Child Emigrants
I Am Yemenite Series
Medium: Glass mosaic
Materials: Stained glass, handmade jewelry, shells, buttons, metals & beads
Dimensions: 18” H x 14” W
Child Emigrants
This mosaic was created to shine a light on the most vulnerable people involved in any evacuation—the children. Inspired by a historic photograph taken during the “On the Wings of Eagles” evacuation (1949–1950), the piece reflects the arduous journey of Yemenite Jews to Aden. Families crossed deserts and mountains while enduring hunger, disease, robbery, and the threat of wild animals; many children did not survive. The young girl’s somber gaze conveys the fear, exhaustion, and resilience shaped by these harsh conditions.
She is likely from the Haban region, indicated by her partially shaven hairstyle with hair gathered at the back, her heavily ornamented jewelry, and her brighter, patterned clothing—features distinct to this area of southern Yemen. These visual markers reflect regional customs that differed from those of other Jewish communities across Yemen.
Haban is located in the top right portion of the map. The area is labeled “Habarut”.
Photo credit: Public Domain
Jewelry and adornment in Yemenite Jewish culture functioned as both identity and protection, shaped by conditions of extreme vulnerability. In the absence of medical care and under persistent social insecurity, families invested meaning into personal ornamentation. Protective objects such as amulets, inscribed beads, shells, buttons, and other symbolic materials were incorporated into daily dress, often bearing prayers or sacred references believed to protect the wearer. Jewelry was intentionally designed to make sound as the wearer moved. These sounds were believed to ward off the evil eye—the belief that envy or hostile attention could bring misfortune. In Haban, these practices became especially elaborate, with layered decoration that merged aesthetics, spirituality, and survival.
Photo credit: Public Domain
Even before the evacuation, nearly 60% of Jewish children in Yemen died from malnutrition, disease, unsafe water, and lack of medical care. These conditions worsened during the journey to Aden and in overcrowded, unsanitary refugee camps, where mortality rates continued to rise. Such harsh realities contributed to the adornment of jewelry and clothing believed to ward off misfortune and protect the wearer.
This work was created to honor and preserve the stories of Yemenite (Mizrachi) Jews. It reflects both those who survived and those who perished, capturing the courage of a community that risked everything to fulfill the long-held dream of returning to Jerusalem.