Enough is Enough!
August 7th, 2006 at 12:42 amClarification
We have received numerous messages from people who don’t agree with the content of our blog (not sure why). I’m not certain as to where their objections stem from but nonetheless this blog will remain. Our intentions are outlined precisely for the people who insist on distorting our message. We are not a political website, we don’t have any political affiliations, and we are simply working to promote the once vibrant Lebanese Jewish community- period. This has nothing to do with politics or Israel. This is not a hate group. So please, spare us your hate messages and take your hate somewhere else. And incase our readers are curious, we have received messages claiming we are anti-Israeli or leftist, again, we have nothing to do with politics. This is a strictly Lebanese website.
Richard Silverstein Said,
August 7, 2006 @ 6:45 am
Don’t let it get you down. The TImes of London detailed an Israeli government campaign to get pro-Israel bloggers to monitor what it perceives as anti-Israel blogs in order to “set the record straight.” For that, read “promote pro-Israel propaganda.”
There are so many ignorant people out there. Do what you came here to do & don’t pay the ignoramuses any mind. You’re doing something worthwhile. They don’t understand that because they’re ideologues & propagandists.
Further, what you’re doing goes against a primary Zionist tenet which is that Diaspora Jewish life (e.g. in Lebanon) is doomed. To them, you’re engaged in a wasted project. But not to the rest of us.
Good luck.
andy Said,
August 7, 2006 @ 11:30 am
I can’t see how you can be any more neutral.
Keep up the good work. There’ll always be nutters about - the internet jus makes it easier for them to operate.
V.N.F Said,
August 7, 2006 @ 4:26 pm
When friends and family came to visit us in Beirut (where we lived for many years in the 90’s and 00’s) we always, always took them for a walk in the about-to-be Solidere district. A very special stop was always made in the still-standing synagogue of Magen Abraham. Being European Christians with little knowledge of the Middle East and almost none of its nuances, most of our visitors and relatives were in each and every occasion struck by two facts: that the site was still standing -that is, that the Arab-muslim population did not raze it- and that that there were Jews of Arab descent in Lebanon (or in any other Arab country).
Well… here you are! The immense richness and complexity of the best region of the world being regarded and valued only and mainly for the tragedy that has fall upon its lands since 1948.
For all that, it is an immense pleasure, a tremendous privilege to read you, to know that you are there and to encourage you to go ahead with your honorable quest.
Finally, a suggestion, why don’t you provide readers with some historical references and accounts about the history of the Jews of the Levant (or better, you write them yourselfs).
Aust1 Said,
August 7, 2006 @ 10:20 pm
I would just like to add my support to those above. It is very telling I think, that the responses of some have been so hateful when the content is so completely unambiguously apolitical. Keep up your good work on this wonderful site.
Karim Said,
August 8, 2006 @ 12:23 am
I was at the peace rally in London where some orthodox jews came and lent their support to ending the war. 99% of the lebanese people there were really visibly moved at the jewish support and thanked them very much for their solidarity; proving to me that this conflict has nothing to do with the religious hatred that the politicians are trying to stoke. As fellow Lebanese, I wish you all safety and peace in this time of war. In solidarity.
omar Said,
August 8, 2006 @ 10:37 am
and you’re Lebanese above all. We’re in it together. Lebanon is your home. Don’t go.
Haytham Said,
August 8, 2006 @ 11:59 am
Great work and great blog! Please keep up the good work and don’t let any bigoted comments get you down.
As a lebanese, it’s my source of pride that Lebanon was the only arab country that witnessed an increase in the numbers of jews after the war of 1948. That tells a lot, Lebanon was and must always be tolerant, liberal, and open.
Amidst all this war, we all hope to see Lebanon prosperous again and a country for all its citizens regardless of religious affiliations.
Stan Said,
August 8, 2006 @ 6:47 pm
Great work. I know a jewish family that currently lives in Lebanon. They returned in the 90’s to their business. I hope all jews will follow their lead and return..
Just a comment about the image in the header. Maybe you can change the star of David with another jewish symbol just to avoid any negative connotations.
Charbel d Said,
August 8, 2006 @ 7:29 pm
Hello,i really wish to meet a lebanese jew one day in ordert o get to know more about his/her culture because discovering the jew community to me is a total adventure that i am willing to take one day.
Anyway,nice web site here,and keep on the good job hopin for you the best.
Imad F Said,
August 9, 2006 @ 1:58 am
Ilan Halevi, prominent Palestinian Arab jew living now in Paris and Israel, might be a starting point in getting dots connected with the Lebanese jews that fled. Sorry did not dig up his contact, but putting a google search for his name pops a lot of stuff….
