Sidon’s Jewish Cemetary
November 25th, 2007 at 9:26 pmA few kilometers south of An-Nijmeh Square/Place d’étoile , Downtown Sidon, lies the Jewish cemetery, on a small hill supposedly overlooking the ever blue Mediterranean. On the western side, the cemetery is in very bad shape, the hill is sinking, and some of the graves have actually tilted.
Unfortunately, the cemetery is right next to the biggest dump in south
Lebanon. A 100-feett high mountain of garbage on the southern coast of
Sidon, by all means an environmental catastrophe. The Sidon
Municipality has had enough pressure and scandals from the media I
presume, so they have guards there preventing anyone from taking
photos. They stopped me from taking the photos of the tilting side of
the cemetery, or from entering it from that side. I tried to explain I
was after the cemetery and had no interest in the dump, to no avail.
Eventually, I had to sneak from the other side of the cemetery, and
climb the dusty hill, in broad daylight, which seems the best time to
sneak anywhere without raising suspicion! There is no “entrance” per
se for the cemetery. I recall there used to be a sign with Hebrew
letters marking the cemetery, but that was removed. I think this is
some sort of “hiding” the place to protect it from vandals.Many of the inscriptions that only have Hebrew letters are broken, but
those that have Arabic writing and Hebrew letters are left intact! I
believe that there is more than a coincidence to this. I got to know that
last year the place was cleaned by the municipality, the weeds, trees,
etc, seem reasonably within control for a deserted graveyard.I will try to go in without a very obvious camera next time, or use my
cell-phone camera. I am not sure what can be done to preserve that
cemetery, but my heart broke to think that these were someone’s
parents or grandparents, lying there; they died in their country,
certain that they will rest in peace forever in their homeland. Look
what happened! Nobody, dead or alive, should be desecrated or
forgotten in their own country.I was not sure what to say when I walked there, so I prayed in Arabic,
a verse from the Qu’ran that the angels repeat to the souls in Heaven:
Salamon Kawlin min Rabb Rahim – “Peace! A word from the Merciful God”.
Our God, their God, everyone’s God. Peace!-Fadi
All Rights Reserved.
All Rights Reserved.
Mailing List Registration, Please Click Here
Amir Said,
November 25, 2007 @ 10:00 pm
I will be going to Lebanon in a short while for the holidays. I like exploring around, and especially to do with interesting historical situations like this. Can i get Fadi’s contact info for when i go to Saida and check that place out?
Ellen Siegel Said,
November 25, 2007 @ 11:10 pm
Thank you Fadi. Very interesting comment and very, very interesting photos.
A Jew from the US who loves Lebanon.
Fadi Said,
November 26, 2007 @ 11:20 am
Hello Amir&Ellen,
Amir, I’d certainly like to meet up and have a tour of Saida with you. My email address can be received through Aaron.
That graveyard, and many others, has been abandoned because some 1.5 million Lebanese, including tens of thousands of Jews have been forced to leave the country at one point or another between 1975-1990. It is important to assure the readers that the bloody insanity was NEVER ever directed against Jews because of their confession; I’m sad to say, no one was safe, and no one escaped uninjured, the madness was universal that nobody can keep score of what happened.
Ellen, thank you for your love to Lebanon. In turn, we love it so much it hurts! To be honest…Turkey has higher mountains, Greece has nicer beaches, Egypt has better monuments, Prague a more elegant downtown, and London more ethnic diversity; it’s not topography, geography, or natural beauty that makes this country what it is.
Lebanon transpires with all its idiosyncrasies in a unique way through each and every one of its people, wherever they are. Even those who lie underground with illegible inscriptions over their graves tell the story of what this country has always been about. Alive or dead, immigrants or residents, each of them is unique, like music notes in a rapturous tune. God Forbid they should all become the same, and God forbid this country should ever be a country like any other!
isaac levy saida Said,
November 26, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
Fadi thank you very much for those photographs, from someone that [didn't] see the photograph of the tomb of his father or [didn't] visit him in 22 years.
Hassan Said,
November 26, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
Hey Fadi, great article man!
I am from Saida, and I’ve been to the Jewish cemetery before, I have also been to the Synagogue in the downtown area, which is closed now for reasons I know not of.
