to our lord the Moslems, as it is
fit and right to do within the periphery of Yemen proper, by thy
benevolence.'
The king, looking to Husseini, said: 'Is that so?' At this point,
Husseini halted, and said: 'It's enough! He, the scum, has already
made himself liable to the death penalty by beheading, may it be
done quickly! For he has now touched the glorious Qur'an, of
which we were commanded: No one should touch it, except that
man who is pure.' 10 The king asked me: 'Is that so?' I answered:
'The Qur'an that I touched and that which I studied, had a
commentary appended to it, for expounding its meaning, and this is
permitted. I have never touched, nor have I browsed through,
neither have I even seen a Qur'an without a commentary for I have
no need of such.'
The king then ruled with exclamation: 'Nowhere can Islam be
found more true, or Jews found to honour the law of Islam, than in
Yemen! We have no further need of thy stay. You have only two
days more, O Haj. Go in peace.' He then stood up and went out in
dismay, mourning and head covered, over his failed attempt to
procure his designs against Israel.
The praise and thanksgiving be to the Creator of the world, who
has multiplied ways before Himself to procure deliverance unto His
people Israel, in all places of their dwellings; in all generations, and
in all places! May His praise be lifted up, and His memory ever
extolled! He who put that answer within my mouth, Viz., 'the
Qur'an that I touched had a commentary appended to it, and
therefore, it is permitted to touch it,' the excuse and matter of this
thing is nowhere to be found to this day! Husseini did not ask from
me to prove my words, neither did the king seek proof from me.
Rather, he made haste and ruled with a loud voice, and with elation,
as noted above. Blessed is He, in whose hands are the heart of
kings! Wheresoever He desires, He inclines them!"
* * * * * *
* * * * * *
Qur’an, Fifty-sixth Surah, "the Event," vs. 79; In "Kitab al-‘Ahad," outlining the status of Jews and
Christians in the Moslem Caliphate, and which is attributed to Caliph Omar II (717-720 C.E.), a
paragraph is incorporated which forbids Jews to read the Qur’an, to make use of Arabic letters, or to
call themselves by Arabic nicknames. See: Dinor 1926, p. 14.
10