I imagine, he being w/ the PLO (who actually protected the Lebanese Jewish minority during the Lebanese prior turmoil years), must have some significant connections with that scattered community that help with your mission (no?) I wish you luck weaving back your heritage, which is in part mine (I’m Lebanese, though not of Jewish descendents). “Funny” how we (humans) are quick to dismantle, not realizing what it takes to piece back what once was, huh?
Cheers,
Imad
GABRIEL Said,
August 9, 2006 @ 11:17 am
AS A MARONITE LEBANESE I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE JEWS RETURN TO LEBANON, I USED TO WALK BY THE SYNAGUG IN BEIRUT AND WONDER HOW BEAUTIFULL A MESSAGE IT WOULD BE TO SEE CHRISTIANS, JEWS AND MUSLIMS LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY LIKE WE USED TO, IN PEACE AND EACH ONE RESPECTING THE OTHER.
Abir Said,
August 9, 2006 @ 12:39 pm
I am proud to see this blog, though I am not officially a Jew, my family prides itself of being of Jewish descent who converted into yet another minority of the Lebanese multi-religious mosaic. Our history as Lebanese whether Christians and Muslims cannot be separated from a history of conversions to the religions that came to this land and the people of this land. While we changed our faiths over the centuries we never changed our belonging to the land of Lebanon that today prides itself to be the mother of the Lebanese people, Christians Jews and Muslims.
elie Said,
August 9, 2006 @ 2:32 pm
salut
ce qui fait le LIBAN unique est son panaché des cultures et son charme qu’il y a une coabhitation des religions, chretien, musulman, juif et druze etc…. pas de diference entre un libanais juif ou chretien ou musulman ou druze nous sommes des libanais et notre loyauté pour liban seulement.
vous etes libanais commes nous tous et celui qui dit le contraire c’est une grande trahison a la cause libanaise et envers le liban.
Hussein Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 4:01 pm
I add my voice to the above comments.
I hope the day would come when everyone feels safe to think and worship as one chooses. Lebanon: an open, secular, pluralistic, multicultural,… society.
mike rubbo Said,
August 12, 2006 @ 5:46 am
It is heartening to see this sit exists. Different people living together tolerantly is so lovely. I would love to see chamber music recitals, lebanese or classical, in the ruins. I know it is a strange idea, but music played in the wreckage would be an eloquent statement against violence. There was a famous short film made in London duing the german Blitz. Listen to Britain it was called. One sequence showed a concert at the Albert hall. The pianist was a famous jewish woman and the music she played was german. Such powerful symbolism.
Mohamad Said,
August 13, 2006 @ 7:55 pm
Great site. It’s great to see how Lebanese Jews love Lebanon.
I was born and raised in wadi abu jmeil. I still remember the old synagogue. It would be nice to have the Lebanese Jews back in Lebanon one day. Good luck to u all.
David Said,
August 16, 2006 @ 6:45 am
I was amazed that every person responding was from the same Said family. What a big hamulah! But then I realized that it was simply the English word “said”. Too bad!
David
Ali Said,
August 18, 2006 @ 7:54 pm
My fellow lebanese jewish compatriots… we never affiliate you with the state of Israel, you are truly lebanese and Lebanon would be honored to have all of you back one day so we could all live together side by side..
vonnie Said,
September 2, 2006 @ 3:36 am
Greetings and peace from a Maltese born athiest living in Australia. What a wonderful site this is. All your comments are so heart-warming. I get a sense of love and community when I read them. I laughed at David’s comments because I also thought ’said’ was a family name and I had tears in my eyes when I read Ali’s comments, so touching.
REALISTIC Said,
October 16, 2006 @ 8:19 pm
Hey GABRIEL as a maronite, do you remember when the christians allied themselves with the israeli occupiers and killed the muslims that you speak of. The main goal here should be to find the Jews (of jewish faith) who do not affiliate themselves with the israeli state and who denouce their support of such an unlawful state. And if they choose to do so then the doors of lebanon should be open as should the doors of all countries, even palenstine. However, if they are unwilling, there is a terrorist occupation “state” not too far from where they once lived.
Nabih abi habib Said,
October 26, 2006 @ 1:44 pm
Good luck, great work!!
george Said,
November 1, 2006 @ 9:09 pm
lebanese jews are lebanese
they loved lebanon and yes lebanon loved them, no need for anyone to tell Lebanese people no matter what religion how to act and what to say. Let this site grow, we need it!
david .s Said,
December 8, 2006 @ 5:15 am
realistic speak for your self and take your “garbage” elsewre
i am lebanse jew that love lebanon as much as israel and i left
lebanon 25 years ago and the day that will be peace
i be the frist one to go and visit or even live there..
david .s Said,
December 8, 2006 @ 5:23 am
hi mohamad let me tell you that i am lebeanse jew
and i stel love lebanon and it “killing” me what going out there
i lived in israel for 5 y and i lived in lebanon until i was 15y
and memory i have from lebanon i will never forget…