#marjeyoun

[trendynewsnow]

Israeli Military Issues Warnings as Cease-Fire Holds with Hezbollah

Israeli Military Issues Warnings Amid Fragile Cease-Fire The Israeli military has intensified its warnings to residents living in towns along both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border as of Friday. Authorities are advising against returning home, as the delicate U.S.-brokered cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah appears to be holding, despite an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon the previous…

[satellitebroadcast]

israeli crimes on Lebanon: Telegram

Israel is intentionally burning Lebanese forests, one phosphorus shell at a time During the first eight months of the military escalation in the south, until the beginning of last June, Israel caused 841 fires and attacks with white phosphorus, according to figures provided to the Ministry of Agriculture by the Legal Agenda. The National Center for Scientific Research also documented 175 attacks with phosphorus shells and 37 attacks with phosphorus and regular shells, in addition to 196 attacks with incendiary bombs, which are attacks aimed at starting fires, and constitute about 10% of the various types of Israeli attacks on Lebanon during this period. The Marjeyoun district, whose border strip includes the villages of Kfar Kila, Adaisseh, Blida, Mays al-Jabal, Taybeh, Houla, and Khiyam, had the largest share of attacks with phosphorus and incendiary bombs with 116 attacks, followed by the districts of Tyre (48 attacks), Bint Jbeil (37 attacks), and Hasbaya (11 attacks)

The intensive attacks on the southern border area, specifically with white phosphorus, left hundreds injured, including more than 200 of whom required hospitalization, according to the Ministry of Health. The phosphorus attacks burned 20% of the agricultural and forest areas in 55 villages, according to sources from the Jihad al-Bina Foundation. Huge numbers of trees, poultry, livestock, and beehives were destroyed, and a large number of wild animals, insects, and birds were killed, as well as the vegetation cover. The attacks with this dangerous chemical led to mass displacement from the villages, and residents fear long-term poisoning of the soil and production, which would disrupt agricultural life.

By early June, 17 million square meters of green space had been burned (55% forest, 35% fruit trees, and 10% grassland). The region lost 60,000 ancient olive trees, some dating back centuries, even to the Roman era. Among the direct victims of the phosphorus fires were 340,000 poultry, 1,000 livestock, and thousands of beehives, which died, with 370 beehives destroyed and 3,000 damaged. The Ministry of Agriculture documented the targeting of 13 large livestock farms with white phosphorus, as well as the complete burning of a 600-square-meter feed warehouse. The livestock sector, suffered an estimated 4,000 cows and 70-80,000 heads of cattle, were injured or killed, with some losing their way, starving and thirsty until they died. Livestock was deliberately bombed to destroy it. Full detailed report by Legal Agenda Website

Evidence of Israel’s unlawful use of white phosphorus in southern Lebanon as cross-border hostilities escalate By Amnesty in 2023

[athena5898]

🚨 The IOF has increased its attacks on Lebanon, as resistance continues to steadfastly confront attempted incursions at the southern border. As the IOF takes more losses, it lashes out and targets more civilians. In the last three days, over 40 medical workers have ascended to martyrdom as the IOF bombs Civil Defense centers, ambulances, and medical centers. Three Lebanese Army soldiers have ascended to martyrdom in the last week, and today marked the first time during this war that they returned fire on the IOF. The IOF has also made no apparent distinction between targeted areas, bombing not only the south but areas to which southern Lebanese have been displaced to due to the aggression. The IOF also bombed Hezbollah's media relations office in Dahiye in a failed attempt to silence the voice of truth and resistance, a voice that lives through the people. Yesterday, the IOF directly bombed the Islamic Health Commission office in downtown Beirut, resulting in at least 9 martyrs. Despite this, the resistance continues to target the zionist depth and inflict casualties on the zionist army. The IOF's strikes in the last seven hours are distributed as follows: Beirut: Series of airstrikes on Dahiye, including Hadath, Haret Hreik, and Ghobeiri. Keserwan District: Airstrikes on Al-Maaysrah (the second airstrike after a previous one targeted a residential building last week) Nabatiyeh District: Airstrike on Kfar Tibnit, airstrike on Arnoun Al-Shuqayf resulting in the martyrdom of a paramedic and wounding six others from the civil defense team. Marjeyoun District: Airstrikes on Al-Khiam repeatedly, airstrike on Markaba, clashes in Kfar Kila between resistance and IOF, artillery shelling on outskirts of Shebaa, Kfar Kila, and Deir Mimas. Targeting on Taybeh-Marjeyoun resulting in martyrdom of an LAF soldier and wounding of Red Cross members. Bint Jbeil District: Airstrike on Haddatha, airstrike on Kounine resulting in the martyrdom of two citizens when their car was targeted. Sour District: Airstrike on Jwayya. Aley District: Airstrike on Kayfoun targeting a building. Hermel District: Airstrike in Wadi Hanna on the Syrian-Lebanese border.

