History of the Jews in Lebanon
The Lebanese Jews are traditionally a Mizrahi community living in the present-day country of Lebanon, mostly in and around the city of Beirut. Almost all of the community has emigrated to Israel, France, and North America (mostly to the latter two)[citation needed], with less than 100 Jews now living in the country, compared to 24,000 in 1948[1]. Aliyah did not begin in ernest until the civil wars of 1958 and 1975, as Lebanese Jews were tightly integrated into society and felt no need to abandon their homeland.
Early history
The first Jewish presence in what is today Lebanon was probably established in or around 132 CE, following the Bar Kokhba Revolt. The Caliph Muawiya established a community in Tripoli and one was founded in Sidon in 922 CE.
20th century
In 1911, Jews from Greece, Syria, Iraq, and Turkey all moved to Beirut, expanding the community there to nearly 5,000. The Jewish community also prospered under the French mandate and Greater Lebanon. During the Greater Lebanon period, two Jewish newspapers were founded, the Arabic language Al-Alam al-Israili (the Israelite World) and the French Le Commerce du Levant, an ecomomic periodical which still publishes (though it is now owned by non-Jews).
1948 to present
Lebanon was the only Arab country whose Jewish population actually increased after the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948.[2] However, after the 1958 Civil War, many Lebanese Jews left the country, largely for Europe, the United States, and Israel. In 1971, Albert Elia, the 69-year-old Secretary-General of the Lebanese Jewish community was kidnapped in Beirut by Syrian agents and imprisoned under torture in Damascus along with Syrian Jews who had attempted to flee the country. A personal appeal by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Prince Sadruddin Agha Khan to the late President Hafez al-Assad failed to secure Elia's release. The Lebanese Civil War, beginning in 1975, proved worse for the Jews, and around 200 were killed during pogroms in that period. In 1982, during the Israeli invasion, 11 Jewish leaders were captured and killed by Islamist radicals. Wadi Abu Jamil, Beirut's Jewish quarter, is now virtually abandoned, and it's central temple, the Maghen Abraham Synagogue, is now dilapidated. Only around 40 Jews remain in Beirut today.[1]
Jewish Community Presidents
- Ezra Anzarouth Prior to 1910
- Joseph. D. Farhi 1910-1924
- Joseph Dichy Bey 1925-1927
- Joseph D. Farhi 1928-1930
- Selim Harari 1931-1934
- Joseph D. Farhi 1935-1938
- Joseph Dichy Bey 1939-1950
- Joseph Attiyeh 1950-1976
- Isaac Sasson 1977-1985
- Elie Hallak 1985- ?
Chief rabbis[3]
Between the years of 1908 and 1978, a series of Chief Rabbis led the Lebanese Jewish community.
- Rabbi Danon 1908-1909
- Jacob Maslaton 1910-1921
- Salomon Tagger 1921-1923
- Shabtai Bahbout 1924-1950
- Benzion Lichtman 1932-1959
- Jacob Attiyeh 1949-1966
- Chaoud Chreim 1960-1978
See also
- Deir el Qamar Synagogue (Mount-Lebanon)
References
- ^ a b Hendler, Sefi (August 19, 2006). Beirut’s last Jews. Ynet. Retrieved on 2007-05-22.
- ^ The Jews of Lebanon, Time - The Middle East Blog
- ^ History of the Jewish Community, The Jews of Lebanon
External links
- The Jews of Lebanon
- Jewish Lebanese community in Canada
- Lament Lebanon's lost tribe, The Daily Star (Lebanon).
- Time Blog:The Jews of Lebanon
- Jewish Virtual Library: The Jews of Lebanon
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