Jewish Migration from Lebanon Post-1948

Lebanese Jewish Migration to Israel included thousands of Jews, who moved to Israel. Similarly to how 1948 witnessed the emigration of hundreds of Jews from Arab countries. Yet, “unlike Jewish communities in many other Arab states, the Jewish communities in Lebanon grew after 1948 and it was not until the end of the civil war of 1975 that the community started to emigrate.” This “Lebanese difference” derives from twocomponents: more positive Lebanese relationships with European authorities during the French Mandate than experienced by other Arab states, leading to a more pluralistic outlook in Lebanon than its neighbors; , some elements in the Maronite Christian community who were tolerant of Zionism.

Tudor Parfitt writes, “the riots, which would have been quite inconceivable a short time before, were the first serious indication of dissatisfaction with British rule in the history of the colony”. Looking at a few examples such as Aden, Libya, and Iraq it is clear that distaste for colonial rule and resentment over the Zionist movement resounded within Muslim communities in the Arab world. These sentiments led to several acts of violence against Jews throughout the Arab world. What resulted was fear and distrust within Jewish communities, prompting the emigration of hundreds to Israel. “There is little doubt however that the riots, separated from the mass immigration by about four years, were a central factor in bringing it about”. In 1949 alone Israel witnessed an immigration of nearly two hundred and thirty five thousand Jews. By 1954, the number of immigrants to Israel since the founding of the Jewish state reached 725,000 broken down as such:

Chart from Discord in Zion: Conflict Between Ashkenazi & Sephardi Jews in Israel by G.N. Giladi page 77

Like many other Arab states, the Lebanese experienced deep resentment for their new lack of autonomy. Yet, unlike many other Arab states, Lebanon did not experience the same levels of dissatisfaction with their European colonizers.

Jews have been present in Lebanon since biblical times, and have been a fundamental part of Lebanese society. “In the twelfth century…the Jews lived in the same area as the Druze with whom they traded and engaged in crafts. They were well integrated into their environment and the majority of them were Arabised”. Yet this Arabization should not be misconstrued as assimilation. Lebanese Jews did not assimilate into Muslim culture, but rather integrated. Here a distinction between assimilation and integration must be made. As it is to be used here assimilation deals with the adopting of a majority of another culture’s customs. Integration instead describes the relationship of two individual groups that come together yet maintain their individuality. Though a fundamental part of Lebanese society, the Jews of Lebanon retained their religious and cultural identity. One key way in which Lebanese Jews were able to maintain this cultural identity was through the Lebanese Constitution. Under the French Mandate, the French helped Lebanon to create a constitution, which “inaugurated the new and heterogeneous State”. Lebanon thus created a country of integration rather than assimilation, one in which various cultures and religions were respected. “The rights of the Lebanese Jewish community were recognized in a civil constitution of 1911. This made them one of the more progressive minorities”. What is more is that the governments did not simply state or write that they would respect minorities, but also did so in practice. In an address to the French Mandate and Lebanese government officials Selim Harari stated:

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Wikipedia