Yemeni Jews, also known as Temani Jews, have a unique cultural and religious heritage deeply rooted in the Arabian Peninsula. They trace their origins back to ancient times : Biblical times. In the early fifth century, the Kings of Yemen (Himyara) had converted to Judaism. In 523, in response to Byzantine threats, the Jewish king Joseph (Dhu Nuwas Zurah Yusuf) massacred Christians in Yemen and forced neighbouring principalities to convert to Judaism. Elizabeth of Najran is an Arab Christian Deaconess that was martyred in 520 AD. The Himyarite Jews persecuted Christians in Najran. They tied her to a camel and dragged her into the Desert to die. Elizabeth is the only Pre-Islamic Arab Woman to hold an Ecclesiastical rank.
Aretas الحارث بن كعب the Leader of Najran’s Christian Arab Community being beheaded by the Jewish Himyarite King Dhu Nuwas in 523 AD. The Jewish Himyarites persecuted Christians in Najran. Aretas of Najran is Venerated as a Saint by the Catholic & Eastern Orthodox Church. Najran, which was a center of Christianity in southern Arabia and, above all, an area in close proximity to the Jews of South Arabia, suffered numerous attacks from Himyarite Jews.
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