[void-voyage]

@trhxianl on twitter

About “Israel” breaking the truce, a quick recap of the July 2006 War on South Lebanon ⬇️ With its inability to prevent rocket attacks from South Lebanon, despite the adoption of UNSC Resolution 1701 on August 11, “Israel” broke didn’t comply with the ceasefire. Though Res. 1701 provided an end to hostilities, “Israel” took advantage of the UN text’s lack of a specific timeframe for ceasefire compliance &, before implementing it, the IOF launched a large-scale ground operation on Aug. 12 — despite the adoption of the Res. on the 11th. As a result, the Hujayr Valley became the “graveyard of the Merkava” as “Israeli” tanks entering Lebanese territory exploded on live broadcasts of Al Manar TV. The “Israeli” ground forces, facing a greatly prepared Islamic Resistance, suffered significant losses. Despite odds favouring “Israel” with 40,000 soldiers compared to the estimated 2,500-5,000 Resistance fighters of Hizbullah, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon’s results were remarkable, impacting both sides psychologically & symbolically. In 2006, most civilians who were killed during the war didn’t perish in bombings targeting Hizbullah nor its supply structures. “Israel” targeted the homes of 10s of 1000s of Lebanese regardless of any link with Hizbullah. “Israel” even bombed funerals. “Israel” also targeted convoys escorted by UN forces, though all weapons of Lebanese Army soldiers had been surrendered as conditioned by “Israel” itself to allow safe passage — I am recalling the Marjeyoun tragedy of August 10, 2006. 3,500 civilians joined the convoy. With “Israeli” & UN permission, about 500 vehicles followed the Army’s Jeeps. The convoy set out, accompanied by 2 UN armoured vehicles. When the convoy reached Kefraya in Bekaa, halfway between Marjeyoun & Zahlé, “Israeli” drones bombed it.

22 nov. 2023

[builtlikeastickofcelery]

I am the marjeyoun district of Lebanon????? Nice

ur government assigned gender for the day is the first thing u get when u click this link to a randomised wikipedia article. NO REROLLS . i am the  trollsteineggje mountain in norway

[dzismis]

Szczegółowe zeznania świadczą o tym, że siły pokojowe ONZ były przekupywane przez Hezbollah

Pojazd opancerzony Tymczasowych Sił Zbrojnych ONZ w Libanie (UNIFIL) jedzie drogą w południowym Libanie w rejonie Marjeyoun 17 października 2024 r. | Fot: AFP Schwytani terroryści potwierdzają, że płacili siłom UNIFIL za wykorzystywanie ich placówek przeciwko Izraelowi, a nawet za korzystanie z ich kamer monitorujących. Stanowi to naruszenie mandatu ONZ. Według źródeł bezpieczeństwa, agenci…

[worldwidebreakingnews]

Israeli Preemptive Strike Ignites Conflict in Lebanon. The fate of Marjeyoun and the entire region hangs precariously in the balance. No one can predict the duration of this harrowing ordeal or its ultimate resolution. All they can do is cling to hope, yearning for a swift end to the savagery and restoring a semblance of peace

