As we reported in December the Association of Zgharta (Batal Lebanon Youssef Bey Karam) purchased a house which will be converted into a cultural and social venue in early 2007.

It has been a long time wish of the Zghartawien community in Sydney to have such a centre for its cultural and social functions. With the purchase of the house its wish has now began to materialise and the Association has kindly sent us some photographs of the existing house, which has already become known as The Zgharta House. The photographs can be seen from this link.

The house is at 178 Guildford Road, Guildford, a suburb of the City of Sydney, New South Wales, which is located close to the centre of the Zghartawien community in Sydney. The Association plans a major facelift, which will transformed the house into a hall capable of hosting Zghartawien functions, with extra rooms as required. The house was purchased for $335,000 and the Association is undertaking a collection for donations. In the first month it has already collected some $32,000.

One other piece of news of our Australian cousins is that the Association held its annual Christmas Picnic on Sunday, 17 December 2006, at Prospect Reservoir in Western Sydney. The day was by common consent a great success and a highlight of the day was the arrival of Santa Claus with a sack of presents for the children. The Association has once again kindly sent us a selection of photographs of the day to share with our readers, which can be seen from this link.

Throughout the world, where there are Zghartawiens, you will find that they come together to celebrate their community and to make sure that the next generation is aware of its heritage.

One such place was in Sydney, Australia last month, when The Association of Zgharta (Batal Lebnan Youssef Bey Karam) held its annual cabaret. The esteem the Association is held in the wider Australian community is evidence by those who attended as guests of the Association.

To read about the occasion and to learn more about the Zgharta House go to the Full Story page.
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The village of Rachine's own young poet, Elie Tannous, won first prize in the Concours Poésie en Liberté 2006, for his entry in the Lycée de l'estransger (Terminale) category. There were sixty participating countries in the international competition for French language poetry, which is in its 8th year. It has been reported that this the first time a winner in the competition has come from the Middle East.

Elie was born in 1988 and started writing poems from the age of 14. He attends the College St Antoine des soeurs Antonines. Last year he published a collection of twenty poems under the title, “Evasion” with drawings by the artist Youssef Bou Haroun. Last Sunday he appeared on LBCI Sunday programme, Naharkoun Saeed, where he read some of his poetry.

The winning poem follows.

Dans le monde des rêves

Quand le vent de l'aube se lève,
En répandant ses mystérieuses chuchoteries,
Je me promène dans le monde des rêves,
Où j'aperçois cette étrangère qui me sourit.

Une des plus belles divinitiés de la mer,
Une sirène bien loin dans l'océan,
Son corps, mi-écaille, mi-chair,
Renfermait un Coeur pur, transparent.

La nuit s'est inclinée devant son trône,
De corail, de saphir, de coquillages,
En éparpillant les baisers de ses fantômes,
Sur ses yeux qui rayonnaient dans son visage.

Mes regards affamés se balançaient,
Sur son portrait innocent qui exilait,
Avec l'agitation harmonieuse des ors,
Qui couvrent les rivières chaque aurore.

The Arab Image Foundation has some wonderful photographs of people and places in Zgharta and Ehden taken during the early 1920's to the late 1950's. They are in the main from the private collection of Mehsen Yammine, who lives in Zgharta and who we hope to feature soon.

The Foundation is creating a new website but its current site can be found at: http://fai.cyberia.net.lb/index.aspx To view the photographs of Zgharta and Ehden go to the "quick search" box and search under the names of Zghorta (note the spelling) and Ehden.

The Arab Image Foundation is a non-profit foundation established in Lebanon in 1996. The Foundation aims to promote photography in the Middle East and North Africa by locating, collecting, and preserving the region's photographic heritage.

The photographs are a fascinating insight to our recent past.

Our friend and contributor in the US, Charles Frangieh, has posted recently in the Galleria a old photograph he has come across of what appears to be a brass band dating back to 1909 Zgharta.

