Hayyim Habshush

Who was Hayyim Habshush?

Rabbi Hayyim Habshush was a coppersmith by trade, and a noted nineteenth century historiographer of Yemenite Jewry. He also served as a guide for the Jewish-French Orientalist and traveler Joseph Halévy, “twenty three years later, Habshush began to write up the account of Halévy’s journey, first in Hebrew, and then, at the request of Eduard Glaser, in his native language, the Judæo-Arabic dialect of Yemen.” As a prominent member of the Jewish community in Yemen, R' Habshush served as one of the principal leaders of the Dor Deah movement alongside Rabbi Yihhyah Qafahh, and Sa'id 'Arusi.