The Jews Of Lebanon: Between Coexistence And Conflict
October 22nd, 2006 at 12:47 am
Lebanese Jews were Pioneers in Promoting
Nations Independence
Issue 11, Volume 02 www.alternative-online.org
The Jews of Lebanon: Between Coexistence and Conflict, a book published by Sussex Academic Press in 2002 is an attempt to cover the history of a forgotten sect within the Lebanese community. The author of the book is Kristen E. Schulze, lecturer of international history at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This book is a first attempt to venture into the history of the Lebanese Jews and to trace the origin of this community and its subsequent decline and near disappearance from Lebanon. The Jews of Lebanon who were a very active community played an important role in the creation of modern Lebanon but the creation of the state of Israel as well as other contributing factors lead to the exodus of the Jews from their homeland Lebanon.
Schulze book starts by presenting the history of the Jews in the Middle East and the Levant in particular, and concentrates on Jewish life in Lebanon. A literary survey involving the literature, which appeared with mention of the Lebanese Jews, is included in the end of the books introduction. The first chapter of the book takes the reader on a voyage through the history of the Jewish community in Lebanon, covering the areas that the first Lebanese Jews settled in. This section focuses on the Jewish communities that flourished in the villages of Mount Lebanon (Deir al Qamar, Barouk, and Hasbayah). The chapter also includes the cultural and religious education of the community, focusing on the Alliance Israelite Universelle and other educational institutes that catered to both the Jews and the rest of the communities.
The second chapter covers the period of the French mandate, which saw the flourishing of the Jewish community that utilized the existing system to become a considerable economic force, which includes merchants and financers(Safras, Zilkhas), becoming
renowned in not only Lebanon but also the Levant. It was during the French mandate; the Jews strengthened their relationship to the other Lebanese communities and parties. The Jews had special relations with Pierre Gemayel’s Phalangist Party (Kataib) and the organization of the Young Phoenicians (p.48, 52). This chapter also deals with the Palestinian question and the rise of Zionism and the contacts of the Lebanese Jews with the Jews of Palestine, the Yishuv. Schulz demonstrates that the Lebanese Jews were never attracted to the Zionist ideology, as reports to the Jewish Agency reveals their unenthusiastic attitude towards Zionism. The chapter ends with describing the condition of the community under the pro-Nazi Vichy regime, which saw the limiting of Jews freedom.
The third chapter, Lebanese and Israeli independence: Question of Identity, deals with the attitude of the Jews to the Lebanese independence and the National Pact. The Jews were among the first community that endorsed and preached the idea of Lebanon as a unique entity within its Arab surroundings. The author also surveys the political situation from the independence of the Lebanese republic to the establishment of the state of Israel and the condition of the Jews with the growing hatred that accompanied the rise of Israel. Schulze employs in this chapter the testimony of two Lebanese Jewish women Stella Levy and Vicky Angel, who reminisce about their privileged life in Lebanon (p.66). The author focuses on the Lebanese Jews support of the Arabs during the War of Palestine as they pledge money to help the war effort, however this did not protect them from episodes of violence.
The fourth chapter deals with the Jews predicament in the midst of the first civil war. The Jews, which were originally supporters of the “Right” and the Kataib party, in particular took the side of Camille Chamoun, president of the republic, in his confrontation with the Muslims and Kamal Jumblatt, which transformed the neutral Jewish community to an active participant in the arena of Lebanese politics. The Jews now felt that they had to defend themselves, as they were the target of attacks from the Arab nationalists .An example of such an attack would be the campaign, which Deputy Émile Boustani had launched against the Jews demanding that they should not serve in the Lebanese bureaucracy and the Army (p.85)
The fifth chapter, the beginning of the Exodus, covers the period that saw the emigration of the Lebanese Jews from Lebanon as it became apparent after the Arab defeat of 1967 that the Jews persecution in all of the Arab World. Although the condition of the Lebanese Jews was much better than there fellow Jews in other Arab countries, the community started to diminish as they saw in emigration an opportunity to make more money in a less hostile environment.
The sixth chapter covers the Israeli invasion of the Lebanese capital, which was the straw that broke the camels back. The Jews who were victims of the civil war saw in the invading Israeli army, liberators who would repair their worsening circumstances. The decision of the Israeli state to support the Rightist in the on-going civil war would proof devastating to not only the Jews but to the whole country, adding to the gap between the Lebanese communities.
