Jounieh, Lebanon — At the invitation of the administration of the Lebanese American University Medical Center (LAU) – St. John’s Hospital in Jounieh, renowned Lebanese poet and intellectual Henri Zoghaib delivered a thought-provoking lecture entitled “At Christmas Time: Jesus, Gibran, and Lebanon,” addressing the medical center’s staff in a cultural and reflective gathering marking the festive season.
The lecture was attended by Dr. Sally Rabah, Director of LAU Medical Center – St. John’s Hospital, alongside members of the medical center’s medical and nursing teams, as well as representatives from LAU Medical Center’s Marketing and Communications Department.
Structured in three thematic parts, the lecture offered a rich exploration of Lebanon’s spiritual, literary, and national identity.
In the first segment, Zoghaib reflected on Jesus Christ’s connection to Lebanon, highlighting five significant moments associated with the country and its geography. These included the miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, the Jordan River, formed from the melting snow of Mount Hermon, the Cave of Mantara in Maghdouche, southern Lebanon, the healing of the Phoenician woman’s daughter in Sidon, and lastly Mount Hermon itself, where the Transfiguration took place.
Through these references, Zoghaib emphasized Lebanon’s deep spiritual resonance within Christian history.
The second segment focused on the profound bond between the poet and philosopher Gibran Khalil Gibran and his homeland. Zoghaib highlighted Gibran’s seminal work “Jesus, Son of Man,” published in New York in 1928 and translated into Arabic in 1932, a year after the author’s passing.
Comprising 79 chapters, the book references Lebanon in 27 instances, reflecting Gibran’s enduring emotional and intellectual attachment to his country. Although he lived in New York, Gibran’s heart remained in Lebanon, a longing he expressed in a 1920 conversation with his friend Mikhail Naimy, when he said, “My wish, Misha, is to return to the Qadisha Valley.” Zoghaib poignantly noted that Gibran did return, but only after his passing.
In the final segment, Zoghaib turned his reflection toward Lebanon itself, drawing a distinction between a statesman and a politician. He explained that a statesman works for future generations, while a politician works for the next election, a statesman serves the state, while a politician uses the state to serve personal interests.
Within this context, he described Lebanon as consisting of three layers: the ruling class and the state class, both subject to change depending on the integrity of leadership, and a third, immutable layer: the enduring homeland, anchored in its flags, symbols, history, and collective memory.
The lecture concluded with the presentation of a commemorative plaque to Mr. Henri Zoghaib by Dr. Sally Rabah, in appreciation of his contribution and in recognition of the university and medical center’s commitment to cultural dialogue alongside medical excellence.
Adding a musical dimension to the evening, the lecture was interspersed with live performances on the bouzouk, nay, and arghul by artist Nasser Makhoul, enriching the experience and underscoring the cultural spirit of the event.