On This Day: The conclusion of Operation Magic Carpet

• Published date: 24 September 2021
• Author: JERUSALEM POST STAFF
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

During this operation, also referred to as "Operation Kanfei Nesharim" - On the Wings of Eagles - nearly 50,000 Yemenite Jews were brought to Israel. The name refers to the passage in Exodus "...and I will transport you on eagles' wings and bring you to me..."

The operation was done via a joint venture of the Israeli government, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and the Jewish Agency.

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It began in June of 1949 and ended on September 24, 1950. The original plan was to gradually bring roughly 20,000 people, but rumors regarding the operation spread quickly, speeding the operation.

Jews lived in hundreds of towns and villages throughout the country. Thousands traveled towards Aden, today the capital of Yemen, with some walking as many as three weeks to complete the journey.

Some 380 flights carried the olim to Israel, prompted by a...