Lebanon's Forgotten Jewish Quarter

While much of Lebanon’s history focuses on its Maronite and Druze communities, or the Phoenician alphabet that shaped Western writing, there is a quieter, often overlooked narrative woven into the coastal cities. This episode explores the centuries-old presence of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews in Tripoli, Sidon, and Beirut, tracing their journey from the Iberian Peninsula through the Ottoman Empire to modern Lebanon. We examine how David Najjar and other prominent families navigated the complex social fabric of the Levant, contributing to trade, architecture, and communal life under the Millet system. By looking at specific neighborhoods like the Jewish Quarter of Tripoli and the interactions between Jewish and Muslim neighbors in the 19th century, we uncover a story of integration, resilience, and eventual displacement. Through the lens of figures like Salim Malki and the broader context of the French Mandate and post-1948 migration, this conversation reveals how these communities left an indelible mark on Lebanese urban culture before largely leaving in the mid-20th century.

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