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V 5.3, Issue 11 DRUZE INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE – June 2011 f the Druze The Voice o DAWN L FAJR - THE ا A ر ت ا ر وز أن LEBANONLEBANON أن ام 1st Emigrant Druze Convention 1st Emigrante Drusos Convención 1st Emigrante Drusos Convenção Better to Light a Candle than اا اااا اولاول اا اروزاروز نن Curse the and much more Darkness Languages Included: ر English Spanish Español PrincePrince ShakibShakib ArslanArslan Portuguese Português Arabic DistinguishedDistinguished DruzeDruze وف أل وف ھي ذ وي رھ اد أء أ ك ا وا ط وذي ... ال “I shall pass through this life but once. Any good therefore that I can do, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it. For I shall never pass this way again” EEE M A I L : DDD R U Z E @ D@DD R U Z E W ORLDWIDE ... C O M V 5.3, I S S U E 111 1 ––– JJJ U N E 22011 0 1 1 THE EDITOR ’S DESK SHAUKI HALIME , USA و ن اروز وان ُأوا ا و ذادة واة ع ا ا ورا ا ااء ا Inside this issue: CONVENTIONS My Beloved Druze Society, 1st Emigrant Convention - LEB 4-7 1st Emigrant Convention - LEB 36,41,58-59 As we move forward, we grow stronger together. As you all know, our goal has always been to strengthen our community all around the YOUTH ARTICLES world and bring everyone together and most especially to encourage the LEB- Lama Shauki El Massry 12 youth to be a part of their amazing heritage. USA- Rajaa Nadim Halabi 15 DISTINGUISHED DRUZE 45-49 Our trip to Lebanon last summer to attend the 1st Emigrant Druze USA- Dr. Obeid - Past to Future 8, 40 Conference was encouraging and very busy as we met so many of you LEB- Dr. Naila Takieddine Kaidbey 10,50,52,53 in person that we had connected with from all around the world. A report USA– American Druze Foundation 31 along with many photo’s of the Convention is included. USA- Dr. Foazi El Barouki 11, 60 The convention started at the Biel on the waterfront in Beirut and FRANCE- Said Obeid 14,56,57 continued for 3 days at the Almir Amin Palace Hotel in Beiteddine. It USA– Maya Jaber Camou 18 ended at the community house in Beirut for a meeting with His HOLYLAND– Said Naffaa 25 Eminence Sheikh Naim Hassan. USA– S Halime 28 This is another big issue with a lot of news from all over. Numerous AUSTRALIA– Raymond Najar 32 prominent writers are featured, discussing important subjects SYRIA 34 concerning current times as well as the future of our Society. Many GRADUATE 35 thanks to all of them. You Tell Us ... 61-62 AUSTRALIA 19 Al Fajr The Dawn Druze International Magazine along with the BEIRUT, LEBANON 22 website www.DruzeWorldwide.com is the one and only USA– SEATTLE 23 voice of the Druze . USA– OKLAHOMA 24 ARGENTINA 31 As we look to the future, together we grow, and forward we go. USA-Houston 35 CANADA– Montreal 43-44 Faithfully yours, TAWHID Shauki USA– Samah Helal 16, 54 USA– Dr. Abdullah Najjar 20 USA– Dr. Rabeea Aboufakher 26 CANADA– Jalal Merhi 38 AL FAJR THE DAW DRUZE ITERATIOAL MAGAZIE Expect more great POETRY 40 PUBLISHER & E DITOR -I-CHIEF : SHAUKI HALIME headlines in DESIG & C REATIVE DIRECTOR : MRS . S. H ALIME Weddings 62 upcoming issues. What we are about & Contact 63 Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. EEVE M 5.3, A I L :I DDDS SR U U E Z E 111@ 1 D@DD –––R JJJ UU Z N E E W 22011ORLDWIDE 0 1 1 ... C O M EEE M A I L : DDD R UV Z E 5.3,@ D@DD RI US ZS UE W E ORLDWIDE111 1 ––– JJJ U N E ...22011C 0 O 1 M 1 LEBANONLEBANON 1st Emigrant Druze Convention held in Lebanon --- 2010 From July 19, to July 22, 2010 the Beirut International Exhibition and Each one gave a heartfelt speech on First Emigrant Congress of Al Leisure Conference Center. Set along their background and their personal Muwahidoun Al Druze was held in the edge of the Mediterranean, the journey to where they are today. While Lebanon. It was a historic event in setting was beautiful. dining attendees were entertained by Druze history. More than 840 Druze musician and composer Mr. Jamal delegates from 37 countries including The President of the Immigration Abou el Hosn. As he played the Palestine, United States, Argentina, Affairs Committee Sheikh Camille piano, images behind him were Sweden, Ukraine and Australia, Sarieddine gave the welcoming displayed on a giant screen, intermixed attended an unprecedented three-day speech. He was followed by Mr. with striking sound and lighting effects. congress. Its objective was to bring the Druze communities from A 35-member delegation of all around the world together. “This congress aimed to unite the Druze leaders traveled from “Communicating with Druze living Druze, for we are a minority and Israel to attend the conference. abroad strengthens the Druze must preserve our community without