[arab-newsreleases]

Electricity demand peaks at 3760 Megawatts on TuesdayENEMY AIR RAID TARGETS A HOUSE NEAR QANTARA TOWN SQUARE IN MARJEYOUN DISTRICT

http://dlvr.it/T4PV94

[russellembruncan]

Posted @withregram • @mazen_kassis Maamoul Baklava Cheesecake & Cheesecake Tarts🇱🇧 #lebanese #lebanon #lebanesecuisine #baklava #cheesecake #ottawafoodie #marjeyoun https://www.instagram.com/p/COU6DNOFNsU/?igshid=wlw044qfmirv

[nogarlicnoonions]

They call it “Knefet Joz” in #Marjeyoun. #dessert #walnutrolls #sweetbites (at Lebanon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B81JFVRBYWN/?igshid=blnwno5cxjc8

[razzoukrazzouk]

Lovely nephews in #marjeyoun house . #nephew #love #instagood #cute #photooftheday #happy #beautiful #picoftheday #smile#like4like (at Marjayoûn, Al Janub, Lebanon)

[athena5898]

LEBANON (RNN) — IOF warplanes carried out a number of airstrikes on Beirut, targeting the Laylaki, Choueifat, and Burj Al-Barajneh areas (Media 1-4). Additional strikes in Lebanon targeted a mosque in Yaroun in the south (Media 5), three drone strikea near Debbine in Marjeyoun which wounded a security officer, and a strike on Khiam. Strikes were also recorded in Baraachit (twice), Aitaroun, Beit Yahoun, Tebnine (three times), Shaqra (twice), Aadchit, and Jibbene, as well as the outskirts of Baalbek.

[writing-after-the-disaster]

Act for the Disappeared Thurayah, sister of Joseph Keyrouz who disappeared in April 25, 1976, at Barbir. "My name is Thuraya Hattab; after my husband's last name. My brother, Joseph Ibrahim Kayrouz, disappeared. [Joseph] went to the area of Barbir in order to buy gasoline. He said goodbye to his family and that he would be back, but he never did. He used to pass through (Barbir) quite often, since his in-laws lived in Marjeyoun. He used to go all the time. I mean, he had passed throiugh the area at least two or three times before on his way to Marjeyoun. But there hadn't been any kidnappings or anything like that in the area before. Sadly, the day he went there to buy gasoline, the circumstances were anything but ideal… The next day, his wife came and told us what had happened; Joseph had gone to get gasoline the previous day and had not yet returned. We started rushing to look for him; asking this guy and asking that guy. Some people would confirm having seen him; others would deny having seen him… I went and met with a person that could helpl he was a decent and dignified man. I was able to meet him through an acquaintance. This man welcomed us with open arms, and told me to give him a picture (of Joseph). He also asked, in the case they (those who took him?) asked for money, would I be willing to pay? I told him I most definitely would; I just wanted to know what had happened. After a month or so, the same friend took me back to his man. Sadly, this friend has passed away. When the man saw me, he told me 'we were unable to find a single clue about him. Even in the cemetery of the Palestinians, we could not find his name. Our last chance was to check if he was in Syria.' It doesn't feel nice at all (remembering what happened to my brother). As I told you, I saw his picture today and I started to cry, I couldn't hold back the tears. I had previously kept his photo hidden. We phoned and contacted many political figures and while some did try to help us, it was all to no avail. I did not know that my brother had gone to the area to buy gasoline. Had I known, I would have certainly not allowed him to do so.  He didn't inform his mother or anyone else; he only told his wife. He had a little child who was supposed to start his very first school year. They waited 12 long years to have this child and (Joseph) disappeared when the child was only 3 years old. Joseph gave him a piece of candy before he left and told him that he wouldn't be long before he returned home, and that was that. He never came back.”

