The Magen Abraham central synagogue is located in the heart of Beirut, not far from the offices of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. The synagogue is in grave need of repair but one can still see the Magen David that adorns every column of the building. Magen Abraham once symbolized the splendor of the city's opulent Jewish community. Now, it is roofless and the wind howls through it, symbolizing the remnants of the Jewish community that remain in Beirut.

However, Aaron-Micael Beydoun, a 21-year-old American Muslim of Lebanese descent, recently launched a campaign to renovate the site. In his blog,"thejewsoflebanon.org," Beydoun also presents updated information regarding the besieged Jewish community in Lebanon.

Almost 60 years after the establishment of the state of Israel, only a few dozen Jews remain in Beirut and other parts of the country. They keep their religious identity a secret, fearing that exposure might cause them harm in the currently tense situation in Lebanon. A tourist, who visited Beirut on Yom Kippur a year and a half ago, told Haaretz that he saw a few Jews visiting the graves of their loved ones to pray. They refused to talk to him. Community representatives do not appear in official ceremonies or public events, and any attempt to contact them is met by icy refusal. But their community is still a part of Lebanon's religious tapestry. The Jewish community is one of 17 religious groups officially recognized in that nation.

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A sentimental symbol

Anyone interested in the community can find valuable information, including pictures, in Beydoun's blog. His parents, natives of southern Lebanon, left the country during the bloody civil war. They currently live in Detroit. Only someone who preserves an enormous sense of innocence could mount such an ambitious site. Beydoun strives to enlist leaders of various religious factions and politicians in Lebanon in his campaign to renovate the synagogue. "The synagogue in central downtown Beirut is a symbol with a very sentimental message, it must be renovated and we must project our message of coexistence to the entire world," he wrote last November. The site is full of praise for the Lebanese tolerance which produced years of relative peace among various sectors in the country.

According to Beydoun, his interest in the Jewish community derives from his studies of his own national origins. "I travel to Lebanon every year. I eat and breathe Lebanon. I used to think that all the Jews in Lebanon were blondes from Europe. I gradually realized that it was a loyal community of real Lebanese, who were and still are part of the fabric of that wonderful nation, and without them, the Lebanese puzzle is missing a piece," he told Haaretz.

Beydoun says that many Jewish Internet surfers of Lebanese descent have written responses to his blog. There are also responses from surfers who identify themselves as Lebanese Muslims. They mainly warn Beydoun of the political implications of grappling with the sensitive subject of Jews in Lebanon, noting that Jews are automatically identified with Israel. A surfer who called himself "A Muslim Observer" wrote, "Go for it. Though keep in mind that any Jewish attempt of reviving the once great community on Lebanese land should clearly disavow itself of any Israeli/Zionist ideology."

Fear of expropriation

The synagogue is located in Wadi Abu Jmil, directly under the Grand Serail, the seat of Lebanon's Prime Ministry. That site is currently the focus of political tensions that could return Lebanon to civil war. But during Lebanon's better years, the site was part of the Solidaire Company's ambitious plan to renovate the area, a plan initiated by former prime minister Rafik Hariri. According to Lebanese law, every individual or organization in the area is obligated to renovate its own property. If they fail to do so, the property is transferred to national representatives. Several months ago, the Jewish community was granted another extension during which it has to locate funding to renovate the synagogue.

Reports in the Arabic press indicate that there are very few Jews left in Lebanon, and most of them are very old. Many of them are married to non-Jews. "My cousin in Lebanon is married to a Muslim. Her children are Jewish according to Halakha [Jewish law] and Muslim according to Sharia [Muslim law], and they live as Muslims. There are dozens like her," a source in the Lebanese community in Israel said.

Liza Sarour, a 50-year-old Jewish woman, lives in grave poverty in Wadi Abu Jmil. Another Jew, Ze'ev G., was interviewed in March in the Saudi newspaper Okaz in a series of articles about the Jews of Lebanon. During the interview, he said that he avoids taking part in parliamentary elections because he knows that if he votes, he will become the focus of media coverage. According to him, there is a restaurant owner in Beirut who conceals his Jewish identity so his clientele will not boycott the restaurant.