Shweir News
Shweir HISTORY AND GENERAL INFORMATION
The name Choueir, in Arabic, is the diminutive form of Chir which means cliff, thus referring to the cliff sheltering the village. It is also a variation of the syriaque word “choro” which means wall, and further also evokes cliff.
Various Roman vestiges or traces were found in the vicinity.
Choueir developed after the Ottomans conquest of the area, as a consequence of their victories over the Mamelukes in 1517, when Sultan Selim conquered Egypt and Syria. The village, an orthodox majority, took part in the medieval political life of Mount Lebanon, opposing Emirs Kaysites and Ymnites clans. The XXth century civil war was devastating: the town was located on the front line between High North Maten and Low North Maten. Choueir still hasn’t completely recovered from this war. Summer tourism is scarce and high unemployment plagues the village.
Surface area of the site
3,78 km2
Geographical co-ordinates
lat: 33º 55’ N;
35º 42’ E
Height above sea level
700 to 1250m
Lithology
Late Jurassic for
the oldest layers Sandstone with lignite (cretaceous base) or clayey sandstone
(lower Apian) for intermediate layers
Population
14000 inhabitants
(4000 locals and 10000 from abroad, especially north America, south America and
Australia)
Population density 3.704
inhab/Km2
Average annual maximum temperatures
19,6°C
Average annual minimum temperatures
11°C
Average of maximum temperatures during the hottest month for ten
years
37,8°C
Average of maximum temperatures during the coldest month for ten
years
-7,5°C
Average rainfall
1.270 mm
Average number of days of rain per year
77 days
Specific characteristics
Remarkable
landscape, with inhabited cliff overhanging the whole locality
Traditional economic activities
Farming, silk,
retail trade, craft industry
New economic activities
Retail trade,
small industries, hotel and restaurants. Majority of civil servants
Site’s communications with its territory
Located 2km away from Dhour and Khenchara, Choueir belongs to the caza in Maten. It is 28km away from Beirut.
This project is financed by the MEDA programme of the European Union. The opinions expressed in the present document do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or of its member States. 3/3
CURRENT STATE OF VITALITY AND PRESERVATION
A great number of houses (approximately 100) are uninhabited today, and are thus in rather poor condition. Traditional constructions are generally disfigured by concrete add-ons and anarchistic transformations. Restorations are seldom valid. From an economic point of view,
summer events and tourist activities improve the living conditions in Choueir. But, alas, the town suffers from significant economic and architectural decline though the Municipality made efforts in certain areas, like the little square and the cliff road...
TRANSFORMATION PROCESS
Emir FakhreddineII introduced silk trades and developed commerce. A gradual regression due to the end of silk industry and trade pushed inhabitants into exile. The second half of the XIXth century revived the villages of Mount Lebanon, amongst which Choueir. Cultural and academic activities developed in Choueir under the impulse of several Christian missions.
The 1930s and 40s
brought about a significant increase in summer tourism.
Many middleclass Egyptians came to Choueir for summer holidays.
From 1950 to 1970, most tourism came from countries in the Gulf.
During the civil war (1975-1990), Dhour Choueir was on the front line, and the
village was partly destroyed. At the end of the war, a number of traditional
houses were in ruins, while others were restored without following any adapted
traditional techniques.
Today, the Souk of Choueir has lost its commercial role: the stores on the ground floor are closed and many first floors were transformed into dwellings. The causes for this transformation are initially due to a decline of the textile industry and the arrival of readymade urban products. A new main road now cuts through the village, putting the Souk on the fringe of town.
INTERVENTIONS AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES
Municipality works are limited to widening roads or carrying out small drainage works. No comprehensive project was ever undertaken to promote, develop or really preserve the town.
Contacts
Municipality of Choueir - Shweir
AOUN Oula, architect
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Rizkallah Milad, “Massayef al loubnaniyat : dalil el choueir wa nawahiha”,
Tabbara, Beirut, 1923.
Choueiri Raja, « Dhour el choueir ou la paix des pins », Phelix Bérythe,
Beirut,1998.
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Nabil Matar visits NY, Switzerland, Italy, & Shweir - April 2005
I have been on the road for a long time and today is
my first day back in the office. I went to several beautiful places like New
York, Zurich Switzerland , Florence Italy, but the high light of my trip is
spending ten wonderful days in Dhour Shweir (wiz 3aynak inta W George). I met
the mayor Dr. Ghosn and many of our old friends and had a privilege to spent
an evening with the two wonderful young Shweirieh that lit our bulletin board
lately.The beautiful and talented miss Samar Kiame and the smart and optimistic
young man Mr.. Mike Moujaes. I must admit that meeting these two Shweirieh
really made my trip worth while.
I think I don't need to tell you that the whole time i was hanging around with
my big Buddy Riad Khuneiser and his Lovely wife Loulou.
So many wonderful things is happing to our beloved town. The Saha never looked
better, Baytna is receiving many patients, A new independent committee for Eid
al Mughtaribeen was established, More books in our library and above all the
Swisraniyeh left.