You may be amazed by the number of people in Saida who have no idea about both places; I estimate that about 70% roughly of people living in Saida just have no idea!
Amir, if you need more assistance on your trip to Lebanon (including Saida) I’ll be glad to help in case Fadi can’t.
S. Said,
November 26, 2007 @ 10:10 pm
Isaac, I’m so sorry you had to see your father’s tomb through a picture. This is a catastrophe. Lebanon is becoming a catastrophe. I hope you’ll be able to go back soon.
As for those who want to visit the cemetary, I’d like to join in. I’ll be in Leb soon I think, at least on vacation. Fadi, I’ll get your email from Aaron.
Love,
S.
robert Said,
November 26, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
its 7aram, but this is Lebanon of our days…it dosent care about the ppl that left or the ppl still there. People need to realize that were all one and unite inshallah
allah ma3akon
Susu Said,
November 27, 2007 @ 3:37 pm
i have been recently to saida, lebanon on my summer vacation and i went by the mountain of garabage many times and i have never seen a centery there, where is it exactly. and its so nice that you’re helping each other out, it proves a powerful statement … since i’ve seen and discovered this site i’ve been taking jewish history classes and this is my second one. it’s really an interesting subject. well have a nice day everyone and hope your vacation goes really well. if help need please ask.
Fadi Said,
November 27, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
Oh Boy! I’m overwhelmed.
Let’s start with Susu: The Cemetery is at the end of the Saida Corniche, past the Industrial Zone 1, on your right - you’ll see a small hill - that’s the one. It can be very easily missed. And I am the worst person in the world you can ask for directions.
S. - we will discuss “lebanon becoming a catastrophe” during your visit.
Hassan - we should meet up. While I blame the ignorance of people to the loss of day-to-day diversity, it seems that people are disconnected with the past in general.
Isaac, I am so sorry that you have to see your father’s grave over the internet. I have a small “story” to share with you all. My father is buried in the Ivory Coast. He passed away there, and we were unable to bring him home because our town in south Lebanon was under occupation. I so much wish to go to Abidjan and to visit his tomb, but it is not safe, and I wouldn’t know my way around there anyway. When I heard from you, I felt I have already visited MY father. There is some sort of a sign in all of this. I am not sure what I can do, but I’d love that you first point out which of the graves that is from the photos above, I’ll be happy to go there and perhaps put some flowers and say a little prayer of your choice? It would mean a lot to me.
Fadi Said,
November 27, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
Follow up:
If you download Google Earth, you can see the Location of the Cemetery on the following coordinates:
Sayda, Lebanon
Latitude 33°33′6.94″N
Longitude 35°21′56.18″E
isaac levy saida Said,
November 28, 2007 @ 2:24 pm
FADI i READ WHAT DID YOU WRITE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROPOSITION IT WILL BE A KIND THING YOU CAN READ THE FATEHA THIS IDEA WILL MAKE ME HAPPY AND MAYBY AS YOU SAID YOU WILL FELL THAT YOU ARE READING THAT AT THE TOMB OF YOUR FATHER i WAS SOUNHAPPY TO HEARD YOUR STORY MY FATHER NAME WAS YOUSSEF AND HIS TOMB IS IN PHOTOGRAH NUMBER 4 THANK YOU VERRY MUCH .
BAH Said,
November 30, 2007 @ 2:31 am
FADI!!!!!
AMAZING!!! one of the graves is that of one of my dads uncles!
really preciouis pics!!
BAH Said,
November 30, 2007 @ 2:32 am
thank you very much
A French-Lebanese-Israeli Jew Said,
November 30, 2007 @ 10:32 pm
Jews of Lebanon are maybe the present-times closest persons to the original ancient Hebrews.
All the other Jews of the world have a higher proportion of non-pure, non-Jewish blood.
I love Lebanon, I love every people in Lebanon, and I love u Fadi for revealing some photos of the past of a recognized community in Lebanon.
Shimshon Said,
December 1, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
Always nice visiting your site and to get so much information about jewish live in Lebanon. Greetings from Israel with the hope of one day being able to visit those sites - as a tourist!
S. Said,
December 1, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
French-lebanese-israeli jew,
do you live in France by any chance ?