Barbir - Thuraya

[inilahonline]

Komandan Sektor Timur UNIFIL: Kemampuan Satgas SEMPU Konga XXV-M/UNIFIL Tidak Diragukan Lagi

Komandan Sektor Timur UNIFIL: Kemampuan Satgas SEMPU Konga XXV-M/UNIFIL Tidak Diragukan Lagi

INILAHONLINE.COM, LIBANON – Kemampuan Satgas SEMPU Konga XXV-M/UNIFIL dalam melaksanakan tugas misi demi menjaga perdamaian dan keamanan di Sektor Timur tidak diragukan lagi. Demikian dikatakan Komandan Sektor Timur UNIFIL Brigadier General Javier Mur Lalaguna saat mengunjungi Satgas Sector East Military Police Unit (SEMPU) Kontingen Garuda XXV-M/ UNIFIL, yang berada di UNP 7-3 Blate, Marjeyoun,…

[christianworldf]

New Post has been published on Christian Worldview Institute

New Post has been published on https://christianworldviewinstitute.com/video-channels/bridgett-gabriel/is-islam-religion-of-peace-a-brief-history-by-brigitte-gabriel-heb-sub/

Is Islam Religion of Peace? A Brief History by Brigitte Gabriel (heb sub)

Brigitte Gabriel gives a short history lesson about Islam at the Values Voter Summit in 2015. Brigitte Gabriel was born in the Marjeyoun District of Lebanon to a Maronite Christian couple, a first and only child after over twenty years of marriage.[10] She recalls that during the Lebanese Civil War, Islamic militants launched an assault on a Lebanese military base near her family’s house and destroyed her home. Gabriel, who was ten years old at the time, was injured by shrapnel in the attack.[1][11] She says that she and her parents were forced to live underground in all that remained, an 8-by-10-foot (2.4 by 3.0 m) bomb shelter for seven years, with only a small kerosene heater, no sanitary systems, no electricity or running water, and little food.[12] She says she had to crawl in a roadside ditch to a spring for water to evade Muslim snipers.[12][13][14]

According to Gabriel, at one point in the spring of 1978, a bomb explosion caused her and her parents to become trapped in the shelter for two days.[15] They were eventually rescued by three Christian militia fighters,[16] one of whom befriended Gabriel but was later killed by a land mine.[17]

Gabriel wrote that in 1978 a stranger warned her family of an impending attack by the Islamic militias on all Christians. She says that her life was saved when the Israeli army invaded Lebanon in Operation Litani. Later, when her mother was seriously injured and taken to an Israeli hospital, Gabriel was surprised by the humanity shown by the Israelis, in contrast to the constant propaganda against the Jews she saw as a child source

[hoshvilim]

Meet Shadi Khalloul

Did you know that there is a revival of Aramaic in Israel. It seems that Maronite Christians in Israel share a common Biblical heritage with Judaism and are ardent Zionists. There is a lot we can learn from them and there is much Israel can do to help these allies.

Shadi Khalloul

What a pleasure to interview Shadi Khalloul, the Founder of the Israeli Christian Aramaic Association-NGO. This is one interview that I shall never forget. As we sat in his lovely home in Jish (Gush Halav) in the Upper Galilee, Shadi, described his transformation from being an Arab Israeli and his growth to become an Aramaic Israeli – step by step.

Maronites in southern Lebanon

First of all we drove up to the hilltop, 800 m above sea level. We stood facing the north. Shadi pointed out that all the Lebonese villages of Ain Ebel, Debel, Qaouzah, and Rmaich are entirely Christian Maronite – all of them praying in Aramaic. Israeli Maronites also believe that the Lebanese village of Maroun al-Ras is named after “Maronite”. (Israeli scholars suggest that the name comes from the Waters of Merom in Joshua 11:5.)

