Mailing List Message 1: Emailed to Registered Users March 2, 2007
March 8th, 2007 at 2:13 amNGO and Mailing List Registration: Click Here
Dear Madame/Sir,
Thank you for registering with TheJewsofLebanon.org website. In less than a year, a 30 year silent exodus of Lebanon’s Jewish community was brought to the forefront of our attention, and the groundwork is being laid to once again reaffirm our adamant belief in religious tolerance and coexistence, and preserving and replenishing Lebanon’s unique identity in the region and the world.
In a matter of months, this website caught the attention of the world press, and it’s by no mere coincidence a series of articles about the Jewish community were published for weeks in Beirut. Essentially a forgotten community, nonetheless an intricate piece of Lebanon’s diverse religious mosaic, the trend is being reversed and we are up for a long struggle.
When I was only 17 years-old, instead of indulging in the typical adolescence, I first learned about the Jewish community and most importantly, I acknowledged the fragile identity that must be protected in Lebanon. This project is universally applicable, we are here to promote and to uphold the principle of coexistence and there is no better place in the world than in Lebanon to diagnose and prescribe such a formula. It’s an example for the world, “it is more than a country, it is a message”. This project is strictly humanitarian, there are no political motives or agendas, whether personal or otherwise, and no politicization of the issue will be tolerated whatsoever. This is an officially recognized Lebanese community and it will remain confined within this context.
This effort is ongoing and we are in the beginning stages of developing an NGO, frankly, this website can only go so far but it has nevertheless provided a venue for awareness and it has accomplished that goal. If you are interested in playing a more significant role in these beginning stages of the NGO preparation please respond to this email address and make notice. It’s with our collective effort we can reach success; individual contributions reciprocating into a greater manifestation.
Thank you sincerely for your support and your interest.
Warmest personal regards,
www.thejewsoflebanon.org
Ghayss Tarraf Said,
March 8, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
Dear Lebanese Jews,
it is really sad to know what happened to your community. And I know how hard is it not beeing able to get back to one’s country.
Unfortunately I never met a Lebanese Jew. But having you in Lebanon is an enrichement for our small land. Here comes the importance of this web site. Keep up the great work and make Lebanon remember his forgotten exil Lebanese.
Lebanon is and will stay your country.
Ghayss Tarraf.
hussein Said,
March 12, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
good work,
lebanese muslim who wants jews back into lebanon
ROBERT Said,
March 15, 2007 @ 7:45 pm
Ne7na the lebanese jews were a very vibrant comminty within lebanon! We were a key part socicaly and ecnomically. As we left for a secure and better futur we were very sad yet we had to leave. As we moved to the USA, Canada, Mexico etc……. We’ve maintained our lebanese culture, language, mentality. But now Lebanon has a chance to show the world that we can all live in co=existence between eachother as we once did.
Allah ma3akon
michael Said,
April 11, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
like last time some one said that the jews knew about wars on lebanon i realy want them back i know they like us as we are lebanese but the question is why did the jews not tell us why they left or to warn us about the war…………………………i hope theirut would be finnaly a home of all and in peace like the old times
there where no oppostions and mouwelet at that time or jew hatters coz of isreal i hope one day we all christians,jews,mouslims,and druze live without war and help each other to make the country best like old times
Ramzi Said,
April 29, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
First and foremost, congratulations and many thanks for initiating this website. It is extremely informative and certainly recovers an important part of Lebanon’s history, which was ignored for so many years.
We often heard about the Jewish community from our parents and grand parents and some of us have known some Lebanese Jews, but all in all, the topic remains a mystery. Where did the community vanish? How many Jews are left in Lebanon? Is anyone still using the Jewish cemeteries?
It is important for all of us to know that a Jewish community once flourished in Lebanon, that Lebanon was a haven for Jews fleeing persecution in other parts of the world, that Jews lived in harmony with Muslims and Christians for hundreds of years.