He knows that his grandfather, Silman Khalil Frangieh, was a member and he believes he appears second from the left in the second row from the front, standing very upright wearing the traboush. Also Sarkis Antun Frangieh, the grandfather of the well known present day Zgharta personality Alexy Frangieh, is believed to be shown standing in the same row third from right.

We would like to hear from the sons and grandsons of the other players to identify them and to tell us more of the band's history. Its shows that in one or two generations the local history of Zgharta Zawie can be lost forever. Help zgharta.com to preserve our heritage.

A larger version of the photograph can be seen from the Full Story page.


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The Ehden author, Rachid El Daif, has now an online presence with his own website, www.rachid-el-daif.com

The author was born in Ehden, 1945 being one of eight children. In one interview he said that the family lived in a single room on his father's "very small income". He has written since his early teens. As a student he studied Arabic Modern Literature at the Université de Paris III, Sorbonne Nouvelle and is now Assistant Professor at the Lebanese University.

We have covered many of his recent book launches and interviews in the press. To read them, search the News Digest archive.

LEBANON


Beneath the sun of my humble country, I weep
On the land of peace, the war is on
Children are murdered, souls are going cheap
And we cry for you my beloved Lebanon

God knows when this is to end
Sleeping, believing in every break of dawn
Our future is in criminals’ hands
And we die for you my beloved Lebanon

We pretend, we live secure and safe
Under the wings of darkness, we go on
We pretend, we ignore who’s in that grave
And we lie for you my beloved Lebanon

United we work; united we’re meant to be
To heal the wounds that others have done
Under the sky of wisdom and eternity
We pray for you my beloved Lebanon.

Cynthia Jelwan : 2nd August 2006 - Mejdalia

When we commissioned the Zghartawien poet, Boutros Joseph Zalloua, to write a poem reflecting todays times, he said that rather than focusing only on Ehden, he would want to broaden his vision to encompass the whole nation of Lebanon, in recognition and respect of it, as he was Lebanese first rather than a member of a particular village, area or religion. He ended in saying that he could only promise that "my poem will be melancholic and that it would reflect the suffering of ALL the Lebanese".

To read more about the poet go to - Culture - Poets - on the main menu.

Forgotten Tragedy

A child lays curled up beside his silent mother,
Clutching at her cold arms, they are tranquil...
She is dead; no tears from her child can bring her back
With women screaming hysterically in the background
The child's cries are muted by the sounds of jets.

Forgotten by the world, cries that can no longer be heard,
Suffering in silence, as expatriates dominant the news headlines.
Peace and refuge is granted to those carrying foreign passports
Abandoning their nation at a time when their nation needed them most,
Hiding from the truth, sheltering from the hurt... this is their story.

Fires burning across the horizon intensify, a landscape of serenity and tranquillity
Becomes a distant memory of the past... snow covered villages in the mountains,
Sheppards tending to their flocks, old men talking about their childhood...lost...
With the destruction of our homeland, comes the shattering of our hearts...
Fragmented into pieces, almost as shattering as charcoal bodies torn to pieces on the sides of roads...

Our country too has been fragmented... people helpless to stop the destruction,
Innocence offers no protection from the violence, violence which will only breed hatred.
When you have lost all that you believe in, you can only hope...
Hope that peace can be someday restored in our tiny homeland... and just maybe...
The child can stop crying for his mother, the child that is present in all us.

Boutros Joseph Zalloua

The Lebanese newspaper, L'Orient Le Jour, has into today's edition, 28th June 2006, published an article on Zgharta author, Rachid Daif.

The article can be read on the Full Story page.
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The René Moawad Foundation is recuiting for three positions - Educational Coordinator, Social Animator and Teacher, at their Working Children Centre, Bab El Tebbanneh, Tripoli.

To read more about the positions click here.

Zgharta author, General Tannous Mouawad was interviewed in the Lebanese French language newspaper, L' Orient Le Jour, today. The interview spoke of his new book, "Our Father Abraham" and of the author's career.

The interview can be read on the Full Story page.
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We are very happy to report that the launch of Cynthia Jelwan’s debut collection of poems, "Outside the Frame", was a great success. Against all her expectations she was asked to sign some 300 copies on 27th May 2006 at the North Palace Hotel, Zgharta.