Syriac-Aramean flag

Bir’im and Iqrit- the unfulfilled promise to permit a return

On the Israeli side of the border we could see the site of Kafr Bir’im ( كفر برعم‎,), which was a Maronite village. Bir’im stands on the site of the ancient Jewish village of Kfar Bar’am.  Iqrit (إقرت‎) is too far to see. When the Crusaders occupied Iqrit, they called it Acref. Kafr Bir’im and Ikrit were captured by the Haganah on October 31, 1948 during Operation Hiram. In November 1948 most of the inhabitants were temporarily expelled, for military reasons, until the military operation was complete. The expulsion went without Cabinet knowledge, debate, or approval – and received post facto Cabinet endorsement. The Maronite residents of Bir’im were moved to Jish. The Maronite residents of Ikrit were moved to Rama. Strangely enough, despite the promise that they would be returned in two weeks’ time, none were permitted to return.  The Israeli government has yet to keep its promise to allow the Maronites to return to Bir’im.

Muslimization of the Galilee

During the 70 years of the Jewish State there has been a Muslimization of the Christian villages in the Galilee. In one after another, for various reasons, the Christian majority in villages has turned into a Muslim majority. There has been an increase of anti-Christian incidents. Many Christians complain that Muslims are trying to either drive them out of cities that have traditionally had large Christian populations, or to “persuade” them to convert. Christian Israel leader argue that Israel is the only country in which Christian communities have been able to thrive in the Middle East. Christian Arabs are among the most educated groups in Israel. They have attained bachelor’s and academic degrees at higher rates than Druze or Muslims in Israel. Hanna David from the University of Tel Aviv wrote that Christian Arabs the New Israeli Jews. In terms of their socio-economic situation, Arab Christians are more similar to the Jewish population than to the Muslim Arab population. Shadi suggested that I read articles on this subject, among others, by Dr. Rivka Shpak Lissak. Many Israeli Christians have given up their Arab identity. In Lebanon, the Israelis gave aid to their Maronite brothers who, in turn, joined the South Lebanese Army (SLA).

Shadi’s Aramaic Enlightenment

Shadi was born in Jish, but grew up in Haifa. After serving in the IDF as a Captain, he wanted to learn more about his Aramaic heritage. The first step was a B.A. from the University of Nevada Los Vegas (UNLV). During a course in “Bible as Liturature” a Catholic UNLV professor said, “Don’t think that Jesus spoke Spanish or English or French or Latin … he spoke Aramaic, a language that disappeared.”  Shadi stood up and explained, “I pray in Aramaic and I can read and write in Aramaic”. The professor asked him to prepare a presentation for the next day. This presentation made the difference. When Shadi returned to Jish, he joined a course in Aramaic for adults, opened  by a Maronite priest in Haifa, so as to enable them to not only understand the Liturgy, but also read, write and converse freely in Aramaic. Shadi’s Maronite identity began to expand.

Maronite Zionism

During the 1939 Arab Civil War against the British Mandate, Aramaic Maronites brought supplies on donkeys to the Jewish community in Safed. The Khalloul family, in Bir’im hid illegal immigrants, refugees from Nazi Germany, and aided them enter the British Mandate of Palestine. Researching in the Zionist Archives in Jerusalem Shadi discovered that Maronite leaders sided with the Jews during the Holocaust years. Records show how the Maronites served as a third party purchasing land in the Hula Valley and reselling it to the Zionists. Shadi showed me copies of protocols by David Ben Gurion favouring of a Maronite State in the French Mandate of Lebanon, and even suggested that the Jewish Agency should donate funds to aid the Lebanese Maronites.

The Maronite leaders also recommended to the United Nations that there should be a Jewish State in Palestine. One must take into consideration that of all the Eastern Christian religions (Syriac Orthodox Church, Syriac Catholic Church, Maronite Church, and the Assyrian Church) only the Maronites recognize the Pope and thus have good relations with the French and Italian governments. Of course the Maronites also wanted a Maronite state in Lebanon. The Maronites wanted to be an ally of the Zionist Movement. A Maronite continuity from southern Lebanon (Qlaiaa – Marjeyoun) to norther Israel which would protect Israel from the north.

