Zionism: A home for Jews

Two stories of return to Israel that took place this week can serve as an example of the complicated but wonderful story of the State of Israel: The first, tragic, one was the return of the three bodies and the wounded victims of the Istanbul bombing. The second, happier, one is the 19 Jews who made aliyah from Yemen, who have reached the country that kept what it promised in its Declaration of Independence: "The State of Israel will be open to Jewish immigration and for the ingathering of the exiles."

These two returns would appear to contradict one another, but to a large extent they actually complete each other, because at the end of the day, our small country and nowhere else is the final stop. More than that, those same Jews from Yemen making aliyah contradicted the goal of those who sought to attack Israelis.

It's important to stress that the Zionist movement in Europe was founded by Jews who had been influenced by Western ideas, but their overreaching idea was to guarantee the future of all Jews everywhere. Don't forget, for years the Israeli leadership's attitude toward olim from Arab states, especially those from Yemen, was one of condescension and disdain. But we must also not forget that the stories of aliyah in general and the Yemenite aliyah to Israel are wonderful.

As far as anyone knows, Jews first arrived in Yemen after the destruction of the First Temple in 425 BCE. What was less well-known for years was that the Jews of Yemen, like the rest of Jewry in Arab countries, were wildly persecuted in various periods and forced to hold on to their Jewish religion any way possible. It's thrilling to read the Maimonides' "Letter to Yemen," which he sent in 1173, encouraging the local Jews and asking them to hold on and not lose hope. Indeed, the Jews of Yemen have a glorious legacy that we can learn from. It is enough to read about the legacy of Rabbi Shalom Shabazi to understand the community's spiritual wealth.

Yemenite Jews' ties to the Holy Land have been strong for the past 2,000 years. In 1881, the first wave of aliyah to then-Palestine, known as "Aaleh Betamar" ("I shall go up on the date palm tree"), took place. Later, more Jews from Yemen made aliyah. But the main wave reached Israel from 1949 to 1951 in Operation Magic Carpet, also known as Operation on Wings of Eagles. Some Jews remained in Yemen, some of whom have since made aliyah in a trickle. This last operation marks an end to the wave of aliyah from Yemen in recent years, in which more than 200 Yemenite Jews arrived in Israel.

This latest aliyah from Yemen, like aliyah from other undemocratic countries, was very special. If it's difficult to bring olim from Western countries, it's especially hard to smuggle Jews out of places like Yemen, and that what makes the operated headed by the Jewish Agency sweet. It's very symbolic that Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky -- who was persecuted in the former Soviet Union and is now free in Israel -- heads the organization that brings in Jews who were persecuted in Yemen and will now be free, just like him.

It's no wonder that the Jewish Agency head and the 19 olim from Yemen all arrived here. It's because of their historical ties to this place, as well as the efforts the state makes to bring them. They all finally came home.