Also we are very please, indeed honoured, to have been given permission to put online one of her poems, “Will I". The poem, Cynthia says, was written in memory of her grandfather, Badih Jelwan, who was a poet himself and who encouraged her to express her thoughts in writing since her childhood.

The photograph is of Cynthia at the launch. A publicity photograph of her appears on the Full Story page.

Will I

Will I open my eyes one-day
to forgiving those who forgot.
Will I ever forget the eyes that lay
on my pure heart, one summer so hot.

Will I ever learn how to breathe again
without the mystery of a horse’s eyes
turn the page, stop to complain
waiting for another summer, another sunrise.

God bless the hand that carried you away
the heart that made me blaspheme my fate,
God bless the woman who screamed on your birthday
God forgive me for arriving so late

Yesterday, in my pillow, grew hatred;
My bed grew into a thousand generations,
you were there, in my room
or was it just a few imaginations?

Will I ever wake up from this nightmare?
of me, being always off your skin,
will I always be ready to fight, ready to dare?
telling you what every woman tells the wind.

Will I, forever, keep on adoring you?
Will I ever stop loving you?
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Lebanese journalist, Marlene Khalifeh, has published a collection of brief biographies of forty-four individuals who have succeeded in different fields of life such as politics, society & business , art & literature, called "Portraits".

Those from Zgharta Zawie include: the printer, Jospeh Raidy; Member of Parliament for Zgharta Zawie, Samir Hamid Frangieh; the daughter of the late President Sleiman Frangieh, Mrs Sonia Frangieh Al Rassy.

The book was published by the author herself and is priced 65$ hardback and 33$ paperback (exclusive of DHL delivery charges) . She has given zgharta.com the following details as to payment: Attention Mlle Marlene Antoine Khalife ; CPTE en Dollar: 415534 461 001 030 01 ; Swift : AUD BL BBX- Banque Audi SAL- Audi Saradar Group- Agence Acharafieh- Sassine.

The photograph shows the author on the left.

We are very please to announce that Zgharta Zawie's newest poet, Cynthia Jelwan, is launching this weekend her debut collection of poems, "Outside the Frame".

She will be signing copies of the collection on Saturday, 27th May 2006, at the North Palace Hotel, Zgharta from 5pm onwards.

Cynthia Emil Jelwan was born in Bhairet Toula*, 1985, her parents being Emil and Nouhad Jelwan, and now lives in Mejdalia. She went to the Nazareth school and is currently studying psychology at the Lebanese University.

She has always written poetry since a young child, but this is the first time her poems have been published. The collection, “Outside the Frame” consists of some forty-nine poems. The poems are in English and dedicated to her friend, Marie-Clair Alam, who tragically died in a car accident. Although it is impossible to “explain” a poet’s thoughts and words, the underlining themes of the poems are a mixture of death, love, nature, and women’s rights. The collection is printed by Meouchy & Zacharia and is for the moment not on general sale, although there are plans for it to be sold in bookstores in the future. To purchase a copy now, contact zgharta.com at contactus@zgharta.com with your contact details and we will pass them onto Cynthia. The collection is priced $10.

Cynthia says that the major influences on her writing are the works of the English playwright and sonnet writer, William Shakespeare. When asked about her writing regime she says she prefers using pen and paper and writes when ever she feels inspired; with nighttime a particular favorite time of the day for her.

Her plans for the future are to finish her degree and become a qualified psychotherapist but always to continue her writing, which is an integral part of her, she says. It is too early to say if her writing career will supplant the other, having just celebrated her 21st birthday a few months ago. She presently is writing a novel.

Once again, if further evidence is needed, Cynthia shows that Zgharta Zawie has a rich cultural and creative vein running through it.

EDITOR's NOTE: * Bhairet Toula, a village on the western slope of Mount Makmel. 32Kms from Zgharta. Altitude: 1000m. The village is near the village of Toula. Special thanks to K el-K for his generously in helping to get this article online today against technology!