Schulze ends her book by a sentimental journey through the history of the Lebanese Jews as she reflects on the Arab Israeli conflict and the past of a vanished community. The book in general is a pioneering attempt to establish a primary sources manuscript on a subject that remains a mystery in Lebanese history only transmitted through oral history without any real documentation. Schulze in this sense was successful in utilizing the archive material, which exists in the drawers of Jewish Lebanese family’s and the Central Zionist archives, the Israeli state archive, the Haganah archives, the Public records archives, the archive of the Alliance Israelite Universelle, etc.
This material, made available to Schulze alongside her proper utilizations of her findings, gives the reader a clear history of the Jewish community. The tracking down of the descendents of prominent Jewish leaders of the Jewish Lebanese community and interviewing them on their life in Lebanon add to the documentation process this book follows.
Although this book is a good attempt, it is not without faults. The first mistake, which the author commits, is her assumption that the Jewish peculiarities are common to its readers, as she neglects explaining some of the Jewish custom or practices. Schulze for example mention such terms as Hanuka, Purim, Minyan, are not properly explained to readers alien to Jewish customs. The second inaccuracy of Schulze book is her adoption of a rightist explanation of Lebanese politics as she reflects her understanding of Lebanese events on the history she writes for the Jews, and this is mainly due to the sources Schulze relies on in her research.
In general, Kristen Schulze book, the Jews of Lebanon is a good addition to the history on Lebanon, which has never been tackled until now.
Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Lebanon: Communities and Contradictions Said,
October 24, 2006 @ 7:11 pm
[...] The issue of the Lebanese Jews is not a popular topic of discussion in Lebanon. The Jews of Lebanon is a blog tackling this topic in particular. In this post the author summarizes and critiques the book “Jews of Lebanon: between coexistence and conflict” and declares that the Lebanese Jews were pioneers in promoting nations independence. [...]
Esther Baxter Said,
November 5, 2006 @ 9:02 pm
history of purim
Interesting post. I came across this blog by accident, but it was a good accident. I have now bookmarked your blog for future use. Best wishes. Esther Baxter.
Omar Kaj Said,
November 29, 2006 @ 3:43 pm
What I’d like to see are Jews returning to Lebanon for their long lost Lebanese citizenship, and see Jewish communities florish and overlap with Arab communities in a friendly manner. They should forget about Israel as being the hot cake for a moment, and reclaim lost heritage, such as the Maghen Avaham Synagogue.
ben Said,
December 4, 2006 @ 10:09 pm
omar you are being retarded
you must understand that US jews need a place where they can feel free and safe, a place we can call home and not be bothered like every other group or nation
the jewish people ARE israel and we can NEVER forget it
i am a JEW OF LEBANESE HERITAGE, my heritage is not lost, we keep our traditions and our customs, the land of lebanon we once lived in is one THAT DOES NOT EXIST.
THE JEWS OF THE WORLD ARE SICK AND TIRED OF BEING UNDER SCRUTINY
as a little known fact to all, a jew in lebanon was “accepted” politically but also knew that there was a fine line and that their security could be compromised at any moment, as is the case in history. one of the first groups to be targeted was the jews when the first civil war broke out even if they did not have a part in it
the current jews that do live in lebanon live in fear and oppression that something will happen, they are not allowed to exercise their jewishness in the open like the muslims and christains do. UNTIL THOSE JEWS ARE SAFE NO JEWISH LEB WILL FATHOM GOING BACK TO LEBANON LET ALONE VISIT
and that i can assure you
david .s Said,
December 6, 2006 @ 12:22 am
i am lebanse jew that feel the same
thanks ben
Suha Said,
December 20, 2006 @ 7:58 pm
Of course you have the right to feel whatever you want to feel, but that idea about Jews not coming back to Lebanon is simply mistaken. I have Jewish friends, Lebanese and others with blatantly Jewish names, who visit Lebanon on a regular basis.
Sandrinou Said,
September 27, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Ben and David,
I am finally glad people like you decided to post on this blog.
There are many anti-zionist jews that do not have particular attachments to Israel…Oups, Sorry, “The land GOD gave you”… If you say that you are Israel, you are simply not Lebanese. You do not belong with this project and not on this blog. Many jews DO feel attachment towards Lebanon or their home country (shouldn’t that be the US for you?). That is one of the reasons they stayed. And contralily to the ignorants you are, they are allowed to participate in political life and practice their faith. Judaism is until today one of the officially recognized religions in Lebanon. They are definitely afraid and not secure. But, hey guess what, so is half of the population. Thanks among others to last year’s war, which I have not heard one single “lebanese jew” as you call yourself, criticize or take stands for Leb from the US, etc, etc, etc.
