This is the Knis (Synagogue) in Deir El Qamar where my family prayed for years before they moved to Beirut in 1841.

The history of the Jews in Lebanon is ancient, from the time of Zeḇulun, son of Yaʿaqoḇ, whose tomb is in Sidon, to the relics you see today in synagogues in

הַמֵּבִֿין יָבִֿין

This past year has been challenging, and the pain endures.

I've just returned from a delegation in Israel, concluding in Thessaloniki at an intimate seminar co-sponsored by the World Jewish Congress and EUJS - European Union of Jewish Students.

The event honored the enduring legacy and history of Jews from the Middle

First. Observe the antizionist Jew ('azzajew') literally was not Bat Mitzvah'd. Do you know how much of a low bar and bare minimum that is, especially at reform congregations? This is demonstrative evidence of how disengaged with Jewishness these azzajews are.

Second. The

Jews around the world are keeping track of two significant counts each day.

One is, '14 days, which marks 2 weeks of the ʿOmer,' follows the uplifting journey from the pilgrimage festival of Pesaḥ to pilgrimage festival of Shaḇuʿoth—the day we commemorate receiving the Tora.