One of the most famous sons of Ehden and Lebanon is Youssef Bey Karam (1823 - 1889). There has been many books on the Lebanese nationalist patriot and hero, but for many, especially those of the Lebanese Diaspora, details of his life, ideas and achievements have been inaccessible because they have been written in Arabic. This has now been rectified by the forthcoming publication in English of "Youssef Bey Karam,"The Rebellious Prince" by Zgharta born, Sarkis Karam. The author, who now lives in Australia, has at his own expense researched, written and published this new book, which will be launched on Sunday, 21st May 2006 at 7pm in the Grand Westella, 12 Bridge Street, Lidcombe, Sydney.

Sarkis says that " Since my childhood in Ehden, I always wanted to discover Youssef Karam's ideas, ethics and credentials". The author has told zgharta.com that during his research, which took some two years and which is his first book, he " discovered a unique human who championed freedom, human rights, social justice, truth and who was unselfish and sacrificed himself for the sake of his people." Modestly, Sarkis says that he hopes " that my modest initiative will inspire others with higher academic credentials to prepare and publish books not only about Youssef Karam but also about other Lebanese historic personalities". We are sure that "The Rebellious Prince", will itself become a source of reference and be included in the bibliography of other authors in the future.

Of the author, Sarkis Chahine Karam, was born in Zgharta, 1959, to Hanna and Zakia (née Tabbiche) Karam. In 1977 he with his parents, brother and sisters emigrated to Australia. He is married to Sabet Tannous (née Abshy) and they live in Merrylands, New South Wales. They have four children, John, Zakia, Markus and Miriah.

Sarkis works as an Arabic - English interpreter and translator, for Arabic - Australian newspapers and the media. He is a member and past Secretary General of the United Australian Lebanese Movement. As well, he is a member of other Lebanese - Australian organisations including the Association of Zgharta (Youssef Bey Karam Batal Lebnan). He is a regular visitor to Zgharta Ehden, where he still has family living including uncles, aunts and parents in law.

"The Rebellious Prince" , is some 220 pages in length and can be purchased from the author direct by contacting him at : sarkis_karam@yahoo.com.au . The price is $40 Australian and all profits are dedicated to the preservation and advancement of the Bey's legacy.

The author was interviewed in Arabic on SBS Radio (Sydney Broadcasting Service Radio) on 4th May 2006. To listen to the interview in MP3 format click here
.

To see photographs of the book launch click here.

On Monday, 8th May 2006, Zgharta author, Nada Barakat Khawaja, was the guest of honour of the International College, Ain A'ar. Every year, the College chooses an author to inaugurate its annual Book Fair.

Nada has written an account of her life with her son, Anthony, who was a “post mature baby”, due to his late delivery. The book was originally written in French, under the title, "C'est un enfant lui aussi," or "He's also a child". The book has been recently translated into Arabic and is published by Dar An Nahr.

At the International College, Nada gave a talk as to how she became an author, explaining that she did so mainly because of the fact that she ''had the chance of living the most natural role since the beginning of times, that of being a mother''. She added that, '' Being a mother, helped me see the injustice and ignorance towards the disabled. It is my belief, that their is a kind of uneasiness, shame and taboo around the issue of disability in our society and it is precisely this uneasiness which is hindering rather than helping the struggles of the disabled and his family....The book thus aims at breaching the silence in order to facilitate as much as possible the integration of the disabled with us.''.... They have the right to enjoy with us the pleasures that life has to offer rather than isolate them in a word apart"

To read more about the author and the International College, click on the Full Story tab.The photograph is of the book cover of the French edition of "C'est un enfant lui aussi."
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There is a huge pool of creative talent in Zgharta Zawie, which is sometimes forgotten because of the political headlines. The community is rich in authors, painters and poets.

As proof of such talent and the imporatnce attached to their work, the leading Lebanese publisher, Dar An Nahar, has added two Zgharta Zawie authors to their online purchasing site.

The Zgharta Zawie authors are, Nada Barakat Khawaja and General Tannous Mouawad. Their books can now be purchased online at: www.darannahar.com To find them go to the site and click on the "browse authors" tab and navigate from thereon.