Maronite Leaders recommend a Jewish State in Palestine

Aramaic language studies in Jish

As a Christian language, Aramaic has all but disappeared from the Middle East. Only two Holy Land villages remnants of small Maronite and Christian Syrian Orthodox communities opted to teach Aramaic to the new generation. Although both the Maronite and Syrian Orthodox churches worship in Aramaic, they are distinctly different sects, each numbering approximately 2000. This is quited an ambitious effort to revive the language that Jesus spoke.

Abuna Bishara Suliman, Maronite priest in Jish, set up an Aramaic class for school children. By this time, Shadi was already an active lobbyist in the Aramaic movement and was able to convince the Minister of Education, Gideon Sa’ar, and Dr. Shlomo Alon to budget elementary school Aramaic course in Jish.

Most of the self-identified Aramaeans in Israel are from the Maronite community. Aramaic is experiencing a revival among Maronites in Israel in Jish. The Arab-Israeli village of Jish is in the Upper Galilee. Jesus lived in the Galilee and preached there. Jish Elementary school children, who speak Arabic as their first language at home, are now being taught Aramaic two hours a week from First Grade to Eighth Grade. The children belong to the Maronite Christian community who chant their liturgy in Aramaic although few understand the prayers. Even Muslim children are even happy to learn Aramaic.

Aramaic Projects in Jish

Shadi Khalloul’s movement has succeeded to create popular plaforms for learning Aramaic including:

Aramaic Sunday School

Jish Aramaic Summer Camp

Recitals and concerts in Syriac Aramaic

Visitors Center

Aramaic Club House

Aramaic youth movement – Aharai! Follow me!

Jewish-Christian ‘mechina’  Premilitary program in Kibbutz Beit Zera

Christian identity in Israel, is taught by Shadi Khalloul, former captain in the Israel Defense Forces’ Paratroopers Brigade and director of the Israeli Christian Aramaic Association. Khalloul is the driving force behind this new, first-of-its-kind premilitary program that recruits both Jewish and Aramaic Israelis. All participants must commit to serve in the Israeli army after completing the progra and integratr into Israeli society.

Shadi’s Dream for ten year ahead

I asked Shadi what is his dream for Aramaic for 10 years from now. “I really want to establish a village in Israel, perhaps near Bir’im, populated solely by Aramaic speakers. There we will found a visitors center, and an Aramaic research center (together with Orthodox Jews), and a boutique hotel.” Shadi believes that fellowship between Jews and Maronites in Israel will sway public opinion in favor of Israel around the world – as he says, “Israel needs the Aramaic Maronites as much as the Maronites need Israel.”

Shadi Khalloul and Hoshvilim

Beit Jala Aramaic Studies

Beit Jala, near Bethlehem in the PA, followed suite soon after elementary school Aramaic classes began in Jish. In 1831 Mohammed Ali of Egypt conquered the Beit Jala region and remained in control of it until 1840, when the Turks regained control with help from the British and Austrians. As a result of these social upheavals, large numbers of Palestinians, and particularly from Beit Jala, Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, and Beit Safafa, left the country for South America during the 19th and early 20th century. Some 360 families in the area descend from Aramaic-speaking refugees who in the 1920s fled the Tur Abdin region of what is now Turkey.

In the Palestinian Authority (PA) village of Beit Jala in the West Bank – Judaea, an older generation of Aramaic speakers is sharing the language with their grandchildren in a school for Syrian Orthodox Christians. After all, Beit Jala lies next to Bethlehem, where the New Testament says Jesus was born.

Christian Church self-regulation in Israel

Ten churches are officially recognized under Israel’s “confessional system”, which provides for the self-regulation of status issues, such as marriage and divorce. These are the Roman (Latin rite), Armenian, Syriac, Chaldean, Melkite (Greek Catholic) and Maronite Catholic churches, Eastern Orthodox Greek Orthodox Church and Syriac Orthodox churches, as well as Anglicanism.

