Herein outstanding reports about the mystery of The Missing Yemenite Children.
This directory is chronologically ordered, with respect to the reports as made publically.
In particular, we feature here eleven outstanding articles
written by a brilliant young (18) journalist, Yechiel A. Mann.
You are also invited to contribute
to find the truth.
Hebrew Preface by webmaster 1998 updated 2018 and
English articles by Yechiel A. Mann 1997
The issue of the missing Yemenite and other Jewish children is well-known in Israel, but it is virtually unknown abroad.
Was it the first time?
January 4, 1996, Arutz 7: For the first time, the
Commission of Inquiry on the Kidnaping of Yemenite Children in
the 1950's heard specific testimony concerning a Yemenite child
that had been stolen from its parents and later identified by the
them.
Graves of Yemenite children to be opened
in probe or a mirror site NAOMI SEGAL
© San Francisco Jewish Community Publications Inc.
JERUSALEM - Feb 16, 1996 - A state commission of inquiry
investigating the disappearance of hundreds of Yemenite immigrant
children during the 1950s has been authorized to open unmarked
graves where the children were allegedly buried.
Yemenite Children Seen Being Removed
From Hospital
February 19, 1996, Arutz 7: The
members of the Public Commission investigating the disappearance
of the Yemenite Children heard the testimony of Mrs. Livnat
Tzan'ani today. She testified that she saw children being taken
out of the hospital wrapped in sheets and placed in ambulances.
She further said that she remembers her sister being brought to
the hospital in good health, and her parents being informed
shortly afterwards that their daughter had died.
Yemenite Children: The Truth?
October 15, 1996 - Minister of Health, Tzachi Hanegbi, has stated
the government will order the opening of graves that are officially
listed as graves of children of Yemenite backgrounds who died in
the 1950's.
Graves of `dead' Yemenite Jewish
children found empty ASSOCIATED PRESS
JERUSALEM, Aug 17 1997: Investigators reportedly opened several
graves of Yemenite Jewish babies and found them to be empty -- a
discovery that might support claims that Yemenite children were
taken from their parents for adoption decades ago.
Secrets and Lies The Missing Children of Yemen
or a mirror site
Aug 26, 1997 - A California resident, Tsila Levine, is the daughter
of Petah Tikvah resident Margalit Omessi, an Israeli of Yemenite descent.
Levine was apparently snatched from a Hadassah facility at a Yemenite
transit camp in Israel when she was one month old.
Time to come cleanJerusalem
Post © Aug 28, 1997: In the case of Margalit Omessi and
Tsila Levine, it was not the Nazis that were to blame for their
separation, but still-mysterious events that left dozens of
Yemenite Jews, believing that their missing children were taken
from them for adoption.
Stones left unturned ©
Ha`aretz, Sep 7, 1997As controversy rages over
the fate of the Yemenite babies who went missing in the 1950s,
Yigal Mashiach asks why the investigating committee has ignored
the startling case of Rabbi Bernard Bergman.
Missing Chidlren Scandal
by Naomi Segal of JTA
A scandal involving missing Yemenite children has erupted in
Israel. During the chaotic time of Operation Magic Carpet, when
Rosh Ha'Ayin was one of several transit camps for the Yemenites,
many children allegedly disappeared. For decades, Yemenites in
Israel have claimed that children they were told had died were
actually adopted by Jewish families of European descent.
The Hearing by Yechiel A. Mann
Yechiel Mann reports from the Oct 13, 1997,
hearing of Official Government Committee that investigated the
disappearance of children in the years 1948-1954.
How can there be two answers?
© Ha`aretz, Oct 13, 1997Is Margalit Omessi -
the Yemenite woman whose daughter disappeared back in the early
1950s - really Tsilla Levine's mother? Marit Slavin looks at
forensic testing.
The ABCs of DNA © Ha`aretz,
Oct 15, 1997 The process of DNA testing
is very complex and would benefit from regulation. But as Dalia
Shehori reports, the efforts of one doctor to help the Health and
Justice Ministries establish guidlelines were left
languishing.
Funding secured for DNA tests
© Ha`aretz, Nov 27, 1997 Following
a petition to Israeli High Court of Justice, the State of Israel
will allocate NIS 400,000 funding DNA tests that were begun a
year ago in an effort to locate missing Yemenite children.
