Orna Klein: Inside Testimony on the Yemenite Children Affair

תקציר הסרטון

Orna Klein’s harrowing personal testimony sheds new light on the painful affair of the Yemenite, Mizrahi, and Balkan children, centered on her family’s unique story from Kfar Saba. This overview presents viewers with the ongoing struggle to uncover the truth, providing access to rare historical documentation that remained classified within the archives for decades. The historical background of the affair is rooted in the early years of the State of Israel—a period defined by mass immigration and harsh living conditions in transit camps. The timing of these testimonies is essential for understanding the institutional mechanisms at play during those years, as the fates of thousands of children remained shrouded in mystery while their families continue to search for answers to this day. This documentation is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Georg Herlitz, founder of the Central Zionist Archives, who championed the importance of meticulous historical record-keeping. As part of the findings presented, documents and correspondence are examined to cross-reference information between hospitals, welfare authorities, and the population registry of that era. Tracking these technical records raises poignant questions regarding the reliability of the data provided to parents and the discrepancies revealed only after the opening of adoption files and the protocols of various state commissions of inquiry. These revelations have a profound impact on Israeli identity and the trust between citizens and government institutions, even many decades later. The question of whether the full truth will ever be revealed remains open, while this current documentation serves as another pillar in the commemorative effort and the demand for historical justice for the families left without answers.