I could write more about my trip but for now I will settle with the attached
pictures that said it all:
Nabil E. Matar
New York |
going to Lebanon |
in Florence Italy |
||
Riad send me these pictures taking during the Is3af celebrating their
anniversary.
Need not to tell you how many kas 3arak Abou Ziad shirib that day
April 2005
Thanks Sandy for sending these Easter holidays pictures
-----Original Message-----
From: Salim Sawaya
Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 4:48 AM
Subject: 2 stories on Dhour Shweir
Here I'm sending you clips from the Lebanese media concerning two important events that were held in our beloved Dhour Shweir.
The first one is: - The Dhour Shweir Beer Festival 2004 that outshined all the other events such like the Baccardi Night that was held a day before the Beer Festival in Biel-Beirut.
The second one is: - The capture of the crocodile in Dhour Shweir (in Benabil / all the area is named Dhour Shweir) story that was featured in all the media.
Both stories reflected a large publicity for our village.You are kindly requested to post the clips on the forum.
Best regards,
Salim B. Sawaya
A Proposed New Common Cemetery For Shweir People
Since the welfare of Shweir and Shweirieh (in town and Mughtarebeen) and helping in solving all their problems by giving them the best way to communicate with each other, is our main aim in shweir.com and because we care for all Shweirieh, living or dead, young or old, healthy or sick, etc. we look with respect to all persons who work in or for public utilities projects and we try to help and support and if we criticize we do that with love hopping for the better.
Miss Mary Sawaya asked me to send you, for posting, this brochure about the new cemetery which will be build to replace the old one and that can be a solution for the community, many Shweirieh and friends doesn't have one.
This new project is well designed to:
First: Architecturally, environmentally and health wise are priority.
Second: There will be a "Salon" for 500 persons seated.
Third: A church for all sects to use and car parking.
For
more information:
Father Antwan Nadaf cel. 03/368699,
Mr. George Abu Rizk Sawaya cel. 03/886262 and
Mr. Ziad Sha3ia (Engineer) cel 03/307049
We wish you all long live life.
Riad
Dhour is getting a Face Lift.
Finaly after one year in the planning, project submittal, and government red tape and slow moving bureaucracy the World bank financed project has begun to be implemented.
Snow Storm of February 14-16, 2004
I want to tell you that the Valentine's Night has been cancelled due to the Storm that affected Lebanon on 14-15-16 February:
A storm that has been battering Lebanon,
call it the worst such storm in 25 years. It was snowing in all Lebanon starting
areas from 800 meters. All the Lebanese towns and villages suffered from
heavy snowfalls. Most roads in the areas badly affected by the snowstorms were
closed to traffic. With more than 1.5 meter in Dhour El Choueir, it was closed
to traffic and cut of by snow with no electricity power. We were unable to reach
schools, stores and hospitals like most Lebanese villages and towns. The schools
and the stores in the area stayed closed because of the bad weather.
The snowstorm eased off Monday: The tractors then only managed to clear the
roads with difficulty because of heavy snow in the area, up to 1.5 meters thick,
and rain on Monday caused further flooding and damage. The storm died down
Tuesday.
Thanks God that all the shweiriye are well and that all of them was prepared for it. But I am still thinking that if this storm did not stopped by Monday, what could be happened to us and to all the Lebanese families were stuck with no electricity and with limited quantity of food???.
I will send you some pictures when I got some.
Regards,
Silva Bou-Zeid
So, do you miss Winter & Snow in Shweir? Here is a taste...
The first thing I did Sunday morning was looking towards the Matar's house to measure the snow level. I thought of Nabil, Elias and all the others. I took the camera and took these shots and others, to let you share with me the good feelings of the old day. Best regards to you and the family. Riad K.
If you feel cold while looking at the pictures, be sure that we feel warm while looking at the shweir.com. Riad
Many thanks to Omar & Riad Khuniesser for the great update and photos
Read more about the storm on Shweir News web page
Read this article about the storm which I took from a Lebanese Magazine:
Lebanon Lashed
by Snow Blizzards, Heavy Rains, and Strong Winds
Snow
blizzards blocked mountain roads; heavy rains drenched major cities and strong
winds lashed at fishing boats Tuesday as the second winter storm of the season
struck Lebanon.
Many
villages on the central mountain ridge overlooking Beirut were marooned by snow,
prompting the army and the civil defense corps to dispatch bulldozers to open
roads and rescue dozens of trapped motorists, police said.
The
Beirut-Damascus highway was closed to traffic from sundown Monday to sunup
Tuesday as snow-sweeping bulldozers struggled all night to get traffic to
re-function, according to a police communiqué. But snow continued to fall at 900
meters above sea level through midday Tuesday.
Several
Beirut newspapers carried pictures showing schools besieged by rain floods, with
students trapped inside for hours before being bused home in Beirut's southern
suburbs.
At least
one fishing boat capsized in high seas off the northern port city of Tripoli as
90-kilometer-per-hour winds howled across the region, but all five fishermen on
board were rescued safely by the army's coastal guard corps, the communiqué
said.
