About us

We are a group dedicated to the preservation of the Jewish heritage in Saida. Some of us come from Jewish families of Saida or Lebanon. Others are friends of the Lebanese Jewish community or simply people interested in Saida's cultural and historical heritage. We welcome contributions by all and in all forms to our goals.

Each of us is involved in this project for different reasons: to honor our ancestors and their memory; to revive historical sites in Lebanon, which are at risk of collapse; to enrich the cultural life and touristic appeal of Saida; and/or to attest to and defend the rich history of co-existence in Lebanon.

The name Nabi Saydoun is used commonly by Sidonians to designate the tomb of Zebulon, one of the sons of the Patriarch Jacob, who is said to be buried in Saida. In the third century old mosaic map of the holy land found in Madaba's St George Church (in Jordan), Saida is designated as "Zebulon" in Greek letters.

The tomb of Nabi Saydoun is close to downtown Saida. It is largely forgotten and ignored today, but it remains de facto a sacred site of pilgrimage and worship by many religions. Like much of the Jewish heritage in Saida, it is there, but forgotten.

The other sites of Jewish heritage in and around Saida - the Jewish quarter (harat al-yahud), the old synagogue (al-knis), and the cemetery (al-jabbana or al-maqbara) - are equally shrouded in mystery. But they exist, of stone and memories, and they attest to the great diversity of lives lived on the shores of this city over six thousands years (about 250 generations).

We propose to gradually rehabilitate these sites, and hopefully engage in other creative projects, over the coming years. The process of reintegrating these sites to Saida is as important as the goal itself.

We aim to work with local artists, architects, farmers, artisans, and citizens, to make the past fit again, to develop new friendships, for stone to acquire more meaning, to broaden further the character of the city, and to attract more visitors to improve the city's economic conditions as much as to shape new human relationships.

Check some of the work done so far at the cemetery! (English only)

Saida had a lively Jewish community. Until 1948, most Jewish families lived in harat al-yahud in the old city. Many Jewish families emigrated at the turn of the twentieth century to Brazil as well as the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa. There is a Sidon Synagogue in Brooklyn, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

Some of the family names include: Arazi, Balaciano, Barzilay, Bassal (Levy), Beniste, Boukai, Braun, Cohen, Dana, Darwich, Diwan, Fuerteh, Gabbay, Hadid, Hasson, Kattan, Khalili, Khabieh, Khayat, Khodary, Laoui (Levy/Lawi), Liniado, Levy, Mizrahi, Moghrabi, Nigri, Pariente, Politi, Sasson, Simantov, Srour, Valido, and Zeitouni.

Like other Lebanese expatriates, Sidonian Jews abroad tend to have a double identity. On the one hand, they tend to be successful and integrated in their new countries of residence. But at home, they tend to keep their specific idiom, religious traditions and songs, and culinary habits. They care about their ancestors buried in Saida's cemetery, many refuse to sell their property in the historic Hara, they ache to hear from old friends again, and they transmit to their children fond memories of the city of their elders.

We hope that our collective efforts will break the spell of time and the trauma of distance, and encourage Sidonian Jews to come back, visit, renew their relations, and participate in the future of the city they cherish.