OCTOBER 14 • 2021 | 11 ARMENIAN POPULATION Around 4% of Lebanon’s population is ethnic Armenian, the descendants of refugees who fled the 1915 genocide. Through a chance encounter, I befriended a 31-year-old Lebanese graphic designer of Armenian ori- gin. One evening he took me to Bourj Hammoud, Beirut’s Armenian neigh- borhood. Armenian flags and anti-Azerbaijan slogans brandished the buildings. Arabic was nowhere to be seen or heard, exuding the Caucasus much more than the Middle East. Unlike non-haredi dias- pora Jews, who for the most part did not pass on Yiddish to subsequent generations, the Armenians in Lebanon have kept their language alive for more than 100 years. Armenians in Lebanon go to school in Armenian, speak Armenian with each other and regularly visit their ancestral homeland. Like diaspora Jews, the Armenians in Lebanon are a distinct, highly successful minority population, living both apart from and forming an inseparable part of their adoptive homeland. On the last night of the trip, I confided to my new Lebanese friend that I am Jewish. To my astonishment, he said that his main issue with Israel is that it refuses to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Not the answer I expected. I now respond to those critical of my travels as fol- lows: “I travel to forbidden countries because I wish to experience firsthand the humanity of ordinary people from societies I am taught to fear. “These ordinary citizens are the biggest victims of their own governments, which in many cases they did not have a fair say in electing. I am all the richer for having met them.” Dan Brotman is the executive direc- tor of the Windsor Jewish Federation & Community Centre in Windsor, Ontario. He writes in his personal capacity. “I travel to forbidden countries because I wish to experience firsthand the humanity of ordinary people.” 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 What Is Your Plan?..... Call Us. We focus on Probate Litigation and Administration. Administering estates where everyone is on the same page. Protecting you from self-dealing parties appointed by will, trust or the court. Protecting you from family members who always want more. michprobate.com 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 What Is Your Plan?..... Call Us. We focus on Probate Litigation and Administration. Administering estates where everyone is on the same page. Protecting you from self-dealing parties appointed by will, trust or the court. Protecting you from family members who always want more. michprobate.com 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 What Is Your Plan?..... Call Us. We focus on Probate Litigation and Administration. Administering estates where everyone is on the same page. Protecting you from self-dealing parties appointed by will, trust or the court. Protecting you from family members who always want more. michprobate.com 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 What Is Your Plan?..... Call Us. We focus on Probate Litigation and Administration. Administering estates where everyone is on the same page. Protecting you from self-dealing parties appointed by will, trust or the court. Protecting you from family members who always want more. michprobate.com 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 michprobate.com 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 We are here for you and any of your legal needs during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Probate Law Firm of The Probate Law Firm of 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 What Is Your Plan?..... Call Us. We focus on Probate Litigation and Administration. Administering estates where everyone is on the same page. Protecting you from self-dealing parties appointed by will, trust or the court. Protecting you from family members who always want more. michprobate.com 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 What Is Your Plan?..... Call Us. We focus on Probate Litigation and Administration. Administering estates where everyone is on the same page. Protecting you from self-dealing parties appointed by will, trust or the court. Protecting you from family members who always want more. michprobate.com