Also, Zgharta author, Karim El-Koussa's books can be purchased online via his own website at http://el-koussa.zgharta.com/el-koussa/

We send our congratulations and gratitude to His Beatitude Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Cardinal Sfeir on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of his election as Patriarch.

On Wednesday, 19th April 2006, His Beatitude Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Cardinal Sfeir, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, celebrated at Bkerkei, the Patriarchal Palace, the 20th Anniversary of his election as Patriarch on 19th April 1986. The patriarch is elected by the Maronite bishops, usually on the ninth day after the see has been declared vacant. He must be not less than forty years of age, and two-thirds of the whole number of votes are required to elect him. On the next day the enthronization takes place, and then the solemn benediction of the newly elected patriarch. The proceedings of the assembly are transmitted to Rome, the pope on approving the election sends the pallium (ecclesiastical vestment) to the new patriarch.

The distinctive insignia of the patriarch are the masnaftô (a form of head-dress), the phainô (a kind of cape or cope), the orarion (a kind of pallium, the tiara, or mitre (other bishops wear only the orarion and the mitre), the pastoral staff surmounted with a cross, and, in the Latin fashion, the pastoral ring and the pectoral cross.

Patriarch Sfeir is the 76th Patriarch of the Maronite Church and 3rd Maronite Cardinal. The Patriarch was born on 15th May 1920 at Rayfoun, Kesrouan, to Maroun Sfeir and Hannee Fahed, from Ghosta. He has five sisters: Matilla, Jaouhara, Odette, Laure and Melanie. The Patriarch was ordained a priest on 7th May 1950; appointed Titular Bishop of Tarsus and Patriarchial Vicar on 19th June 1961;elected Bishop on 16th July 1961; Patriachial Vicar & Secretary of the Maronite Patriarchate from 1961 to 1986; elected Patriarch on 19th April 1986; Pope John Paul II entrusted him the "ecclesiastic communio" on 7th May 1986; created Cardinal on 26th November 1994.

Zgharta Zawie is part of the Patriarchal Eparchy and is not a separate eparchy as in other parts of Lebanon. The current Vicar General Patriarchal of Zgharta is Bishop Samir Mazloum, Auxiliary Bishop of Antioch and Maronite Apostolic Visitor, Europe. His predecessor was Bishop Paul- Emile Saade, who was appointed Bishop of Batroun on the creation of the Eparchy of Batroun on 5th June 1999. This followed the Patriarch's declaration that the Patriarchal Vicariate of Batroun became an independent eparchy. ( An eparchy is a diocese of the Eastern Christian Church). Also part of the Patriarchal Eparchy are Jebbeh, Jounieh and Sarba.

Near neigbour, Batroun, will be the focus of attention and of enjoyment,both nationally and locally, on Friday and Sunday.

On Friday, 7th April 2006, the finals of Star Academy 3, will take place on LBCI. For the first time in the show's three year history, there is an Lebanese finalist. The finalist is 18 year old, Joseph Attieh, who comes from Batroun. So stretching the northern boundaries somewhat, we classify him as a "local boy"!

Such is the popularity of the show, the Lebanese Minister for Telecommunications, Marwan Hamade,has agreed to reduce the cost of a casting a vote either by SIMS or mobile, by half. The Minister wanted originally to make the calls free, but the organisers said that Joseph would be excluded from the finals if this happened. Lebanese television and radio stations are calling on everyone to vote for Joseph on Friday.

On Sunday, 9th April, karting enthusiasts can go to Batroun to enjoy a karting tournament organised by the Batroun branch of the, El Marada organisation. The venue is near the Nader Station, Batroun. Entrance fee 10$. For further information phone 03 98 11 17.

Batroun, is located on the coast, south of Tripoli and is some 54 kilometres from Beirut. Among its attractions are the remains of a cursader castle; the 13th century souk; the Maronite Church of St Stephan ; the Greek Orthodox Church of St George ; the small chapel of "Sadiyat al Bahr" ( Our lady of the Sea); a rock-cut Roman theatre and a natural sea wall. The town is part of the North Lebanon 2nd Electoral Constituency which also includes Zgharta Zawie. The photograph is of Batroun.