A Chrisitan-Lebanese abroad Said,
December 1, 2007 @ 11:59 pm
Jews of Lebanon represent a component of the Lebanese society. They belong to Lebanon ; they are as Phoenician as Chrisitans, Muslims and Druzes are.
We have to do something to make this community come back home ! There has never been many Jews in Lebanon, they have never been very active in Lebanese affairs, but they are an essential component of our society.
S. Said,
December 2, 2007 @ 9:49 am
Hello again,
French-lebanese-israeli jew, I asked yo before if you lived in France because I live in Paris, and I really want to meet lebanese jews. The ones I’m in contact with, I only know through the internet. I’m haunted by this project and I have so many questions to ask.
Anyways, please let me know. It would really mean a lot.
Fadi, I’ll let you know when I go to Lebanon. But looking at it from here, as long as there are people like you, I think that will prevent the “catastrophe” a little longer
Sandrine
abed Said,
December 3, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
hey guys i am from saida and i went to this cementary many times taht really needs alot of care or to be cleaned and for Issac i am really happy that u saw ur fathers tomb
Fadi Said,
December 6, 2007 @ 9:00 pm
Hello everyone;
For avoidance of any doubt, I just wish to clarify that I am involved in this beautiful project out of love and respect for our country, and our jewish compatriots, the least we can do to preserve our country’s true spirit and identity. By compatriots I mean the Lebanese Jews who were forced into diaspora. These are our brothers and sisters, and our society owes them an apology (God knows our society owes an apology to all of us). The minute they wish to return home, they will certainly NOT be coming back as tourists.
On the other hand,with all due respect to the good intentions, I feel soemewhat unconcerned and completely detached from any other political affiliation - in other words, any non-Lebanese political affiliation, reference, or travel plans…
On the brighter side;
I have finally received Isaac’s instructions on where the tomb is. I have to travelling for some 2 weeks, but the first thing I will do when I return is to visit the cemetery to pay my respects.
S, eagerly awaiting your visit.. I am rather optimistic we can together manage to put a full stop “.” after preventing catastrophe. Afterwards, we can all work on making tomorrow a better one.
God’s Peace!
Administration Said,
December 6, 2007 @ 10:23 pm
Fadi,
beautiful words indeed, our entire motto on this website has been to preserve the Lebanon as was exemplified in the words of the late Pope Jean Paul II, “Lebanon is more than a country, but a message” and this is what we are working for. Let there be no mistake about it, we are strictly confined within a humanitarian and Lebanese context, nothing less, and nothing more. People have tried from the beginning to serve their selfish political interests or to even tarnish the image and the very existence of our work, but as the Great Khalil Gibran said, “advance and never halt, advance and do not fear the thorns in the path as they draw only corrupt blood” we have nothing to hide, we’ve challenged the entire status quo of the world, and our work runs in parallel to our dream of preserving and building Lebanon into the example of religious tolerance and coexistence in the world, we live in a very tough neighborhood, surrounded by one-colored states whereas the very essence of our existence is built upon the diversity and the plurality that defines our dear country. We seek the brotherhood of all mankind, we’re devoted to our country, we’re sons of Lebanon who are adamant in our cause.
God Bless,
Administration
Susu Said,
December 6, 2007 @ 10:51 pm
i agree with you 100%, we are all human beings lets treat each other not by our religion but by our social normas, to come to an understanding of who they are because we are all family, united as one for peace and harmony in the world…
Malika Said,
December 21, 2007 @ 4:53 am
Fadi, what you have done is amazing and incredibly moving. Elfi shekr!
Could you or Hassan provide the Google Earth coordinates for the synagogue in Sidon?
Zeus Said,
December 26, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
Happy Hanukah, Merry Christmas, and Joyous Eid to all.
I am impressed with this whole exchange. It is my first and my Jewish friend has just sent me the link. I am from Sidon and friends of my parents and grandparents are buried at this cemetery. It was nice as I was growing up how my mother, uncles, and grandfather told us about their fun stories and occasions they had with their Jewish friends. We longed for meeting them but unfortunately many left the country and so did we during the war.
I am glad that so many are interested in helping. I will be there next week and I will make a point of showing it to my family and enforce the message we have gotten well together so we will. Find the solid positive ground and build on it.
