Proud Heritage
I Am Yemenite Series
Medium: Glass Mosaic
Materials: Stained glass, handmade jewelry, shells, buttons, metal, beads
Dimensions: 18” W x 14” H
Proud Heritage
Inspired by an archival photograph, this portrait is of a Jewish woman from the region of Haban in Eastern Yemen, highlighting aspects of the only known group of Jewish Yemenite warriors. Her expression reveals years of hardship, inner strength, resilience, and enduring faith. Her jewelry, hairstyle, and clothing reveal important aspects of Haban culture and religious life.
Her silver and coral jewelry is distinctive to the Haban region and reflects the long tradition of silversmithing among Yemenite Jews. Originally imposed upon the community as a profession, silversmithing later became both a livelihood and an important form of cultural expression. The intricate adornments often included engraved blessings, hollow beads containing prayers, and dangling elements intended to create sound and ward off evil. Amulets and talismans provided spiritual protection, reflecting both deep religious devotion and the precarious realities of Jewish life in Yemen. Coral and beaded chokers were also characteristic of the region.
Photo Credit: Etsy
The colorful printed fabrics and vibrant style of her clothing point to Haban’s location along a major trade route, which provided access to imported dyes and materials. Compared to other areas of Yemen, women’s dress in Haban was often more colorful and less restrictive, shaped by local customs and laws. Her tightly braided hairstyle, partially uncovered and topped with a net, identifies her as a married woman of Haban. Women commonly shaved the front of the head while leaving long plaits at the back, sides, and crown. This practice reflected a more flexible interpretation of traditional hair-covering customs. Girls could leave their hair uncovered, and men often wore their hair long without sidelocks, traditions unique to the region.
Haban itself was an isolated trade hub and home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in southern Yemen. The region was known for its highly skilled gold and silversmiths. Below is a map of Yemen showing the regions from the early 1900’s. Haban is located in the top right portion of the map labeled “Habarut”.
Photo credit: Public domain
Many Habbani Jewish men served as mercenaries or bodyguards for local rulers, making them the only recognized Jewish warrior group in Yemen. Below is an image taken in 1900 by the German explorer Hermann Burchardt ( Die Juden im Yemen (“The Jews in Yemen”), 1902) of Jewish men from the region near Haban. This was the only region in Yemen where Jewish men were allowed to carry weapons.
Photo credit: Herman Burchardt, 1900
This work is both deeply personal and timely, confronting cultural misperceptions while honoring a community whose history—and whose experiences of displacement—continue to resonate today.