(JEWISH GROUP) The silent fade of Lebanon's last Jews amid escalation with Hezbollah

[Behind the Aegis]

The Jewish community in Lebanon, once a vibrant emblem of the country's rich tapestry of religious diversity, has seen its numbers sharply decline from an estimated 14,000 at its peak to just a few dozen today. As Israel is in the midst of a possible war with the Hezbollah terror organization in Lebanon, we bring you the story of this community, marked by resilience in the face of political turmoil and societal shifts, was poignantly captured in recent reports.

Israel has allegedly told Hezbollah that they have until March 15 to resolve the conflict diplomatically, according to an article by Lebanese media source Al-Akhbar published on Thursday. The article claimed that American envoy Amos Hochstein has been attempting to subdue conflicts "of the southern front" as a preliminary stage to Israel forming a comprehensive agreement with Lebanon.
The article claims that American envoy Amos Hochstein has been attempting to subdue conflicts "of the southern front" as a preliminary stage to Israel forming a comprehensive agreement with Lebanon.

The situation of the Lebanese Jewish community was recently brought to light the death of Isaac Arazi, a key figure in the Jewish community, known for his instrumental role in rehabilitating Beirut’s Magen Avraham synagogue. Arazi's passing in late 2023 marked the end of an era for Lebanon's Jews, encapsulating the community's ongoing struggle to preserve its identity against the backdrop of Lebanon's complex sectarian landscape and a history of conflict.

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[Richard D]

1. It is really heartbreaking . . .

I have visited many cities in Europe and a few other places and seen where once vital and vibrant Jewish communities lived. Now, hardly anything remains of them other than maybe a broken-down synagogue and ghostly echos of the past. This is not really about Lebanon, but I imagine it is much the same there.