Cheers.
alex Said,
December 31, 2007 @ 11:16 am
hi fady
very very nice work…thanks alot…this shows the real message of lebanon the tolerance and the peace…
thxx again
eddy Said,
January 2, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
happy new year 2 all
Elias N. Chalet Said,
February 18, 2008 @ 11:47 pm
Hi all
That is the lebanon we all dream about, reading all the emotional stories about the families leaving their loved ones behind dead or alive and our lebanese brothers helping them some how to see the graves of the parents they left behind so long ago makes all of us lebanese from all religions keep hoping that this generation is keeping our hopes that some day and soon enough we will all meet in our lands the lands of the Cedars the land of the milk & honey and giving us the hope that we keep waiting for, hope for peaceful as lebanese we can live all together.
ARIE BALASIANO Said,
March 15, 2008 @ 5:34 pm
Hello Fadi
I was very excited to recognize my grandmother’s grave “NAZIRA SAFDIA BALASIANO” and her son, my uncle IZAK BALASIANO. I’m very sory that my parents are not alive to see those pictures.
I have some old picture of my family in LEBANON around 1950.
You can write to my Email
ariebls@walla.com
FERNANDE H Said,
September 14, 2008 @ 1:22 am
HELLO FADI
AS A LEBANESE JEW BORN IN BEIRUT 1971 ESCAPED FROM BEIRUT IN 1984..I WAS IMPRESSED ABOUT ALL WHAT I SAW AND READ IN THIS WEB SITE…YOU KNOW MY FATHER IS BURRIED IN SIDON’S CEMETERY BUT TO MY SORROW I NEVER WENT THERE..I NEVER SAW HIS GRAVE..MY MOTHER COULDN’T EVEN PUT HIS NAME ON THE GRAVE BECAUSE SHORTLY AFTER HIS DEATH IN NOVEMBER 84 ,WE FLED FROM THE COUNTRY AS FUGITIVES OF WAR..I WISH I COULD SEE HIS GRAVE ALSO…THE ONLY THING I KNOW IS THAT HE WAS BURRIED NEXT TO HIS MOTHERS GRAVE JAMILEH HAMADANI BATTAT ..I WISH SOMEONE COULD HELP ME ..ALTHOUGH MANY YEARS HAD PASSED THE PAIN IN MY HEART IS STILL THE SAME..AS MY INJURY IS NOT HEALED ,ICAN`T VISIT HIS GRAVE,NO ONE DID…
I HAVE MANY PICTURES OF MY CHILDHOOD ALL OVER LEBANON AND RECORDS TOO , I ATTENDED COLLEGE DE LA SAGESSE SCHOOL IN THE JARBIEH,MY FRIENDS WERE CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM THEY ALL KNEW THAT I WAS A JEW…I WAS THERE FROM FIRST GRADE UNTIL THE DAY I LEFT…I STILL EAT AND NOW COOK THE LEBANESE FOOD MY KIDS LOVE THE LAHME BEAJIN ,HUMUS ,TABULEH ,MJADRA ,SHURBET ADES,RIZ U FASULIEH…AND SO ON(WE KEPT ALL THE NAMES IN ARABIC)..
I OPENED THIS SITE BY PURE LUCK,I HOPE MY LUCK CONTINUES..AND SOMEONE WOULD HELP…..
The Official JOL Project Blog » Striking the Chords of an Emotional Symphony, an Incredible Story from Sidon Said,
October 8, 2008 @ 1:22 am
[...] The original pictures and the corresponding dialogue where this was discovered: Please Click Here [...]
Norma Fares Said,
October 9, 2008 @ 12:07 am
The Jewish Yom Kippur (Eid Al-Ghofran] or the day of forgiveness that comes after Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) is one of the most valuable human message-invitation-act ever i.e. Welcoming a New Year with a forgiven and loving heart!
In a world of hatred, selfishness, interests and rejections, please accept my genuine invitation, on the Yom Kippur day, to start loving each others by knowing about each others. Those each others are all Lebanese.
In one of the only remaining multicultural country amid its environment, we are all invited first to forget about who we are and focus about what we do for the sake of our beautiful land of Cedars.