The
weather bureau at Beirut airport said the storm, which broke out at midnight
Sunday-Monday, was expected to recede on Wednesday. The last previous winter
storm was in December.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Riad Khunieser"
To: "A. G. Kenicer"
Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 3:11 AM
Subject: Actions speak louder than words
Dear Anwar &
shweir.com
A brief report of good actions.
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it
will be opened to you."
Working for and with non-profit organizations gives you the power and the
courage to ask for help from all goodhearted citizens. If you practice what you
preach, you will always find men putting hands with yours to build and help.
Christmas is love. True, Christmas comes but once a year. True, we all
feel the joy of Christmas. And true, there are warm-hearted groups and persons
who make our children, parents and poor happy, pleased and delighted.
Children were gathered in the new hall at " EL-SAD" restaurant to celebrate with
the Is3af ladies Christmas Eve.
Mr. George
Samaha, the owner of El-Sad restaurant, wanted to share the Is3af in giving our
children the best Christmas Eve possible. The new Hall was presented free and
decorated for the occasion. The ladies with the help of Mr. Saleem Sawaya, Mr.
Sami Abou Samra and Est. Baroud prepared food and drinks. More than one Santa
Claus was there to give souvenir gifts, the Is3af bought, to more than four
hundred child. The surprise was, when the most beautiful Santa Claus, Christina
Sawaya came to the place to share the
children their joy. I will say nothing about, Christmas at Bytna. You
will see the pictures.
Christmas else where is not to talk about, but I can say they tried to make
every body happy.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
Riad
Meanwhile, the residents at the Shweir Senior Center, Baytna, also celebrated the festivities as per the pictures...
Shweir.com note:
Thanks to everyone who helped make this
Christmas Happier and brighter to many in our town...
Yes, thanks the Shweir Non Profit Organizations and to the Issa3f or Shweir
Social Services and Rescue (SSSR), thanks to Salim Sawaya, Sami Abou Samra and
Est. Baroud for donating their time and resources and thanks George Samaha for
donating his new and decorated facilities to make all this a great success.
Thanks to Riad & Omar Khunieser for sending us this great report and pictures.
Last but not least, thanks to all the unnamed persons who worked so hard as part
of this great team that is uplifting the spirit of our town and setting the best
kind of example of a caring and loving community.
Shweir History Night
Sunday October 13, 2002, at 5:00 p.m.
Sacred Heart School Auditorium, Madrasat al
Rahbat
Thanks Oula Aoun for sending this info - we look forward to post as much of that
info on this web.
Please have volunteers video tape and send a detailed report about this
important event. Thank you.
Double Congratulations to:
Elias Sawaya & Zeina Anis Touma Sawaya and Abrahim Sawaya and Zeina Halabi,
CONGRATULATIONS |
I hope I got the names straight, otherwise I am in BIG trouble.
I wish you were here on the 25th of August to watch the
Chamasian's play which I organized for "Nadi Moussika Al Shweir", it was a big
success, there were more than 700 people in the stadium watching and laughing to
this wonderful guy and his group.
In continuity to the events that I planned to do this summer, I organized last
Saturday, the 31 of August a play for "Gizele Hachem Zard" at Shweir "Al Ain"
between the 2 churches for 2 hours in open air, it is a play addressed to the
children. Nabil, you will not believe if I tell you there were more than 800
people (children and their parents) watching this nice play. This was a real
real success. Children were laughing and the parents too. I also talked
with "Master Chips", "Poppins", "Junet" and "Pampa" and they all agreed to
present juice and chips and Corn flex for all the attendants for free. The
parents and all the Shweirieh were very satisfied and asked me to do more and
more events for the children.
And finally, as promised, The "Dhour Shweir Nuit de Vin" or "Dhour Shweir Wine
Night" is to be held on Saturday the 7th of September 2002 at the Dhour Shweir
Square at 8.30 p.m. I managed to bring the Maystro "Ihsan Al Mounzir" to play
music with 2 other singers as well as 2 pop dance girls to turn the night on
fire. (attached is the promotional poster). In a move to attract more and more
people at this night, I printed more than 4000 flyers and I asked Mrs Toni
Korban and her team to help me in distributing them in Shweir and the villages
around. Mrs Korban is a very active woman and she helped me a lot logistically
during the play last Saturday. I also put an annoucements in 2 radio stations: "Sawt
Al Moussika or Sound of Music" and "Radio One" in order to provide the widest
advertisements.
I tried all my best during this summer to attract people to come to Dhour, this
beautiful village which was abended for a long time. This is very hard to
organize a festival like the Beer Festival or the Juicy and or the Wine Night,
sponsors are not easily convinced to sponsorship such events. Anyway I'm
urging all the Shweirieh to work hard and create ideas for the benefit of our
beloved Shweir.
Best regards,
Salim B. Sawaya
**************************
Webmaster's note:
I came across this email and felt that it is worth posting here after some minor
edit... This email reminded me of a statement made by Lee Iacoca when he saved
Chrysler Corp many years ago: "Lead, Follow or get out of the way..."