NEWS UPDATE Joseph, won Star Academy 3 on Friday, having received 55.15% of the votes. Runners up were Hani Hussein from Egypt with 29.2% and Hana el-Idrissi from Morocco with 16.65%. Joseph, who is a radio and TV production student, received a trophy, $50,000 in cash and a brand new car. The contest began on 23rd December with nineteen contestants. The sound of car hooters were still heard at midnight in Zgharta, celebrating the result.

Our Galleria is one of the most popular sections on our site. It is ever increasing, today it contains over 5500 photographs. We ourselves enjoy viewing daily the section's New Photos, as we know our readers do.

The photographs are of the highest quality, and it would be repetitious, and indeed unfair, to mention any one photograph in particular, as they are posted. Everyone has their own favourite - whether of a place, a view or face of a love one.

However there is one photograph - image, which was posted a few days ago, which is unique and merits mentioning. It was posted by Elie Hosri, showing two ways of seeing Ehden, called " Ehden Coloring Page". When you see the thumbnail version first, it shows a familiar view of Ehden. But by enlarging it, the photograph becomes like a "paint by numbers" picture. View the picture, in large scale, from this link. To see a small scale version, click on the Full Story tab...
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The Al Midan Society is holding the Zgharta film premier of the Lebanese smash hit, "Bosta" at the Milad Al Ghazal Mouawad Cultural & Sport Centre on 24th, 25th & 26th March 2006, starting at 6pm.

For tickets call 03 79 64 17 & 03 84 29 85. Tickets are LL 5000 ($US 3.32 approx)

The film has its own website - www.bostathemovie.com where samples of its soundtrack of "electro-dabkeh", can be heard, a fusion of traditional Dabkeh and modern music.

The website, says of the storyline of the film that,

"After 15 years of exile in France, Kamal returns to Beirut with his mind set on one goal: recreate the dance group he had formed with his school friends and whom he hasn't seen since - but today, not only does he want to bring back this disparate group together, but also take the bold move of introducing a Western flavor to the traditional Dabkeh music.
When the dancers audition before the jury of the national Dabkeh festival, they are curtly rejected on the basis that they are causing prejudice to the "only cultural icon left". This prompts them to refurbish their old school bus and embark on a road trip across Lebanese towns to perform and introduce their pioneering dance to the public.
As they struggle to win people over to their alternative spirit, each of the dancers also realizes that they have also embarked on a personal journey to reconnect with their childhood, their friendships lost and found, the pains of the war and of separation... a journey that will lead a group of friends to turn the page on a painful past.
Bosta is a road musical that takes the audience on a wonderful journey across various Lebanese regions... a journey accompanied by a groundbreaking soundtrack and, of course, this truly pioneering dance, the electro-dabkeh."

We once again show the impact of Zgharta Zawie's cultural community on the national and world stage.

Zgharta's author, Rachid Daif, play, "To Hell with Meryl Streep", based on his novel " Qu'elle Aille Au Diable, Meryl Steep" is now being performed on stage in Beirut. The play is on at the, Al Madina Theatre, with actors Rana Alamuddin and Elie Karam, directed by Nidal Al Achkar. The play is on until 9th April and tickets are priced at LL 35,000, LL 25,000 and LL 15,000. Theatre phone number 01 75 30 10 or 01 75 30 11.

A literary critic said of the novel's theme, that Rachid " portrays, with sarcastic humour, the relationship between men and women in a modern Lebanese society in constant conflict with its oriental roots as it opens up to occidental culture."

The play has been reviewed today in the Lebanese newspaper, The Daily Star, which can be read by clicking the Full Story tab.The review reflects the adult nature of the play.

The photograph is of the novel's book cover.
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Local author, Nada Barakat Khawaja, will be launching the Arabic version of her best selling book , C'est un enfant lui aussi," ("He's also a child") at the 25th Lebanese Book Fair, Antélias.

