Ye Olde Beiruti Synagogue

Remember when there were Jews in Beirut? Yeah, neither do I.

No worries, Old Beirut is here to refresh our memory. A grainy photo of a 1920’s place of worship is nearly all that remains of the Lebanese Jewish culture, not including the defunct synagogue in downtown Beirut.

Take a look at a nearly century old shot of the Magen-Abraham Synagogue, with Stars of David on the walls and menorahs lining the periphery. Culture that has long been unheard of in Lebanon, and indeed, the entire Middle East.

I sometimes forget that many of us have Jewish ancestors, yours truly included.