The group had to travel a long confession,” Aouni Khneifess, the way to reach Beirut going head of the Arab-Israel delegation prejudice or racism” through Jordan then Syria stated. instead of the South of Lebanon. Kamil Sarieddine They were met at the border by The theme was “Back to the Chairman of the Lebanese Druze Council’s Emigration Affairs Mr. Wael Abu Faour , a well- Roots” - The congress was known Druze state minister. sponsored by the Immigration Affairs Walid Joumblatt, head of the PSP, These Palestinian Druze endured Committee of the Lebanese then Prince Talal Arslan . After dinner much hardship in their life, they never Confessional Council of Muwahidoun a notable group of people were left their land after the 1948 war; they Al Druze. honored for their lifetime stayed united and rejected forced achievements. Mrs. Raghida Dergham, Israeli laws like compulsory military The conference began with an Mrs. Yvonne Abdel Baki, and Mr. (Continued on page 555)5))) honorary opening ceremony at the Asaad Zaidan and Mr. Mounir Madcur. 4 www.DruzeWorldwide.com HOME OF AL FAJR THE DAW DRUZE ITERATIOAL MAGAZIE EEE M A I L : DDD R U Z E @ D@DD R U Z E W ORLDWIDE ... C O M V 5.3, I S S U E 111 1 ––– JJJ U N E 22011 0 1 1 LEBANONLEBANON 1st Emigrant Druze Convention held in Lebanon --- 2010 The Druze organizations’ delegates or selected representatives were invited to meet with the Lebanese President, Mr. Michele Sleiman (center) (Continued from page 444)4))) and inheritance. included a meeting with Sheikh el Akl, Mr. Naim Hassan , at Dar el Taifeh in service. One of the conference’s main On Wednesday July 21st, a Beirut followed by a closing press goals was to support the Palestinian fundraiser dinner banquet was held at conference. In the end, while being the Druze, strengthen their bond, as well the Mir Amin Palace and Hotel . first of its kind, this grand conference as encourage small and medium Guests dined on a buffet that included accomplished what many only projects in rural and agricultural areas. every type of Lebanese food and dreamed of before. It brought the desert. They were entertained by a international Druze community Other Druze expatriates that showcase of talented dancers and together and strengthened the ties that attended the conference were from the musicians. The showcase included bind us into being strong, ambitious US, Canada, South America, Australia pieces on traditional Lebanese folklore and faithful Druze. Organizers worked and Africa. and belly dancing. Also, wedding extremely hard to put it all together and dancers carried their drums, flutes, and their work paid off. The conference On the following days, conference swords, they displayed their acrobatic was reported on all major TV stations attendees met at the Mir Amin Palace and sword fighting skills. They led the and newspapers in Lebanon, aside where several lectures and seminars crowd in long lines of dapke around from political affiliations. It showed were held on topics like the realities the beautiful historical mosaic tiled Druze leaders gathered and united, the and statistics of Druze immigrants as pool of the palace. Everyone enjoyed Druze people strong and connected well as the challenges of the Lebanese the memorable evening. and the future of our people looking economy and Druze regulations and better than ever. guidelines for marriage, divorce, wills The final day of the conference Opportunities Are Like Sunrises, If You Wait Too Long You Can Miss Them. 5 V 5.3, I S S U E 111 1 ––– JJJ U N E 22011 0 1 1 EEE M A I L : DDD R U Z E @ D@DD R U Z E W ORLDWIDE ... C O M LEBANONLEBANON ------ CONVENTIONCONVENTION 1st Emigrant Convention --- Program Order of business, July 19 – 22 The were also a number of post conference meetings, dinners, and tours. Some of the activities Monday, July 19 are listed below: 8:30 p.m. The official opening of the convention Beirut - Biel Meeting with the Lebanese President, Mr. Michele Sleiman Speech of the chairman of the Emigration Committee Council, Sheikh Kamil Sarieddine Lunch reception at Dar El-Mukhtara by Mr. Walid Speech - HE Prince Talal Arslan Joumblat Speech - HE Mr. Walid Jumblat Music - Prof. Jamal Abu al-Hasan Dinner reception at Sheikh Ghassan Taoufic Dinner Assaf, Chairman of the Board and General Manager of Bank of Beirut and Arab Countries (BBAC) Tuesday, July 20 Dinner reception at Sheikh Kamil & Elham Almir Amin Palace Hotel - Beiteddine Sarieddine, Chair of the Emigration Affairs Committee of the Druze Confessional Council 10:00-11:30 Opening Session National Anthem Meeting and Lunch reception at the Lebanese Speech of the Emigrant Committee State Department, Immigration office Speeches of the chiefs of delegates.