As we reported at the time, she published in 2004 her account of her son, Anthony, who was born with special needs and her life since his birth. The book, written in French, recounts her pregnancy with Anthony in Montreal, Canada, and her feeling that something was wrong during it. Notwithstanding medical advice, that nothing was wrong, Anthony, at her insistence, was eventually induced in the forty-second week of pregnancy in 1991, but was born with disabilities. The book recounts Nada’s acceptance of her son’s condition and her struggle to gain the wider world's acceptance of her son and for him to have as normal life as possible. She talks about the tolerance of difference and that humanity is made of all kinds of people.

When zgharta.com spoke to Nada she said that, she wanted the book, "to make people see the child and later the person before seeing the handicap; which means recognizing that he has needs and rights just like any other child and person", powerful, but yet poignant, words from an author and mother.

After the book's publication, many asked that it be translated into Arabic and it is this version which will be launched on Saturday, 4th March 2006. The Arabic version is published by, Dar Al Nahar and, Nada, will be signing copies of the book between 5pm and 7pm on Saturday at the Dar Al Nahar stand,the Monastery of St Elias, Antélias.The town of Antélias is some 13 kilometres from Beirut.

Nada was born in 1964, Zgharta, the daughter of General Barakat. She received her secondary school and university education in Washington,USA. She graduated with a degree in International Relations. After giving birth to Anthony, she registered at the American University of Beirut, where she attained a Diploma in Special Education. She is married to Sarkis Tannous Khawaja and they have another son and daughter. They live in Beirut and Zgharta.

The photograph is of the book cover of the French edition.Photographs of the event can be seen on the Full Story page.
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As an example of the famous Zghartawien hospitality, we report news from Australia. Our friend and Zgharta Zawie benefactor, Khalil (Karl) Tartak, on the visit to Australia of General Sarkis Tedros and his wife, Amal, organised a sight seeing trip and ministerial meeting for them.

General Tedros, who is a General of the Lebanese Police Force, was born in the village of Harf Ardeh, Zgharta Zawie. As we reported in November 2004, there was much celebration in his home village, following his appointment, made by former Minister of the Interior & Municipalities, Sleiman Frangieh. The General and his wife are visiting his sister and family and the Lebanese community in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Karl, as he is known to his friends, his wife, Maria and his three sons, organised a Sydney Harbour cruise for the General and his wife on 19th January 2006. There were some seventy guests , amongst who included,the Assistant Commissioner of the New South Wales Police, Mr. Bod Waites and his wife; Father Antoine Tehme and Father Elie Rahme from Saint Charbel's Church, Sydney; the World Vice President of the Lebanese World Cultural Union, Mr. Michel Douehi and his wife; the Commissioner of the National Liberal/National Party of Australia, Mr. Joseph Touma and his wife Mrs. Salwa Touma; the Mayor of Sydney; the Deputy Mayor of Canterbury and many other distinguished guests.

On the day before, Karl, arranged a meeting for the General with the Attorney General of Australia The Hon.Philip Ruddock, where they exchange views and comments during their eighty minute meeting.

The photo shows, sitting , left to right - Mrs Amal Tedros, General Tedros, Mrs Suzie Waites; standing, left to right - Mr Bob Waites and Khalil (Karl) Tartak.

The artist, Romanos Moukarzel, has been featured in today's L'Orient Le Jour, where he talks about going back to Zgharta to recharge himself.

Romanos was born in 1965. He graduated with a BA in Liberal Arts from Manhattanville College, New York. He then went onto to study for three years the "Old Masters" technique of portraiture in Florence, Italy. He had his first solo exhibition at Christies Education in London in 1993. In 2000, Romanos’ painting was selected to appear at The Royal Portrait Show in London. Other solo exhibitions have included Theatre de Beirut (Lebanon), Beaton-Brown Galleries (London), The Irish Club (London), Blains (London). He also exhibited in 2004 at The British Lebanese Association exhibition, "The Artist's View II 1975 - 2004".

To read the L'Orient Le Jour article click on the Full Story tab.
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