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Lebanese Jews |
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Written by Lebanese Political Journal
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Lebanese Jews
The synagogue in Bab Idriss in Beirut's downtown must be restored.
It's a beautiful building with Hebrew inscriptions, Stars of David, a central fountain, and unique architecture. However, the roof has collapsed, the building is in desperate need of repair, and plants have completely taken over the site.
Last year a Shia friend from outside Tyre tried to get a group together to remove the plants and attract attention to the site, but when he tried to get permission he was sent in bureaucratic circles.
Within the past year, part of the wall of the Jewish cemetary in Beirut between Sodeco and the French Embassy collapsed. It's been repaired by now, but supposedly the cemetary is not in the best of condition. I would like to visit it, so if anyone knows how this can be arranged, I would appreciate the information. This website has a picture of the cemetary.
I recently came across this information on the Lebanese Jewish community:
1948 Jewish population: 20,000
2003: Fewer than 100
When Christian Arabs ruled Lebanon, Jews enjoyed relative toleration. In the mid-50’s, approximately 7,000 Jews lived in Beirut. As Jews in an Arab country, however, their position was never secure, and the majority left in 1967.
Fighting in the 1975-76 Muslim-Christian civil war swirled around the Jewish Quarter in Beirut, damaging many Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues. Most of the remaining 1,800 Lebanese Jews emigrated in 1976, fearing the growing Syrian presence in Lebanon would curtail their freedom of emigration. Most Jews went to Europe (particularly France), the United States, and Canada.
In the mid-1980's, Hezbollah kidnapped several prominent Jews from Beirut — most were leaders of what remained of the country's tiny Jewish community. Four of the Jews were later found murdered. Nearly all of the remaining Jews are in Beirut, where there is a committee that represents the community. Because of the current political situation, Jews are unable to openly practice Judaism.
In 2004, only 1 out of 5,000 Lebanese Jewish citizens registered to vote participated in the municipal elections. Virtually none of those registered remains in the country. The lone Jewish voter said that most of the community consists of old women.
I found this document listing the names, occupations, and family sizes of the Jewish population of Ottoman Saida in 1839.
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Madness takes over Lebanon.
Militants are fighting in the streets of Beirut. Military guns are on both sides. What is the prospect of such a situation. Aren't the Lebanese fed-up with wars?
23 November 2007
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud left the Baabda presidential palace without handing over the power to a new president. This is the first time since independence in 1943. |
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