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From love poems to saints whose love for one another was as profound as their faith, queerness is woven into the history of the Levant. In this post, we cover some of Syria’s hidden queer legacy.

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4 years ago
Aleppo Social Issues Society

The Aleppine Diary

In Aleppo's sorrowful veil, emotions banished, replaced by an eerie calm. Death's grip on the city, a haunting presence. Once vibrant, now a desolate echo, mourned in silence, a tragic tale of uncherished life.
4 years ago
Faces of Wanabqa

Five Square Meters of Fashion History

Khalil's tiny shop in Bab Sharqi holds decades of fashion history in its one-meter space.
4 years ago
Diversity Religion

Yazidis in Syria

Part 8 and the final religious group of the series about Syria’s religious makeup: the Yazidis. Special thanks to Syrian Yazidi followers @wailoo_ & @samarshekho who helped with the info! We aim to educate ourselves and our fellow Syrians on the history and communities of our country. Misinformation often grows vastly and knowledge about one another is a vital way to achieve coexistence and move forward. With a long history in northern Syria, Yazidis who were much more numerous in the past, belong to a faith regarded as the traditionally indigenous faith of the Kurdish community. They form the smallest recognized (but not officially) religious group in Syria. Yazidis in Syria lived fairly openly in recent history until the advent of the war and barbaric extremism against the Yazidi community in Iraq which eventually impacted the community in Syria. Syria’s Yazidis have endured unspoken atrocities in addition to being one of the country’s most socially/culturally ostracised.
4 years ago
Damascus History

The 7 Gates of Old Damascus

The gates of Damascus speak to the rich history of the city. Not only did they once protect the city from invaders, they also give our present society a glimpse into the beliefs and culture unique to the different inhabitants of Damascus along history. Across the centuries, each gate served a different purpose and symbolized something distinct to the different societies that resided in the city.
4 years ago
Culture and Heritage History

Little Syria: Syrians’ First Home in the Western World

New York City is known for its diversity and multiculturalism, but few people know about the history of one of its earliest and most influential immigrant groups: the Syrians. In this article, you will learn about the origins, achievements, and challenges of Little Syria, the neighborhood that was once home to thousands of Syrians and other Arabs in Manhattan. You will also discover how Little Syria was erased from the city’s landscape by urban development, and how its descendants are preserving its memory and heritage today. Join us as we explore the fascinating story of Little Syria, the first home of Syrians in the Western world.
4 years ago
Culture and Heritage History

Syria: the First in the World to Teach Medicine in Arabic

This article is an objective look into the history of this fact and its repercussions today, not a call for senseless pride. It is commonly known that medical terminology is derived from classical languages, such as Latin and Greek, and cannot be taught in different languages. If you ever wanted to study medicine and are one of the people who speak your native language better than English, then the sentence "Oh no! How are you going to survive Medicine in English?!", is not strange to you. Some report Arabic as the world's most difficult language to learn, which was not an obstacle for Syria. A surprise for the world is that Syria is the first and only country to teach medicine in Arabic since 1919 and to this day! Countries like Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Tunis, Libya, and Lebanon have taught Medicine in Arabic for a period of time but switched to English/French due to colonization.
4 years ago
Faces of Wanabqa Northern Syria

Qudsia Haj Hussein

Qudsia Haj Hussein was a pioneer of women’s education in the city of Deir ez-Zor, Syria. She overcame many obstacles and challenges to pursue her own education and to provide opportunities for other girls in her community. She was one of the first Syrian women to graduate from middle school and high school, and she became a teacher and a principal of girls’ schools in Deir ez-Zor. She was a role model and a leader who influenced the social and cultural transformation of her city. In this article, you will learn about her remarkable life story and her legacy for future generations of Syrian women.
4 years ago
Diversity Religion

Syria’s Alawites

Part 7 of the series about Syria’s religious makeup: the Alawites. We aim to educate ourselves and our fellow Syrians on the history and communities of our country. Misinformation often grows vastly and knowledge about one another is a vital way to achieve coexistence and move forward. With a history of about 1,000 years in Syria, the Alawite community is a prominent component of the Syrian social fabric. Centralised in western Syria, today Alawites form the 2nd largest religious community forming < 18% of the country (3rd before 2011 - < 12%), today surpassing Syrian Christians & preceding Syrian Sunni Muslims. Understanding the history of the Alawites allows us to understand their presence in Syria today. While most Syrian Alawites identify as Muslim, some view themselves as distinctively Alawite due to the unique characteristics of this secretive sect.
4 years ago
History

The Levantines on the Titanic

With suitcases full of their precious belongings as well as dreams of a better life, over 100 Syrian/Levantine passengers boarded the Titanic. Most of them had all their life savings with them, and one lady even brought yogurt-starter so she could make her Levantine recipes once her family arrived on the new continent. In the 1997 movie “Titanic”, there was a brief glimpse of an Arabic speaking family and the word “Yalla!”, meaning “come on” or “hurry”, was heard, as an ode to the Levantine passengers, the vast majority of whom were Christians.
4 years ago
Aleppo Faces of Wanabqa History

Matilde Chelhot

The first Syrian businesswoman! Matilde Chelhot was a visionary leader who used her wealth and influence to create a major educational institution that offered vocational training to the poor and needy. She was also a humanitarian who worked with the Red Crescent and donated everything she owned for the benefit of the working class. In this article, you will discover the amazing life and legacy of Matilde Chelhot, who left behind a fragrant memory of good deeds, altruism, achievement, and inspiration.
4 years ago
Culture and Heritage History

Syrians Migrating to the US

Did you know that Syrian Americans have been in the US since 1880? In this article, you will discover their rich and diverse history, culture, and contributions to various fields in America.
4 years ago
Diversity Religion

Syria’s Shia

We aim to educate ourselves and our fellow Syrians on the history and communities of our country. Misinformation often grows vastly and knowledge about one another is a vital way to achieve coexistence and move forward. Despite making up big portions of the demographic makeup of bordering Lebanon & Iraq, Syria’s Shia have long been a religious minority making them the 6th largest group before the war but likely the 4th today. Syria is home to some of the community’s most sacred sites. Because of this, Syria is a hotspot for religious tourism/pilgrimage for the Shia community worldwide, similar to Christians who visit some of the faith’s most ancient and splendid sites in our country.
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