The Jews from Lebanon and those of the Arab world are called Sephardic Jews. They originated from Spain and Portugal initially. But all the Jews of Spain had to leave to Amsterdam and Turkey in the 15th century. Later There was also an influx of Jews from North Africa towards Lebanon and Syria. A lot of them came to Lebanon and Syria. There was also a constant movement between Jews in Syria and Lebanon. They had similar religious practices, a lot of similarities in their food.
Lebanese Jews in Brooklyn have high standards of living. Walking around the community, and seeing big houses that are stand-alone and not attached to other houses. A real estate agent told me that such houses are typically very expensive.
Here’s an illustration of what i mean. Other houses that are closer to the beach, more to the South, are very luxurious, marble stones, three-storied villas and bigger. I was not able to take a picture however.
Not all Lebanese Jews reside in Brooklyn. Many of them are in Manhattan, and Queens. But the community is in Manhattan only.
Below is another picture taken at the congregation Har Halebanon: It is a Cedar Tree, the Cedar is the symbol of Lebanon. Names of families are carved on it (probably deceased people in these families? ) i will have to get a clarification about that. I could not talk to anyone when i took this picture because i was at the Bar Mitzvah shocked and having tallied multiple rejections already.
The Justice for Jews organization posted the following:
“In a plan to promote and educate people in New York and New Jersey on the topic of Jews from Arab countries, November 5-14, 2007 was officially declared Sephardi-Mizrahi Heritage Week in New York.”
Mizrahi, in Hebrew means Oriental by the way.
More information about American Sephardic Federation.