Dear Salim, First, It gave me great pleasure to have the chance to meet you and your lovely wife this summer. Second, you can't imagine how grateful we are to you for giving us the opportunity to be part of your success projects that benefit Dhour Shweir. During my visit I found out who are the talkers and who are the doers. My friend, definitely you a doer that we are proud of.
You spearheaded projects to bring to Dhour some things that the town desperately needed. You brought action .You brought people and you brought revenue to that forgotten town. Salim, I feel very good about our new Council and leadership. With their leadership and your participation, I look forward to a brighter future for our town. The Baladieh and Dhour Shweir needed people your caliber to lift up. I noticed during the beauty pageant that you were not given the credit you deserved. I am here to set thing straight and admit that you were a primary force in its success. My friend please no matter how much things gets tough don't ever stop what you are doing. you are credit to our town and we are with you all the way.
God bless you and your family and Ya3eesh Day3itna Al Hilwi.
One additional thing, before I left we tern in to the baladieh an
application to establish community center I would appreciated if you find out
where does it stand. This project if it comes through will benefit many of our
youth.
Nabil E. Matar
**************************
Did they have fun or what??? Take a look at the pictures and decide...
Chin Chin a la Sante |
Congratulations to all who organized, supported and participated in this event.
Shweir Juicy Nites
As promised, the "Dhour Shweir Juicy Night 2002" was held on
Saturday the 24th of August .
It was really a great and successful night. The attached pictures will
tell you more about this event.
P.S.: Dhour Shweir Nuit de Vin will be held on Saturday the 7th of September.
I'll keep you posted about the program as soon as I'll set it.
Regards,
Salim B. Sawaya
Beer Festival in Dhour Shweir - July 14, 2002
-----Original
Message-----
From: Salim sawaya [mailto:art.dept@dm.net.lb]
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2002 9:40 AM
I'm preparing the "Beer Festival
2002" on the 14th of July in the "Saha" of Dhour Shweir. This is a dream that
came true. Many beer companies will be
selling beer to the crowd and they will be entertained by several bands (rock -
funky - hard rock - pop music) and we will end the night with two arabic
singers.
This project is launched and organized and supported by me.
In my due as a vice president I’m planning to do many events every week to
encourage people to visit our “Daiaa”.
Attached the 5 x 4 meters poster that will be placed in Jal El Dib Highway and
another one will be placed in the SAHA. Also 50 x 70cm posters will be hanged on
the walls all over the places as well as flyers will be distributed in many
points.
A radio and a television channel will be promoting this event.
Miss Lebanon 2001 Christina Sawaya will be the honour guest and will drink with
me a toast to the ever made event in Dhour.
So Nabil, George, Anwar change your flight dates and meet me in the 14th of July
night to celebrate this wonderful event.
Best regards,
Salim B. Sawaya
******************************
Salim, this is very tempting... oh, we
cannot make up our minds whether it is the poster, the girl, the cowboy hat, the
beer, the guitar, the "Open invitation" or that it is happening or Dhour Shweir,
or Miss Lebanon would be there or a combination of the above...
even for those who have not planned to go to Lebanon, this is one more good to
reason to reconsider.
Promise us that you will take lots of pictures and send us a report that we will post on the web.
As I promised you, the Beer Festival was held last Sunday,
14th of July. I wish you were here George, Anwar, Nabil, it was a great event.
The crowd was large as I expected, people from all over Lebanon came to Dhour to
celebrate, drink beer and enjoy the oriental, armenian and occidental program.
You wont believe if I tell you that I met a group of 20 persons who came from
KHIYAM (south Lebanon) to have fun with us. People gathered in the SAHA from
Hazmieh, Jounieh, Kahhale, Bourj Hammoud, SinElFil, Achrafieh, HAMRA... from
everywhere...
The majority of the Shweirieh were excited for this event (some
are not adapted to stand up all night and listen to pop bands).
Miss Lebanon Christina Sawaya came at 8:30 p.m to drink a toast with the Shweirieh, Mr Pierre Chamassian the famous comedian came with her too as well as Mr Antoine Makssoud (the man behind Miss Lebanon and Miss Europe). I invited them because I needed famous people to back me up in this “Dhour Shweir Beer Festival 2002”.
People from the Netherlandian TV came especially to Dhour when they heard that a beer festival will take place in our village as this is a traditional festival in Germany and they wanted to see how is going to be in Dhour.
The best of it is that I had received a lot of phone calls from people who really enjoyed and admired that festival, and they told me that it was very exciting and they’d love to see more events in Dhour.
Yes I can say it was really a success. I attached some of the first photos so you can judge it by yourself, additional photos will be available soon.
I promise you that the best is yet to come.
Best regards,
Salim B. Sawaya
Rahbani
Marries Halabi
Bassam Nadim Rahbani marries Micheline Samir Halabi
September 30, 2001
|
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Congratulations to Bassam Rahbani & Micheline Halabi and their families
Hi Anwar,Can you please put some of those pictures in the next update. They got married on September 30.Thanks.Waleed.
