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Everyone's Aunt- Sarah Badihi

Sara Badihi was born on a Thursday, July 30 1903 in Sana’a, the capital city of Yemen. She passed away on June 3,1993 in Israel.

Sarah Badihi's parents married her off in Yemen, when she was still a child, to a much older man. With him, she moved to Egypt where she lived for a few years.

From the very beginning, her life as a married woman was a nightmare. She spent days and nights dreaming of a solution that would free her from her enslavement to a man who made her life a living hell, and caused her much pain and aggravation.

At the age of fourteen, while still in Egypt, she mustered up the courage to escape from her husband and her home.

Sarah found herself with nothing but the clothes on her back and a few pennies in her pocket. She traveled by train, going from one place to the next until she found refuge in a Jewish household where she was employed as a nanny to the family's children.

She spent decades as an "Aguna" (A Jewish woman who is left in limbo, unable to obtain a divorce from her husband), Chained to her marriage by a husband who would not grant her a divorce. Therefore, Sarah could never have children of her own.

Her longing for and love of the Land of Israel and those members of her family who lived there made her decide to make the move while still a young woman.

Her life in Israel was interwoven with the events that led to the establishment of the State of Israel: murderous attacks, hunger, sickness, and pain.

With the founding of the State of Israel, she took an active role in brining more Jews from Yemen to the fledging country in operation "On The Wings of Eagles" (The Magic Carpet)

Disguised as a “stewardess” she risked taking many flights from Yemen to Israel, Going back and forth, on small over packed planes, full of families yearning for Zion.

When the operation ended, Sarah helped the newcomers to settle in tents and camps that had been set up for them. Under very harsh conditions Sarah helped give them a sense of home and belonging and taught them the ways of life in Israel.

Sarah's personality and kind ways were apparent in everything she did. She gave of her kindness and love to all those around her, relatives and strangers alike.

Sarah took devoted care of her late mother Na’ama Badihi, of Blessed Memory, and nursed her younger sister, Rina Yeshayahu, of Blessed Memory, through her illness.

Although she never had any children of her own, Sarah was exceptionally motherly. She loved taking care of children, especially those of her own family whom she cared for and treated as if they were her own.

Sarah moved with the times and understood the mindset of the young. They admired her, loved her company and learned much from her wisdom, her life experience and her kind ways, and so, she became everyone's aunt.

Sarah was well known for her modesty, her generosity and her contentment with what little life gave her. She was known for her smile, her tolerance and forgiveness, which were an inseparable part of who she was and which elevated her to a spiritual level only few are fortunate to achieve.

She was never an inconvenience to anyone and never asked for anything for herself. Never complaining, she took on all that came her way with love and a tranquility that radiated all around her.

The warm and loving care she gave to all earned her the respect and love of those close to her, until her dying day. The loss of this special woman left a great void and sorrow in the hearts of her family members and many friends.

Sarah had three brothers and one sister. Her brothers Haim, Yechie and Shlomo, and her sister Rina with whom she was extremely close.

The two sisters were deeply devoted to one another and all the siblings descended from the Arussi family, on their mother, Na’ama's side of the family.

Their grandfather Rabbi Sa'id El-Arussi, of blessed Memory, was a scribe in Yemen and copied, in his own hand, the “HATCHUNA” (Book of astronomy)

His brother, Rabbi Netanel Arussi, of blessed Memory, copied, in his own hand, the medical book called “Elmoa'temad”, translated from Arabic into Hebrew, which contains a description of medicinal herbs. Twenty-two passages are included in this book.