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Borj Al Yahoudiyeh, Lebanon

Description

Borj El Yahoudiyeh is a tower crafted in memory of Queen Helena. Queen Helena was the mother of Constantine, the emperor of Rome. She was born to a lowly family in 248, and she lived until 328. There is evidence that she possibly was of Jewish heritage. For instance, some ancient writings claim that she was Jewish. Also, she was sympathetic toward Jews who were martyred [1].

Helena was an example of a strong, pioneering woman. She went on a pilgrimage, discovering important sites and relics. Most famously, Helena is said to have found the cross of Jesus Christ, the site of Cavalry, and the nails that were used for the crucifixion [2].  In Jerusalem, she also found sites that are important to the Jewish community, including Moses' burning bush and important synagogues.  Helena found sites in Israel that are important today to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. Even today, Jews, Christians, and Muslims continue to pilgrimage to Israel to appreciate the relics that Queen Helena discovered [3].

After Queen Helena's death, her son, Emperor Constantine, passed through Lebanon on his way to Jerusalem; during this time, he encouraged people to craft the tower Borj El Yahoudiyeh, in honor of his mother. People of different faiths have used this tower as defense from attack [4].

Jews are in this area today, and they have been for centuries.  Jewish people in Sidon believed their community began when Jews first arrived in the area, around 1000 BC. "By the beginning of the common era there were many Jews living in Sidon, and the city had been beautified by Herod (Josephus, Jewish Wars 1:422; see also Acts 12:20). Their numbers were so considerable that the local pagans were afraid to attack them in 66, when the Jews in other Greco-Syrian towns were massacred."  It is likely a small Jewish community was here during the seventh century Muslim conquest [5].

[6]

Sidon, Lebanon

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