It is also important to recognize that the Jewish community has vanished and quiet honestly, I doubt that it will flourish again. There may be more than 100 Jews in Lebanon but they certainly don’t live as a community and the ones that left will probably never come back.
The question then is what could be done?
First, we must recognize our faults. This community vanished due to ignorance. If the Jews left Lebanon, it is due to persecution. For the ones that stayed during the war, we owe them our utmost respect. It is important to mention that the final blow to the Jewish community came in the eighties, when the last active members of the community were kidnapped and assassinated. And here, we must stop and recognize those individuals.
Raoul Mizrahi - 1984
Salim Jammous – 1984
Dr. Haim Cohen-Halala - 1985.
Dr. Isaac Tarrab – 1986
Dr. Abraham Benisti – 1986
Dr. Eli Hallak – 1986
Isaac Sasson – 1985
Joseph Benisti – 1985
Judah Benisti - 1985
Eli Srour - 1985
Henri Mann – 1985
Regardless of who committed the assassinations, the Lebanese Government remained silent and issued no statements to condemn such systematic eliminations. Although nothing could compensate for the loss of loved ones, we owe those families apologies and recognition.
Second, many Jews who left Lebanon left behind their assets. Many properties in Wadi Abou Jmil and downtown Beirut are still owned by Jews. I know that Solidere has issued shares to some of them as a compensation but many other properties outside of the Solidere area are still unclaimed, their owners reluctant to return to Lebanon to sell. Those individuals must be offered certain assistance and assurances to properly liquidate their properties.
Thirdly, we all know that there are still Jews in Lebanon, however, the ones left are not living a community life. Hence we can not refer to a Jewish community. Certain official efforts must be made to revive the community. How? I don’t hold the answer. It could be through rebuilding the synagogues, by encouraging the ones that left to come back for visits etc. but it is important to show the world that there is still a Jewish community in Lebanon able to live freely and recognized officially and socially. This may seem idealistic but it is an important step.
Many other initiatives could be taken to recognize and save what is left from this so called community but they must be taken immediately. The remaining Jews in Lebanon are getting older and the younger ones are probably leaving. Initiatives such as this website are great and must continue for the love of Lebanon and all Lebanese.
Administration Said,
April 29, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
Ramzi,
Very thoughtful post, excellent. I also believe the government fell very short of its duties but I do know for a fact (documented), that after a terrorist attack on a Jewish school once (I believe it was in Tripoli, not during the civil war) it forced a public outcry of embarrassment so much so that the Lebanese Interior Minister at the time, Kamal Jumblatt, issued a public apology.
We hope that this website will start a “memorial” soon to honor these innocent Lebanese, who are not any different than any other innocent Lebanese kidnapped and murdered, but who were never and still never receive respectful ackowledgement- they died for Lebanon, we must honor them.
Thank you !
Ramzi Said,
April 29, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
True. Those kidnappings are not any different from any other Lebanese kidnapped and murdered, however they are an important part of the history of the Lebanese Jewish coummunity and they were certainly the final blow to the community.
Official numbers of the civilians killed during the civil war were never released. Up to today, thousands of Lebanese are still missing, their families living in agony with the hope to be reunited with their loved ones. Shame on us if we forget them and shame on us if we continue to support the leaders responsible of those atrocities and still in power and gaining poplularity.
A memorial is the minimum we could do for those families. Serious efforts to locate their missing loved ones, dead or alive, should be made by a hire authority.
Michael Said,
May 10, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
The Lebanese Jews were never big in number. I agree that what happened to them was unfortunate, especially as they were just like all the other Lebanese. But we have to face facts, Lebanon and the modern day Lebanese do not want Jews in their country, especially Muslims. It’s nice to showcase a lost identity, but ask yourself this… Would the Jewish Lebanese really want to return to Lebanon? Many of them have mixed into their new societies, and many are not pure bred Lebanese anymore.