Rabbi Elie Abadie, who has lived outside of Lebanon for more than 50 years, maintains a profound connection to his home country. Now serving as the senior rabbi emeritus of the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf states, the 65-year-old keeps his Lebanese identity alive through a collection of 3,000 Arabic songs and the culinary traditions taught to his American wife by his mother. Born and raised in Beirut to parents who migrated from Syria, Abadie left at age 10, eventually settling in Mexico before his current tenure in Dubai. He recalls the Lebanon of the 1960s as a place of beautiful rivieras and mountain resorts, a stark contrast to the reality that has unfolded since.
This historical connection has come into focus following a recent agreement between Israel and Lebanon. As part of the deal, Israel agreed to release five civilians held by its forces in southern Lebanon. In return, Lebanon committed to assisting in the search for the remains of Lebanese Jewish leaders who were abducted and murdered during the 15-year Lebanese civil war in the 1980s. The news has stirred deep emotions for those like Abadie, who still harbors a hope of returning to his birthplace to reopen Beirut’s central synagogue.
The decline of the Jewish population in Lebanon represents a significant shift over the last half-century. Journalist Nada Abdelsamad, who has authored two books on the community, notes that the country once hosted between 18,000 and 20,000 Jews, many residing in the central Beirut district of Wadi Abu Jmil, commonly known as the Valley of the Jews. Following the 1948 war, Lebanon became a refuge for Jews fleeing violence in Syria and Iraq, drawn by the country's religious diversity. However, this sense of security eroded following the 1967 war. Polarization within the country intensified, and the 1969 Cairo Agreement, which permitted Palestinian factions to operate freely in Lebanon, led to an increase in anti-Jewish sentiment and public protests.
The situation reached a breaking point during the civil war that began in 1975. During this period, prominent Jewish figures were kidnapped by armed groups, with the Organization of the Oppressed on Earth—an entity believed to be linked to Hezbollah—often blamed. According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, at least seven Jews are among the 17,000 people still missing from that era. Among them are Isac Sasson, the former president of the community; Dr. Elie Hallak, a physician known for treating patients of all faiths; and Salim Jamous, the community's former secretary general. Several others were confirmed killed and their bodies recovered at the time.
While Judaism remains one of Lebanon’s 18 officially recognized religions, the community has dwindled to only a handful of individuals. Attorney Bassem El Hout, who represents the community, states that no one knows the exact number of remaining members, though Abadie estimates only about 20 are scattered across the country. Many choose to keep their faith private, sharing it only with close friends and neighbors. Official voting lists still show approximately 4,000 Jews in Beirut and 1,000 in Sidon, though many are likely living abroad.
Today, five synagogues remain in Lebanon, including the oldest in Sidon. In Sidon’s old quarter, a sign still marks the "Jewish quarter," though the synagogue and several homes remain shuttered. Taleb Kara Ahmed, an author who has documented the community, explains that many Jews departed for Latin America before the 1982 Israeli invasion. When Israeli troops withdrew from Sidon in 1985, the last Jews left with them, taking Torah scrolls from the local synagogue. The current head of the community, Samo Behar, declined to be interviewed or to grant permission to film inside the century-old Maghen Abraham Synagogue in Beirut, which was damaged during the civil war and renovated nearly two decades ago.
For some, the trauma of the past makes a return impossible. Dany Liniado, who left shortly after the civil war erupted, recalls her father being detained and beaten by gunmen who accused him of being an "Israeli agent" before a politician intervened to secure his release and advised him to leave. Now residing in Mexico, Liniado identifies as a "citizen of the world." Regarding the recent diplomatic developments, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted that Israel feels a "profound and enduring responsibility" to Jews worldwide that extends beyond its borders and even beyond death. Meanwhile, Lebanese officials have yet to announce any breakthroughs in locating the missing, and it remains unclear what will be done with their remains if they are found.