Shweirieh Mughtaribeen making news
Here Naamet Yafet (Brazil) and Jamil Eid Khonaisser (Canada)
Also from Al Nahar Newpaper
Khalil Hawi | Jamil Eid Khonaisser |
August 12, 1998 | August 11, 1998 |
|
New Miss Lebanon, Christina (Nassif Asaad Abou Rizk) Sawaya, is from Shweir...
Alf Mabrook
Congratulations
Christina Sawaya, Miss Lebanon 2001, surrounded by Bethany Kehdy and Nisreen Azizi, first and second runner-ups to the queen
Suspense
at Miss Lebanon Pageant 2001 runs right to the end
Winning contestant displayed not only beauty but soul, strong nerves and
intelligence
Elizabeth Abi Khalil
Special to The Daily Star
After responding to randomly selected questions from the jury members, the participants were whittled down to five: Jeanne d’Arc Sakr, Mireille Ziade, Nisrine Azizi, Bethany Kehdy and Christina Sawaya. Suspense filled the room. The final decision was only moments away. Azar asked each of the five contestants a final question and each answered in her own way, displaying nervousness. In the end, Christina Sawaya, 21, from Dhour Choueir with a BS in business from the Lebanese American University, answered with the most confidence and was crowned Miss Lebanon 2001 by last year’s winner, Sandra Rizk. The first runner-up was Bethany Kehdy, 20, from Baskinta, while second runner-up went to 18-year-old Nisrine Azizi from Zghorta. Justine Daoud, Cynthia Kiame and Mireille Ziade were respectively selected Miss Personality, Miss Elegance and Miss Photogenic.
**************************************
Thank you Rouba, I will forward this to Anwar and see if he has any input from any body.
Thank you Rouba for taking the time to tell us about this important event... even though you did not see it... I first heard about it from Habib Halabi who sent an email to me telling me that such an event would take place and assumed that there would be someone to take or send pictures to us.-----Original Message-----
From: rouba khairallah [mailto:krouba@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2001 4:34 AM
To: gematar@sbinfra.com
Cc: nmatar@pernet.net
Subject: Big Welcome To Christina in Dhour Shweir
hi matars, how r u guys, long time no speak ...anyway i wanted to let u know that on staurday 13 dhour el shweir made a very warm welcome to our miss lebanon . i wasn't there to see i was in beirut but mom told me all about it.she came with her family. they escorted her from shweir to dhour. the tour began from the road under our house in shweir , all the shweiriyeh were on the balconies shouting and throwing rice at her (the old tradition) and she was welcomed by all the associations in dhour and in the saha she made a little speavh , so impressive and some of the shweiriyeh made her poems . she was so happy and she bursted into tears. it was so moving .i hope u can get pictures or more details from anyone active on the web who was really there and maybe took pictures. take careRouby K.
****************************************
Congratulations.
-----Original
Message-----
From: Rosalie Sawaya [mailto:rosaliesawaya@uol.com.br]
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2001 5:31 PM
Subject: Congratulations
Dear
Cristina,
I am Rosalie Adib Touma Sawaya from São Paulo, Brazil. I am very happy that you won the contest for Miss Lebanon. I am proud of you, you are very beautiful. I told to my all relatives here about you. Everybody sends their regards. Congratulations to Sawaya's family. Best regards to your family,
Love
from Rosalie
----- Original Message from Paulo Sawaya in Brazil-----From: PAULO H SAWAYA FILHOSent: Wednesday, November 28, 2001 2:23 PMSubject: Miss Lebanon 2001My name is Paulo H.Sawaya Junior, my father was Paulo Sawaya and we are living many years here in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I was informed about Miss Lebanon 2001 , Miss Christina Sawaya and I would like to send my congratulations to Miss Christina, could you do that for me ?Any answer my e mail is: sawayafo@uol.com.brThank youBest regardsPaulo H.Sawaya Jr
*********************************
Hello Paulo,
Miss Lebanon visits Shweir by Fadi Abdel Ahad sent on October 28, 2001
On Saturday 13th of October 2001 the new Miss Lebanon 2001 Christina Sawaya was received in the arms of her town people (the famous Shweirieh). As a matter of fact, a ceremony for the honoring of our Shweirieh Miss Lebanon 2001 was prepared by all the committees in Shweir. The ceremony started at 3:30 p.m. in the Saha. Arriving to the Saha (coming up from Shweir,) she stepped out of her car and walked into the Dhour El Shweir hotel passing under a bow that was made by the scout girls holding red and white flags (as shown in the first photo)
In addition to that, the ceremony included speeches by Mr. Shawki Sawaya (our Municipality President,) Christina Sawaya, Chistina's father and Glades Bou Saab Baraket (who represented all the committees of Shweir.)
Then Christina and her family went into the hotel's lobby where they were greeted and congratulated. The second photo is a picture of Christina along with her parents.
Note that these photos are courtesy of Raymond Moujaes who presents them to the Shweir.com family.
Thank you Anwar and keep the Good work up. I'll keep in touch, Bye Bye
Fadi
Thank you Fadi Abdel Ahad for your report and thank you Raymond Moujaes for the pictures...
