Images of the Maghen Abraham Synagogue and its Jewish Congregation in Beruit before the IDF bombed and destroyed it in 1982
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An older synagogue in Beirut was demolished in 502 by a great earthquake that destroyed several cities in Lebanon. The modern Maghen Abraham was constructed in 1925 and named after by its funder and benefactor, Moise Abraham Sassoon. The Sassoon family, known as "Rothschilds of the East" due to their immense wealth, are a Baghdadi Jewish family.
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During the Israeli Army's advance toward Beirut, Yasser Arafat assigned Palestinian gunmen to stand guard at the Synagogue, an essential symbol of the community
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Starting in the 1500s, Lebanon saw significant growth in its small Jewish community, driven by the arrival of Jews from Andalusia and the Maghreb as they sought refuge from the Spanish Inquisition. Protected by the Druze emirs, these newcomers settled in various villages, The Druze emir facilitated the establishment of a synagogue for the Jewish community, showcasing a harmonious coexistence. In the 20th century, they mostly allied themselves with Pierre Gemayel's Phalangist Party and played an instrumental role in the establishment of Lebanon as an independent nation