We are called to save the diversity of Lebanon before it’s too late. Otherwise, Lebanon that our grandparents and Ancestors have known won’t be Lebanon anymore…it would be something else. Less beautiful…Awful for sure.
A mission is a commitment. And the Jews Of Lebanon project is a mission of goodness.
Do we love the land of Gibran Khalil Gebran, Fairuz, Elia Abu Madi, May Arida, Edmond Safra, Maroun Naccash…Do we love the land of Cedars?
So we, the love-and-peace people of Lebanon love Lebanon. Period.
With an open -heart-soul-mind- vision, knowledge and understanding can, with no doubt, guarantee respect. Respect guarantees love. Love guarantees peace.
This is Lebanon. And it’s this Lebanon that we have to fight for: Lebanon with its diverse religions and sects.
The Jews of Lebanon, the forgotten-missing people of Lebanon, must be on the top of our concern so that the painting of Lebanon won’t remain uncompleted.
Fadi, thank you so much for your great effort. I do not know what to say. I know what I feel. Your posted photos and comments brought tears to my eyes, my cousin-Lebanese-citizen.
God’s Blessings to all.
Norma with love:)
FERNANDE H Said,
October 11, 2008 @ 7:50 pm
please give me the accurate coordinates in the google earth for the jewish cemetery in sidon …the ones given by FADI take me to the sea…
i thank you in advance…
Hadi Said,
October 13, 2008 @ 8:56 am
So Touching…
hussein Said,
October 13, 2008 @ 4:56 pm
Hiii..
My name is Hussein Ali,from the deep south of Lebanon,From Bent Jbeil,I found this Web site through TAYYAR.COM.
am just writting to express my love and support to any LEBANESE Citizen,However,I know that the JEWISH community used to live in LEBANON…It’s sad & depressing that 99% of them Migrated out side Lebanon..It’s Sad that even the rest,who lives in Lebanon can’t declare or announce or practice any thing related to the JEWISH religion.
It shows that the Lebanese people,can’t understand each other,and can’t adapt or communicate with other people from apart their religion.
It’s a petty that the idiots in Lebanon never asked or intrested to make them return,or at least motivate them to come back at least on vacations.
Every body mixes between Lebanese-Jiwish & Israel.
Every body mixes between Shiaa & Iran.
Every body mixes between Sunna & Saudi.
Every body mixes between Christianes and Europe.
BUT…No body is ready to mix Between Lebanese & LEBANON…
It’s a petty….
I sympathize with you people,and I hope that one day,all of you returns back to the GREAT LEBANON,the country which didn’t protect all of you or us…..
I hope that you return to LEBANON,where the people lives together regardless religion or part of religion….
I hope that all of us,lives in peacefull, fair country,Libreal ,where is the real place of the religion,is in your House.
Let’s take the Turkish,European & Americans as an example…
Let’s live together….
At the end,Let’s all of us ignore how we pray,or to whom we pray….
Let’s live in LEBANON,in Love with each others.
Salaaaam
Christian Lebanese In Dubai Said,
October 14, 2008 @ 5:57 am
Dear All,
As Lebanese, i believe we all bare the same problem, Immigration.
Hopefully all of us, Christians, Jews and Muslims will be back to our land again, and show the whole world how we can live in peace and harmony altogether.
I have always been intrested in Jewish Religion, Hebrew, and Jewish music. but unfortunately all i was able to learn in Lebanon was some Old Hebrew, from a Book that my cousin used in College (archeology), but had no right to take it home. Took the book from uni (actually stole it, but with good intentions) photo copied it, and then returned it back. i was 19, i tried to learn a little, but then gave up, at least i can write my name in Hebrew, and speak few broken words, and got a lot of Palestian, Israeli, stamps with Both Arabic and Hebrew on them, since the old 40’s and 50’s.
I would love to meet people from the Jewish Lebanese Community in Lebanon or Abroad. We are all Brothers, that came from One County, From One God, and Share the same Cause.
Could anyone please advise on how to give donations for the renovation of the Synagogue in Downtown Beirut ?
When the Synagogue is Renovated, i will be the first one to visit.
God Bless You All,
God Bless Lebanon.
George-
Merhi Said,
October 16, 2008 @ 3:46 am
nice website …