OK young people of Shweir... Who has some good pictures that would like to share with the Shweirieh around the world?
I bet Christina Sawaya has some great pictures.
An open letter to
Christina Sawaya
Dear Christina, On behalf of the Shweirieh in Lebanon and around the world, we congratulate you on your achievement. You give aspiration and hope to the young generation and pride to all. We invite you to sign the Shweir.com Guest Book and communicate with Shweirieh from around the world on Shweir.com Bulletin Board. Also, if you have some favorite pictures that you would like us to feature or have any questions, please email them to anwar@shweir.com and or our Al Mukhtar bil Mahjar, George Matar at gematar@sbinfra.com Best wishes and good luck on representing Lebanon at the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant. Your support team at Shweir.com |
Again, young people, that letter does not mean that you do not have to send photos or report. We still need some photos that you or someone you know took of that visit and a detailed report... any volunteers?
From Mike Sawaya:
During the Program of Miss Lebanon, each of the beauty contestants was asked a question, concerning the equality of women and men, Christina Sawaya explained the importance of women in our society and gave an example of Salwa Nassar that shined in all the Middle East for she was the first to enter into the Atomic experience.
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From Habib Halabi:
"We are a nation that Adores beauty. "
From the heart of Lebanon, our Al-Matin girls made it to the top.
**************************************
From Grace Halabi:
This email was form my uncle Barnie Hatem..just an FYI :) Grace
Miss Lebanon, as you may well know by now, is a Shweiri.
Nada and I were rooting for her (on LBC), of course, due to our common interest
in Shweir. What was so funny though, as we went to church the following
morning, we discovered that a young man, Jean Claude, who has been coming to our
church for the last few months turned out to be her half brother! He was
telling us how thrilled he was, and how he was even more thrilled to see his mom
and dad on stage alongside her!
You can pass this tidbit to the Shweir website, since I am not a registered
member to do so myself.
Uncle Barnie
Thank you to Habib Halabi, Mike Sawaya, Elias Khonaisser, Souheil Khonaysser, Fadi Abdel Ahad, Ayman Chalhoub, Grace Halabi, Uncle Barnie and many others for calling, contributing information and/or pictures about this GREAT NEWS.
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On behalf of Shweirieh in Shweir and bil Mahjar and on behalf the family of Shweir.com, we offer our heartfelt congratulations to Christina Sawaya....
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To see many other beautiful and talented people of Shweir, go
to Eid al Mughtaribeen by clicking on the symbol below:
Congratulations to Farid
Sabbagh and Rana Rahbany
(Daughter of Joseph & Maggie Rahbany)
These pictures are courtesy of Nabil Matar...
Ya Aroose and Areese, Alf Mabrook...
We invite you to send your comments, thoughts or report about your special day and any pictures you would like to add...
Wishing you much Happiness, Love, Health and Success.
30 Hours worth of behind the scene emails starting on June 18, 2001...:
Subject: RE: Communication w/ Elie bouKheir The communications we had over the past 30 hours were so profound that I felt it worthwhile to post them on Shweir.com, possibly Shweir News web page. I compiled these messages and so they are in one place... if I missed an important one, please bring it to my attention so I can add it. The beauty of these
kind of communications is that they are written from the heart and telling
it like it is. Granted, the truth will hurt sometimes. However
it is far better to speak the truth rather than color it to avoid the
hurt. When we color the truth, it serves no one and we would be only
fooling and hurting ourselves, our loved ones and our
town. The consequences of the past and the wrath of the war are
staring us in the face in the sad conditions of Shweir.
Thank you for the update ya
Elie, and thank you Nabil for forwarding your email to Elie and for your
effort on providing the trophies and good ideas.
Thanks
Elie for this detail report, it seems you are going to have your hand
full, I hope Samih will lend you a hand. I think focusing on Music, sport
and education is the right approach. I do agree with Elie that they need a
good solid plan and most of all they need a good follow up plan. I can't
imagine or see Dhour Shweir without Nowbi, sport and good education
institution. These valuable Shweir traditions
must not die. Elie, Anwar and all Tomorrow
morning I will be leaving to Chicago, I might stay there a week. By then I
will be waiting for Elie's report. I know the time is short and we are
limited of what we can do. At this time, there is not much we can do
except spiritually support the effort. I liked Anwar's idea of having a
person draw a hiking map. And like I mention in the picnic of What I think
our involvement in Eid Al Mughtaribeen should be. I am keeping in mind that this
plan is realistic and achievable: 4. And as Elie mention we
could have a volleyball game between Mughtaribeen and home folks.