The legal status of Aramaic citizens in Israel

In September 2014,Gideon Sa’ar, who was then Minister of the Interior, allowed Christian families who can speak Aramaic and/or have an Aramaic family tradition are eligible to register as ethnic Arameans ( non-Arab) in Israel. About 200 Christian families were eligible prior to this decision. The Israeli press estimated 10,500 persons were eligible to receive Aramean ethnic status according to the new regulations, including 10,000 Maronites and 500 Catholics. The first person to receive the “Aramean” ethnic status in Israel was 2 year old Yaakov Halul in Jish on October 20, 2014. Another staunch supporter of the recognition of the Aramean identity who cooperates with Shadi Khalloul, is Father Gabriel Naddaf, who is one of the leaders of the Christians in Israel.

Members of the Syriac Orthodox Church are officially registered as “Assyrians” ( another non-Arab ethnic minority), the indigenous people of northern Iraq, north east Syria, south east Turkey and the fringes of north west Iran, who migrated from these regions long ago to what is now Israel. The Assyrians in Israel number approximately 1,000 people and most live within the city of Jerusalem.

Some members of the Arab community in Israel denounced registration of ethnic Arameans as an attempt to divide Arab Christians. Representatives of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate officially denounced the move.

Read more: גוש חלב – ג׳יש : ערבית או ארמית ?

The History of  Aramaic

First lets understand what Aramaic means. Aramaic is a Semitic language, like Hebrew or Phoenician originating in the area between Israel and the northern Euphrates valley. This language has 3,100 years of written history and was the dominant language in the Middle East 2,000 years ago. Ancient Aramaic was spoken in Aramaean city-states in ancient Syria (Damascus, Hamath and Arpad), Babylonia, and Assyria to become a major means of communication in diplomacy and trade throughout Mesopotamia, the Levant and Egypt. Around 500 BCE, following the Achaemenid (First Persian Empire) conquest of Mesopotamia under Darius I, Imperial Aramaic was adopted by the conquerors as the single official language. Aramaic contiued to be the lingua franca for the entire empire until the early 3rd century BCE when it was replaced by Greek in Seleucid Syria and Mesopotamia. Aramaic continued to flourish in Judaea, Assyria, Mesopotamia, through the Syrian Desert and into northern Arabia. Aramaic is a family of languages, with up to 150 different dialects. A speaker from Biblical times probably wouldn’t even recognize that this is Aramaic.

Biblical Aramaic

The Hebrew Bible includes several instances of Aramaic text and vocabulary

Ezra 4:8–6:18 and 7:12–26

Daniel 2:4b–7:28

Jeremiah 10:11

Genesis 31:47

Aramaic was the official language of Hasmonaean Judaea (142–37 BC) and was the language spoken by Jesus. In the first century, Jews in Judea primarily spoke Aramaic with a decreasing number of those using Hebrew as their first language

Aramaic Alphabets

The earliest Aramaic alphabet was based on the Phoenician alphabet. In time, both Aramaic and Hebrew adopted the distinctive, “square” style Assyrian alphabet. The modern Hebrew alphabet derives from the “square” style Assyrian alphabet as the Aramaic alphabet. Jewish Aramaic uses the same alphabet as Hebrew – derived from the Aramaic alphabet.

Christian communities developed a cursive writing system used for Aramaic known as the Syriac alphabet. There are three major variants of the Syriac alphabet:

ʾEsṭrangēlā  – Looks like a mixture of Hebrew and Arabic. Often used in scholarly publications, in titles, and in inscriptions.

Maḏnḥāyā – The East Syriac dialect is usually written in the Maḏnḥāyā (‘Eastern’) form of the alphabet.

Serṭā – The West Syriac dialect is usually written in the Serṭā  (line). Most of the letters are clearly derived from ʾEsṭrangēlā, but are simplified, flowing lines. It is more economical use of parchment.

The opening words of the Gospel of John written in Serṭā, Maḏnḥāyā and ʾEsṭrangēlā (top to bottom) Photo:SyriacJohn.png:

11th century book in Syriac Serto

Jewish Aramaic

Aramaic is the living language (actually two dialects) of the two Jewish Talmuds, Targum Onqelos, and Targum Jonathan. The Talmud is still studied in Aramaic up to this very day by Orthodox Jews around the world. I participate in a Jerusalem Talmud lesson (with Aramaic texts) every morning at 06:00.