Point is, dear friends : I’m a Lebanese Christian, and I feel too sometimes that the Lebanon that existed doesn’t anymore. But it takes only little to go back and see that the people are the same. We live together, we care for each other. And if someone attacks Lebanon, we will stand together, from whatever religion or whatever faith. Lebanese jews were never attacked by Lebanese. The Maghen Avraham was destroyed by Israeli warships. Read and get out of the box and be smart enough not to be fed crap, like “You are israel”. You are you. Where you live, where you come from, and where you want to be. There is no prior definition to who you are, based on your religion. That’s an insult to yourself for a start. Are you israel? Are you proud of israel today ? DO YOU FEEL SOMETIMES what a shame it is that we don’t have peace, that you won’t come back, that you feel Lebanon is dead ?
Anyways, many people want this project to fail. It won’t. We ow it to the ones who stayed or to the ones who left with a broken-heart and the hope to come back someday. They are Lebanon.
Sandrinou Said,
September 27, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
Oh and one last thing :
“UNTIL THOSE JEWS ARE SAFE NO JEWISH LEB WILL FATHOM GOING BACK TO LEBANON LET ALONE VISIT”
Well, that’s what Aaron is trying to do and that is why we should do everything to provide him with the help he needs.
PS. 250 lebanese jews had permanently come back to Lebanon on june, 6, 2006.
6 days later ……..
Andrea Said,
April 29, 2008 @ 6:08 pm
To Sandrinou (September 27, 2007 @ 12:17 pm): “If you say that you are Israel, you are simply ALSO Lebanese (I say)”. I’m not Hebrew, jew, but I know them very very well. Every jew from world (99% of them), in everywhere they live, will always love Israel, the their homeland, the first homeland for all them. In Lebanon there’s arab people but ALSO Armenian-Lebanese (with love ALSO for Armenia), greek, jew etc. Every jew loves Jerusalem in his religion, ALL JEW for his God (in their religion there’s always Israel and Jerusalem). Respect for all. I’m not speaking about Israeli’s wars, no, don’t worry. I’m speaking about LOVE for every nation from middle east. I love Lebanon (melting polt that I like) but also Israel, Palestine, Jordan and you all. Coexistence for all. Sandrinou, David and Ben, are ok at 100% for me. They love Lebanon but also Israel like Armenian-Lebanese love ALSO Armenia and at the same way the wonderful Lebanon. Of course I know that Judaism is until today one of the officially recognized religions in Lebanon. SalaamShalom to you all, I hope a true peace for all middle east, it’s a my dream since long time ago. I have jew friends but also maronite and muslim friends. Very good luck for David, jew Lebanese that loves also Israel with Lebanon, both for coexistence and democracy.
figuier de barbarie Said,
June 25, 2008 @ 9:57 pm
Dear all !
I’m very touched to discover this blog !
How sad was I , when I discovered couple years ago for the first time in Lebanon a synagogue in Wadi Bou Jmil Street, abandoned, while since mid 90s, in the neighbourhood down town Beirut, all churches and mosquées were restaured beautifully. I was hurt and since then I am always anxious that this beautiful temple could disappear .
Than one day I was at Sodeco and I discovered behind a very high wall a jewish cemitery, and that day I wanted so much to enter this sacred and abandoned place and clean it, then pray our common God for our beloved jewish compatriots who lived and loved lebanon till death.
But who should I contact to do it without any risk of I don’t know what kind of risk ?
Also since then, I am very sad each time I remember this peaceful place.
I hope one day jewish lebanese will be able to live again all over Lebanon and rebuilt tens of synagogues, then we can share with them Shabat and all their religious celebrations that inspired most of christians and muslims ones.
Judaism is Christianity an Islam roots.
For me Muslims and Jewish are, as we say in spoken arabic language:
Taje rasna .
Well what else can I say . Let us pray our common God that all powerfull political leaders could find a wise solution for this deep blessure and all other lebanese and Mideast dirty conflicts.
Love
FDB
figuier de barbarie Said,
June 25, 2008 @ 10:10 pm
ERRATUM
Dear all !
there’s a mistake when I said :
Judaism is Christianity and (not an) Islam roots
sorry but english is my 3rd language after arabic and french
Love
FDB