5. We could initiate the
Shweir library. Guys and Girls, I know you
have many many simple ideas that could have a major impact to Eid Al
Mughtaribeen. Keep in mind that the idea should be realistic and
achievable. Hope to hear from
you, especially Elie Nabil
Thank you for your e:mail, I wish we could have all been together during
this time, but at least we can communicate for a good purpose, the plans
we
are submitting is not only a rescque plan but a very effective futuristic
successful plan to lift Shweir to a recognizable spot on the world globe
and
will provide free continuing education to our young lads in the US. The
SSSR
organization is working hard and started a senior home project near Deir
Mar
Elias, The Orthodox Monstery contributed the land indefintely with no time
cap for the project. This is a great effort of all the Shweireyeh that
have
contributed to this project, however we need to find solutions for our
youngsters and in turn they will secure the elderly. I am almost done with
the plan and will follow the guide lines of Shweir.com mission, which will
be quite exciting if we get the cooperation I am expecting from the
rescque
committe. -----Original
Message----- Shweir
Foundation Inc., paper work has been
filed on Monday June 18, 2001 with the Secretary of State, State Of Texas.
We requested priority handling, hopefully we get to hear from them this
week. I'll keep you updated. Elie, I'll see you soon. Best regards to every one -----Original
Message----- Samih,
That
is great news. Thank
you for all your effort. Sorry
that I initially bypassed your message thinking it was unsolicited mail
with a subject as “Good News” and in the “from” box it listed
“your name”, that is how many spammers try to get your attention.
Good thing I gave it an extra second of review when I was
considering deleting it. Please
give our thanks and appreciation to Christian Larsen for helping us along
and I know that our Shweirieh and Lebanese community in Texas would refer
business his way. Bon
Voyage Samih, Anwar
|
Thank you all for sharing and caring. Beautifully stated. Great communication. With such spirit and growing good seeds as Walid Khayrallah so nicely stated, and with active participation of the proud and hard working Shweirieh in Shweir together with those abroad, we can recapture Shweir's glory days and make Shweir again as al Mukhtaar said, " Arouse al Masayef".
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More Important emails:
-----Original
Message-----
From: Elie BouKheir [mailto:elieboukheir@lynx.net.lb]
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2001 2:10 AM
Nabil,
I know Elie will be e-mailing you later today to give you his input about the
awards, plaques, trophies. I read through this e-mail and wanted to put my
"American" two-cents in in response to the following messages posted
in this "RE" e-mail. I feel the town is in desparate need of
educated, well intentioned men (and women of course!), that can motivate the
townspeople to reorganize, unify and start to work together in rebuilding their
community.
Everything
Waleed said I couldn't agree more with. The environment also has the
problem of garbage lining the streets, thrown from passersby's, and needs an
awareness from the whole community regarding this (in my opinion). The
people are somewhat discouraged, with a resolve that there is not much they can
do alone; red tape from bureaucrats in neighboring towns is said to keep them
from rebuilding, and yet you have many well-to-do townspeople that have built
gorgeous villas in Dhour-el-Shweir. I'm wondering whose motivating these
"rich" townspeople to provide some benevolence to the rebuilding of
the town? Or perhaps it's the lack of a proper vehicle with which to help
the town.
One thing is certain, the people have been wounded from the war with scars that go much deeper than the physical wounds you might see with your eyes; there's an air of distrust from emotional scaring here.
The best thing the Shweir Foundation can do is to DO what they say they will do and stay focused on their mission, stay focused on their unity, and resolve not to let any divisions sway them from their task: the rebuilding of their beloved village.
I've
met with the Ain al Assis (sp?) director who is rebuiding the center there.
They now call it the Dhour-Shweir Evangelical Center, and they are more than
anxious to meet with the Shweir Foundation. They are Protestants, which
immediately raises a red flag of distrust in the townspeople, however, I met
with her twice and believe she is unbiased in her desire to help this town.
She believes it is a mission from God that they don't just talk about helping,
but that their actions would speak for themselves. She has met Elie and
myself; I would suggest that the Foundation might like to use Elie as the liason
in this relationship, mainly because it focuses on sports and possibly music at
a later date (my field of
"expertise"). Elie was extremely excited to speak with her,
again I reiterate I do believe their is no concern with these people to
"evangelize" the town, other than to love the people and help as best
they can. I
believe they feel this is what God would have them to do.
Okay
enough said from me. These are just my observations;
Who would not visit this town and fall in love with it and it's people?
Take care, hope to see you soon, here or in the States.
Judy Bou Kheir
-----Original
Message-----
From: Matar, Nabil
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2001 9:01 AM
Dear
Judy,
I couldn't agree with you more of all the things you mentioned. I noticed the
same thing during my several visits to Dhour Shweir. Any way, I would like to
take this opportunity to thank you for your deep concern toward our and your
beloved town. I shall stress of saying your beloved town because you are a very
important part of us. Dear Judy, one thing I need to tell you about the
Shweirieh. They are smart, stubborn and very proud people. Some times this
quality in a person hurts more than it helps.
I
think we all the Shweirieh home town and over seas needs first to admit that our
town have many problems, we all need to work hand in hand to solve these problem
and if the Dhour Shweir Evangelical Center want to lend us a hand, we need to
put our pride aside and excepted that like our grand parents did in the past. I
and many Shweirieh who graduate from the great Shweir Secondary School are
grateful and must not forget that. Now I know that there are many things must be
done to bring back the glory to our town.