The Babylonian Talmud was created in the diaspora. In Babylonia, the regional Aramaic was used by the Jewish community from c. 70 AD. This everyday language increasingly came under the influence of Biblical Aramaic and Babylonian Targumic.

The Jerusalem Talmud was created in the Holy Land. Hasmonaean Aramaic appears in quotations in the Mishnah and Tosefta. Aramaic came to completely displace Hebrew around the turn of the fourth century CE.

Samaritan Aramaic

The Samaritans have preserved Samaritan Aramaic in liturgical and literary usage. Samaritan Aramaic is language used in sacred and scholarly literature. It should not be confused with the Samaritan Hebrew. Samaritan Aramaic ceased to be a spoken language some time between the 10th and the 12th centuries. The Samaritans maintained a calligraphic tradition different from the Square style Ashuri script, using instead the Paleo-Hebrew alphabet they employ for their scriptures.

Aramaic in the Levant

The Aramaic languages of the Levant and Lebanon are near-extinct in non-liturgical usage. It was spoken in the Syrian villages of Maaloula, al-Sarkha (Bakhah), and Jubb’adin. At one time Syriac was been recognised as an official minority language in Iraq.

Christian Aramaic

Among the dialects of Aramaic retained as a liturgical language by certain religious communities is Syriac (Syriac Aramaic or Classical Syriac), the liturgical language of Syriac Christianity – including among others: –

Syriac Orthodox Church – The church is led by the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch  of Antioch, seated in Cathedral of Saint George, Bab Tuma, Damascus, Syria.

Syriac Catholic Church – Has many practices and rites in common with the Syriac Orthodox Church. The Church is headed by the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East of the Syrians who resides in Beirut, Lebanon.

Maronite Church –  The church was established in the 4th Century C.E. by Saint Maroun as an inspirational leader and patron saint followed by the establishment of the Monastery of Saint Maroun on the Orontes. The Orontes river flows through Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. The Maronite Church is in full communion with the Pope and the Catholic Church.

Assyrian Church.

Early Syriac texts such as the Syriac Bible and the Diatesseron Gospel harmony date to the 2nd century. The bulk of Syriac literary production dates to between the 4th and 8th centuries. Syriac literacy survives into the 9th century, but Syriac Christian authors in this period increasingly write in Arabic.

Christian communities developed a cursive writing system used for Aramaic known as the Syriac alphabet.

Aramaic alphabet

Swedish Aramaic

Syriac is also taught in some public schools in Iraq, Israel, Sweden, Augsburg (Germany), and Kerala (India). In Sweden there are enough people to support a newspaper, radio station and a television station. The renaissance of Aramaic in the Christian communities of Israel and the PA was aided by Swedish Aramaic-speaking communities who are descended from immigrants from the Middle East. Swedish officials found between 30,000 to 80,000 Aramaic speakers in Sweden descended from Middle Easterners.

Aramaic Television

Suryoyo SAT is a Syrian (Aramean) satellite channel in Sweden that links all Syrians throughout the world, while showing that the Syrian (Aramean) people and the Aramaic language are part of the world’s history and future.

 to promote the Syrian (Aramean) culture and its history

to promote and develop the Syrian (Aramaic) language

to promote and highlight the Syrian (Aramaic) identity

to integrating the Syrian (Aramaic) people into their neighborhoods

to educate and give opinion about important social issues

  Hollywood Aramaic

Mel Gibson managed to film parts of his 2004 movie “The Passion of the Christ” in Aramaic.  The film covers the final twelve hours of Jesus’ life, beginning with the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, the insomnia and grievance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the brutal scourge and crucifixion, ending with a brief depiction of his resurrection. The dialogue is entirely in reconstructed Aramaic, vernacular Hebrew, and Latin.

Aramaic in Israel Meet Shadi Khalloul Did you know that there is a revival of Aramaic in Israel.