Maghen Abraham Synagogue - Beirut
Beirut's Maghen Avraham synagogue is now fully restored
After ten years of renovation works, the historic Maghen Avraham synagogue in downtown Beirut is now fully restored, and will soon be open to visitors. The synagogue is a gem of the country's Jewish presence.
Beirut Maghen Abraham Synagogue
the work kick off renovating the Maghen Abraham, the biggest and oldest synagogue in down town Beirut :D
Beirut Maghen Abraham Synagogue interior renovation
the renovation of the interior in Maghen Abraham synagogue in down town Beirut.
OTV: Report on Renovation of the Maghen Abraham Synagogue and the Jews of Lebanon
OTV: Report on Renovation of the Maghen Abraham Synagogue and the Jews of Lebanon - يهود لبنان
Jews of Beirut Interview # 1
For Historical purposes, some information, in the description, and interviews may be repeated.
In Beirut the main synagogue's name was Magen Abraham. It was one of seventeen synagogues in the city (The Official Site of the Lebanese Jewish Community Council). It was built in 1926, after some delay due to World War One. Although its main purpose was a house of worship, it was also used as a school, and it was part of an underground railroad. The synagogue helped unify the Jews of Beirut, because previously there were many small houses of worship for different social classes. Once the communal synagogue was built, many of the Jews of Beirut prayed together (Magen-Abraham, Synagogue, Wadi Bujmil, Beirut).
The Alliance was an organization established in 1860 in Paris. It was organized by the free Jews in France, to help their brothers in other countries who were discriminated against because of their religious beliefs. The French Jews wanted to help Middle Eastern countries, because Jews in Lebanon, Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, and Iran were not receiving the education that could achieve betterment of the social and legal status of the Jews through their 'cultural and moral elevation.' The Alliance school was an integral part of the culture and community in Beirut. Over 1,000 students a year went to the three different Alliance Schools in Lebanon. At this time, the French language was one of the main languages in the world. It was the international language, and knowing it helped many of the children who attended the Alliance Schools to get jobs later in their lives when the Jews fled Lebanon. Some of them went to France due to the schools' influence (Alliance Israelite Universelle).
In Beirut and all of Lebanon, Jews were considered to have money; some were considered wealthy, just like Mrs. Srour's family was. One of the main reasons for this was the fact that many Jews kept all their money with them and did not trust banks. They saw what was going on in the rest of the world, stored all their money in their houses, and only spent it among themselves. Due to this conservation of money, many Jews were indeed wealthy. As a result, many Jews were the first to have telephones and televisions (Srour, Nino).
Liza Srour Nahmoud
Thumbnail photo owned by Ronnie Chatah.
A short clip from a conversation with Liza Srour Nahmoud in March 2008. Liza was the last Lebanese Jew living in Beirut's historic Jewish quarter, Wadi Abu Jmeel.
A discrete Jewish wall in Beirut
After its destruction in the war, this religious wall survived through the history, to represent, even with what remain, a solid belief to all the Lebanese. So we asked some of them, with our hidden camera, about this religious wall...And we didn't expect the result : The majority seemed afraid to admit any answer concerning the Jews...
the jews of lebanon יהודי לבנון
This Video is Dedicated to Lebanese jews in specific ...
As Many other arabic countries , the jews of lebanon had to leave their own country , but unlike the other arabic countries they left it basicly because of the civil war ..
Many people would be surprised to know the existence of a synagogue in Beirut for the jews ,because basicly they never heard of jews living there .
The maghen avraham Synagogue is now under renovation in Beirut (Wadi bu jmil ) ,and it supposed to be open in september 2010 .
Something else , i hope we all pray for the last lebanese jewish lady living in wadi bu jmil Lisa Srour who passed away few days ago ...Rest in peace Lisa ,Amen
Rabbi's visit to Lebanon - NTV TV AL-JADEED - حاخام في بيروت
Rabbi calls for unity and intercultural dialogue between Christians, Muslims and Jews in Lebanon!
CNN: A synagogue reborn in Beirut, Lebanon
CNN: A synagogue reborn in Beirut, Lebanon
المعابد اليهودية في لبنان
Lebanon reopens and restores Jewish Synagogue
Investigative journalist, Ash Gallagher writes a piece in washington-based al-monitor on A small community of around 200 Jews that remains in Lebanon but feel increasingly isolated.
Beirut Synagogue
Beirut lasting synagogue in down town, a visit to MA before the renovation works begin...
Hezbollah Supports Beirut Syngogue
Fareed Zakaria reveals some unlikely supporters for the restoration of a synagogue in Beirut, Lebanon.
دعوات لحماية التراث اليهودي في لبنان بعد اعتداءات على مدافن
طالب قانونيون ومؤرخون السلطات اللبنانية التحرك للحفاظ على الوجود المعنوي للمكون اليهودي
Beirut's Jewish heritage under threat - 20 Apr 2008
Al Jazeera's Nayla Khoury reports on the redevelopment in central Beirut that is gradually destroying the city's Jewish quarter.
The district of Wadi Abu Jamil has been almost deserted since Lebanon's civil war, and houses are being replaced by high rise buildings. With the neighbourhood synagogue in disrepair, some fear a significant slice of Beirut's Jewish heritage will be lost forever.
Jews of Beirut Interview # 2
For Historical purposes, some information, in the description, and interviews may be repeated.
Jews of Beirut Interview # 4
For Historical purposes, some information, in the description, and interviews may be repeated.
Muslims and Christians mostly agreed with each other and did not bother each other until the Palestinian refugees came from Jordan. Around 400,000 Palestinian refugees came to Lebanon in 1970. These Palestinians caused a considerable amount of trouble. The Lebanese Civil war started on April 13, 1975, after gunmen murdered four Phalangists (members of the Lebanese Christian political party). The Christians blamed the Palestinians for this and later that same day attacked a Palestinian bus, killing 26 passengers (Military).
The neighborhood in between the Christian, Muslim, and Palestinian towns was Wadi Abu Jamil, where almost all the Jews lived. Once fighting broke out, it caused almost all of the Jews to flee, because their town had become a virtual war zone; their houses were broken into and vandalized. People stole everything the Jews had. Some Jews hoped that the war would end soon, so they remained. Some people went to hotels and hid out. At night they slept in the hallways, because they were afraid that bullets would come through the windows and injure or kill someone. As the war progressed, the water was shut off to the hotel, so that every day the young people would have to walk down many flights of stairs to a well where they would collect water for the day.