I also know that this required hard work and cooperation from every body, but I
also know too that we the Shweir.com family to be soon Shweir Foundation, Inc.
are limited of what we can do. Therefore we have to be cautious of every step we
make. we need to be like you mentioned very sensitive to the home folks feelings
and be careful of how much we can get involve. we are a very young organization
and we need first to establish our selves. Any way enough said.
Now
I hope you and the family are having fun there. Elie is doing a great job
there, I hope he will succeed. Elie I am still waiting for your respond to
act please harry up.
Finally; One more month and Anwar, George and I will join you there. we can't
wait Sincerely
Nabil
-----Original
Message-----
From: Waleed Moujaes
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2001 6:56 AM
Thanks
Judy for your explanation. I would like to add few questions which I
hope somebody can ask whoever speaks against the "Protestants"!!!
_Aren't the Protestants the ones who opened the SSS long time ago?
_Whoever now thinks that he/she is " men wojaha' al day3a", where were
you
educated, and who educated you? Aren't they the Protestants?
_When did Dhour Shweir start to decline? Isn't it when SSS started facing
problems which resulted in its closure? ...
We are in desperate need of education in Shweir. If the people with high
responsibilities do not realize that one way of success is to develop a good
relationship and friendship with the Dhour Shweir Evangelical Center, we are
in a very deep trouble. Have a good week...
Waleed
-----Original
Message-----
From: Matar, George [mailto:gematar@sbinfra.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2001 4:52 AM
Judy
This is probably the best summary I've read in a while, Good to hear from
you. I am back in the States
after about three weeks absence and what has been
happening is actually very exciting. It is going to be an uphill
challenge and a very steep one if I may add,
but time is on our side and hopefully
we will in
due time turn a corner in our village. We have to be
very, Very, Very focused on well define
course. The pace we take can be the make
or brake of this united group that so far has been very united in our
effort. We can not raise the town's
people expectation more than we can deliver,
very important to stick to this. The needs are many, but the
resources are still few so lets be very
careful here.
October 2000 George Matar did a cyber search on the internet and found the following article... we are featuring the heading, title, first paragraph and ...the two paragraphs about Dhour Shweir... if you wish to read the entire article, click on the link below... again, thank you George...
Middle
East Studies Association
BULLETIN
Swimming
Against the Tide:
Personal Passions and Academic Fashions
(1997 MESA Presidential Address) Leila Fawaz
Reprinted from the Middle
East Studies Association Bulletin, Summer 1998 (with changes in
orthography to HTML conventions).
Copyright 1998 by the Middle East Studies
Association of North America
A new academic fashion in the disciplines of history, anthropology, and cultural criticism is to "foreground" authors in works of scholarship. But it is not in imitation of what is currently fashionable that I have chosen to make my address autobiographical. I am a historian who enjoys writing narrative history and who elsewhere has argued that the narrative remains as valuable and as legitimate in modern scholarship as theory. So here I wish to tell a story that may hold some lessons for those scholars who seek freedom from the constraints imposed both by the norms of Middle Eastern societies and by the rules of the western academy. In our post-modern, post-structural, post-colonial world, all the certitudes have been shaken, and the narrative might well be the only kind of story that we can relate to with any kind of authority.
... The best and most memorable times were the carefree summers spent in the mountains. In those days, middle- and upper-middle-class families practiced "estivage," leaving the capital in the hot summer months for villages and resorts in the cool Lebanese mountains. In the Matn district northeast of Beirut, offering spectacular views of both the Mediterranean below and of the snowy mountains above, the village of Dhour Shweir provided a life that was the epitome of happiness to generations of Lebanese youth who continue to cherish it in middle age. My love for that village was put to the test by Edward Said's criticism of it. When we gently argued about it, he joked with me why don't I just write his memoirs for him, while I took pleasure in reminding him that some of his own relatives had the good sense to buy a home there. A great many of us still keep the warm memories and lasting friendships we associate it with.
Dhour Shweir branched off from a small village center, where a few churches, grocers, barbers, and cinemas clustered, to neighborhoods of stone houses and small apartment buildings, or terraced fields in the midst of limestone rocks and pine forests. There were no prefabricated games, no computers, televisions, no V.C.R.'s; we had virtually no schedules for leisure time -- art or sports lessons. What we had were a great many pine trees, hills, and valleys for picnics, walks, bicycle trips, and to play in. We could cross the whole village in no time and either go to the old Shweir or continue along the main road from Beirut to the Mountains to the local "Bois de Boulogne" or in the opposite direction towards the village of Bikfaya. We invented games, play acted, stole fruit from the apple orchids and green grapes from the vineyards, built bonfires, and read voraciously. We felt very grown up when on occasional Saturdays our fathers would take us with them to eat eggs with qawirma (meat, fat, and onions) served in the pan at al-Sarfad, a small cafe overlooking the valley where they and their friends would discuss politics. I would also try, without success, to join my older sister and her friends on their outings, or would tolerate, or oppress, my younger brother. ...
Thank you Laila Fawaz, please visit our web site, navigate through its pages and sign in our guest book. Better yet, participate on our bulletin board and submit some in depth articles.