Lebanon’s slain Jews and the remnants of a dwindled community

Israel has asked Lebanon to provide information about the remains of Lebanese Jews who were kidnapped and killed during the country’s 1975-1990 civil war. The request came during recent talks, as Israel also returned five civilians captured in southern Lebanon, where it is fighting Hezbollah.

Jews have lived in Lebanon for centuries and played an important role in the economy, despite having no political representation. Their numbers dropped from about 22,000 before the 15-year civil war to roughly 30 today. Judaism remains one of Lebanon’s 18 recognized religious sects. The community’s president, Isaac Arazi, died in 2023 at the age of 80.

“Lebanon was the only Arab country where the number of Jews increased after the Nakba of Palestinians in 1948,” said Nada Abdelsamad, who wrote a book about the community. “Jewish immigration from Arab countries to Lebanon increased, especially from Syria, and also from Iraq.”

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Lebanon was the only Arab country where the number of Jews increased after the Nakba of Palestinians in 1948.

The creation of Israel brought a wave of hostility toward Jews across the Arab world. Abdelsamad said a minority of Lebanese Jews went to Israel, while most moved elsewhere, including Europe and the Americas, particularly Latin America. She also cited Shula Cohen, an Israeli spy who played a major role in Jewish emigration from Lebanon and Syria. Cohen was arrested for espionage in 1961 and released six years later in a prisoner exchange with Israel.

During the civil war, fighting reached central Beirut’s Wadi Abu Jmil Jewish quarter. The Maghen Abraham synagogue was looted during the conflict and later restored. Many Jews left after being displaced by the fighting, particularly following Israel’s 1982 invasion. In the mid-1980s, groups linked to Hezbollah kidnapped foreign nationals as well as Christian and Jewish Lebanese in militia-controlled west Beirut. Eleven Jews were abducted, including community leaders Yitzhak Sasson and Elie Hallak. The kidnappers, known as the Oppressed on Earth, demanded the release of Lebanese held by Israel. They announced that most hostages had been executed, but only four bodies were recovered.

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Jewish immigration from Arab countries to Lebanon increased, especially from Syria, and also from Iraq.