Scared, loyal, oppressed - Lebanese Jews speak up

Aaron-Micael Beydoun

The ruins of the Maghen Avraham synagogue (above) in Beirut mirror the pitiful state of the Jewish community of Lebanon. This week, however, the last Jews of Beirut were the focus of a major feature in the local newspaper, L'Orient-Le jour. Two members of the community council emerge from the shadows to speak surprisingly bluntly. They go as far as to reveal that a legal case has been brought by the Darwiche family of Milan to reclaim their property.

Here's a summary of Mahmoud Harb's articles of 11 February. (With thanks: Lisette)

Harb interviews two members of the Jewish community council, Jacob and David (not their real names). They do not wish to reveal their true identities in case they are attacked by people who 'confuse Jews with Israelis'. Before the (Civil) War, Jews could serve in governmental administration, but are now banned from the civil service. There are 5,500 Jews registered as voters, but they are too scared to vote. One Jewess got into trouble for voting for Rafik Hariri. (We are not told how it became public knowledge that she had voted for him, nor why she was singled out for unpleasant treatment from among Hariri's numerous supporters).

The Syrian National Social Party (PSNS) does not hide its wish to eradicate Zionism and Judaism. Hezbollah does not distinguish between Jews and Israelis either. David therefore passes for an Armenian and his son as a Christian. "I'm Lebanese," he protests. "The Lebanese Shi'ites are not Iranians, the Catholics in the country do not represent the Vatican. We are real Lebanese and not Israelis. In any case we've been here for 1,200 years . Israel 's only been around for 60," he says.

Jacob says there are fewer than 100 Jews. There were once 30,000 ( other sources say there were never more than 10,000 - ed) in 1967. The Jews literally found themselves on the Beirut front line at Wadi Abou Jamil in the civil war. Fifteen Jews were abducted. Four were murdered and the rest simply vanished. Like all Lebanese citizens, the Jews await the restoration of the rule of law which would allow the Jews to live in peace.

The Council's main project was to refurbish the Sodeco cemetery, which has been cleared of mines by the army, and to restore the Maghen Avraham synagogue, the only one of 18 city centre synagogues 'to be saved by Solidere'. The building, financed by David Sassoon, dates back to 1925 and was 'protected' by the PLO in the 1970s. After their departure it was looted and sacked by fighters and turned into a dispensary by the Amal militia. The Torah scrolls were transferred to Lebanese synagogues abroad. If the synagogue is restored, the Jews will be able to practise their faith once again.

" As for the extremists,"adds Jacob, "we are not afraid of them, as they are everywhere."

Jacob insists that other community property has been systematically seized. "People have built on our cemetery at Saida. Others have moved in on our lands. For the moment we are keeping a low profile for security reasons. But the Darwiche family in Milan have brought a case against two parties who tried to appropriate their properties, and it was upheld."

*Harb's second interview, conducted by email with Karl Darwiche in Milan, disappointingly does not mention the court case. Darwiche blandly praises Lebanese tolerance and distances himself from Israel. The reporter waxes lyrical about young Lebanese Jews reminiscing about kebbeh and tabbouleh on Facebook. The article also mentions the b400.com site where Lebanese Jews exchange information, and the film The little story of the Jews of Lebanon by Yves Turkieh.

*A third article profiles 'Sarah', who is most likely Lisa Srour. This pathetic case, living in misery, tells how she once offered some Syrian soldiers searching her home some coffee." We don't take drinks from Jews," came the answer. She then destroyed her grandfather's books, in case the soldiers returned to seize them from her. "Here you know, people get killed," she said.

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