Ep.338: Al Wadi (Part 2)
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- Al Wadi (Part 2) catches up with Gabrielle Elia, author of 'Impressions of My Youth in Lebanon'.
If you haven't already, listen to the first episode of Al Wadi (Episode 170) released in June 2020:
• Ep.170: Al Wadi
Part 2 dives deep into Wadi Abu Jmeel's history - a bygone neighborhood once central to downtown Beirut - and the Lebanese Jewish community's position in a time of post-independence uncertainty for Lebanon.
Our discussion explores Gabrielle's childhood, full of an innocent joy that she retains. We also talk about relics both abandoned and restored of a once vibrant community's rich yet troubled past.
Our conversation also touches on the storytelling craft, and why Gabrielle continues to write about a country she left over half a century ago.
And check out all her books (including 'Impressions of My Youth in Lebanon') via the following Amazon link:
www.amazon.com...
Special thanks to Christian Konjian and Charlotte Gaudreau for helping film in Montreal.
Soundtrack by Marc Codsi.
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Music by Marc Codsi. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.
This is an amazing monument to faded places of memory. A Beirut and its children who are no longer there. Endearing and heartbreaking at once. Alas, in Proustian terms “le souvenir d’une certaine image n’est que le regret d’un certain instant; et les maisons, les routes, les avenues, sont fugitives, hélas! comme les années.”
Very good and moving video that bring back good memories, looking forward for more video
Great work Rony in preserving the history of these people. Those were Lebanese before being jewish, and in 10-20 years their descendants would have lost every connection to this community that existed in Beirut.
Amazing episode and amazing story. Thank you for doing all the work. You are truly preserving a piece of lebanese history
Impressive work Rany! You are preserving a wealth of culture and history
Ahwet el Hamra was frequented mostly by Muslim men. From there, soundless movies playing on a theater screen could be watched from afar, on top of the Cinéma Normandie building. Across the street, there was Ahwet el Chamat, frequented by the Jewish Beiruty men. The Chamat servers were all Greek men. They would shout out the patrons' orders in their language, such as "einas Cola likido!", meaning "One Coca Cola!", or "einas Ouziko!", "a little Ouzo", meaning "a little Arak drink". In both cafés, Narguiles (Shishas or Hukkas) were available for rent, as well as Tawleh's Backgammon sets, for playing spirited games of "Shesh Besh". Outside the door of the Chamat café, an old Egyptian man hawking hard boiled eggs and pita bread would shout: "Beid u'aysh!" (eggs and bread) in his dialect.
Montreal is lucky to have you!
very interesting gabriella congratulations claude behar
In Tu B'Shbat, each Jewish kid would get a cotton sack with string closure, filled with dried fruits and nuts: dried apricots, dates, raisins, prunes, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, terebinth (butm in Arabic), and "Malban" on a string. The kids would snack on them, and also barter these items with their cousins and friends.
Let it bern in ur heart
A Tide detergent commercial jingle on old Lebanon radio: "Shirwalak ya Abu-Zzayd, ma b'yindaf illa bit Tayd", meaning "Your drop-crotch pants, o Abu-Zaid, can only be cleaned with Tide".
Great episode Waiting for part 3
Where can we find the soundtrack ? It’s beautiful to say the least
Composed for the podcast, he’s an incredible artist. You can find more of his music on streaming platforms.
kawet el bahri facing the normandy hotel
where can I find part 1?
It’s linked in the details box (Episode 170)
An empty synagoge