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.”

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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 
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parties appointed by will, trust or the 
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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 
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page. Protecting you from self-dealing 
parties appointed by will, trust or the 
court. Protecting you from family 
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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 
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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

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Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

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We focus on Probate Litigation 
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page. Protecting you from self-dealing 
parties appointed by will, trust or the 
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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 
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