Hebrew Univ. admits Yemenite testing
goofJUDY SIEGEL - Jerusalem Post
Service, Dec 12, 1997 The DNA test that certified Margalit
Omessi was the mother of Sacramento resident Tzila Levine was
incorrect, the Hebrew University's genetics department now
admits. Hasan Khatib's analysis of the two women's DNA was
given as "proof" that Omessi, whose daughter disappeared during
Israel's early days of statehood, was the mother of Levine . . .
Dead, but far from buried ©
Ha`aretz, Dec 16, 1997 The issue of
missing Yemenite babies was supposed to get a boost from a new
kind of DNA testing. But as Sarah Tsifroni reports, the tests
only led to more suspicions and distrust - and now the bones of
babies dug from Israeli graves are in England.
The Empty Graves by Yechiel A. Mann
Most of the parents were told that their children died, although
these children were likely kidnapped by hospital staff and infant
care workers. . . There was neither a death certificate, nor any
proof of a death given. . . . there were no known graves.
Was there Cover Up? by Yechiel A.
Mann Where are the bones? Who is the liar -
Sonia Millstein or Roza Kotzinski? Was there a contradiction
in Dr. Hiss testimony?
Were the Children Sold? by Yechiel
A. Mann Herein an outstanding excerpt from The
NY Times as of December 1974, alleging about corruption in the
Israeli National Religious party, Mafdal. The shocking
testimony of Rabbi Avidor Ha`Cohen may show that Children from
Israel were likely "exported" to the United States for adoption
and sold for about $5,000 each.
Obstruction of The Truth by
Yechiel A. Mann Ami Chovav was interviewed with
respect to medical experiments allegedly conducted on Yemenite
children hospitalized during the 50s. He had began investigating
this case in 1966 at the time when families with children who
were reported dead, began receiving military summons for drafting
into the IDF.
The Hidden Scandal by Yechiel A.
Mann And there is a need to lend them a hand in
finding their children - and the stealers of their children. Read
the outstanding story of Yosef Aharon Hammami and his two wives,
Kadia and Mazal. Rabbi Shlomo Korach searched his missing sister
and niece, who were likely kidnapped. How had Yona Hovera lost
her daughter?
Their Grief Remains by Yechiel A.
Mann
* Her brother's body was never found.
* Although adopted at three months the court order referring to
her adoption was issued only when she was eight years!
* Immediately after the birth, the doctor asked to buy one of her
twins saying "but you have other children. . ."
Says Lubavitcher Rebbe by Yechiel
A. Mann In addition to outstanding excerpts from
the book "Hitvaaduyot" of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Yechiel Mann
refers to the very fact that even after the Shalgi committee
finished its job, none of the documents were catalogued. . . No
way was found in Israel to track down missing children that had
been likely kidnapped and sold for profit.
Swept Under the Magic Carpet by
Yechiel A. Mann Operation "Magic Carpet" was
initiated in 1949. It brought approximately fifty thousand
Yemenite Jews to Israel. What happened to their children is the
issue of a rally held May 5, 1998, by the "Mishkan Ohalim" in
Jerusalem. Herein an outstanding story of Dora Vachnun and
Ester Meshulam.
Margalit Omessi and Tzila Levine by
Yechiel A. MannMargalit Omessi and Tzila
Levine are convinced they are mother and daughter, as is the rest
of their family.
About The Yemenite Jewish Disapora
Demography, History, Communal and Religious Life,
Aliya, etc.
Israel is setting up a genetic database
after these adoption scandals with missing Yemenite babies in
late 1940s and early 1950s.
BMJ 315 (1997), 626;
Nature 389 (1997), 322.
CONCLUSION
It is reasonable to believe that none of the Israeli governments
was directly involved in the kidnapping of Yemenite children.
Some of the children really died, others were adopted with the
apparent consent of their families, but many others were
kidnapped by independent criminals. Moreover most of
these criminals were holding high ranked positions, and this
enabled them to evade punishment. Accordingly it makes the
establishment quite liable (according to Israeli law). Needless
to say that had the babies been Ashkenazi, the investigation of
their disappearance would have been held long ago, and without
court orders.
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