Travelling a ‘similar path’ brought Lebanese and Jewish communities together in small Nova Scotia town

In an old, dusty building on the waterfront in Yarmouth, N.S., a new exhibit at the Harbourfront Museum is paying tribute to the first Jewish and Lebanese immigrants who settled in the town at the turn of the 20th century. Patti Durkee and Joe Bishara have been working tirelessly to put this exhibit together, showcasing the history and friendships between the two communities in Yarmouth, and the solidarity that continues to thrive, despite the growing conflict in the Middle East.

Yarmouth was once a bustling port city, attracting immigrants from Europe and the Middle East, including Bishara’s great-grandparents, who were Christian Lebanese and arrived in Canada in the late 1800s. They saw Yarmouth as a place where they could start anew, eventually opening a grocery store after starting off as peddlers selling goods door-to-door. Around the same time, Jewish immigrants from Europe were also arriving in Yarmouth, living a parallel experience of selling goods and establishing businesses.

The exhibit at the Harbourfront Museum showcases the stories of about 20 Lebanese and 35 Jewish families who settled in Yarmouth, highlighting the challenges they faced and the connections they made. This intersection of cultures migrating to Atlantic Canada from the Middle East was not unique to Yarmouth, as similar stories have been documented in Newfoundland as well.

Despite facing alienation and difficulties, both communities in Yarmouth developed a strong sense of duty to help others who found themselves in similar situations. Members of the Lebanese and Jewish communities supported each other and formed deep friendships that transcended cultural differences.

Today, as incidents of antisemitism rise in Canada amidst the escalating conflict in the Middle East, Durkee and Bishara find comfort in the support and friendship they receive from each other. Durkee notes that her Lebanese friends have been checking in on her, and she feels safe knowing that they would take care of her if anything were to happen. The exhibit serves as a reminder of the close relationships that can exist between different cultural groups and as a counter narrative in an increasingly polarized world.

The exhibit is open to the public during the summer months and will continue to grow to include more stories of Lebanese and Jewish families, as well as other cultural groups in Yarmouth, such as the Mi’kmaq, Acadian, and African Nova Scotian communities. The exhibit aims to showcase the peaceful coexistence that can exist between cultures and people with political differences, emphasizing the common humanity that we all share.