The Druze are a very unique and fascinating people. As a religion founded almost 1000 years ago as an offshoot of Islam, there are only about 1.2 million Druze in the world, with the largest concentration of them living in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Israel. A few basic facts about the Druze religion and culture:
1. They believe in reincarnation. Specifically, they believe that every time someone dies another person is born with the same soul.
2. No one is allowed to convert to be Druze. The population size remains constant because of reincarnation.
3. At the age of 15 Druze boys and girls are given the choice to live a life as a religious or secular Druze. If they choose to go down the religious path, they are allowed to read the series of letters that reveal certain Druze secrets (I don't know if that's also true for women) and both men and women must conform to a dress code of modesty. Approximately 10% of the population choose to become religious.
4. The Druze are loyal to the land they live in. For example, a Druze who lives in Lebanon is first and foremost loyal to the land. In that spirit, all Druze men proudly serve in the IDF (Israeli army) and you always see the Israeli flag flying along side the Druze flag.
5. The Druze make up approximately 2% of Israel's population, living primarily in the Galil and the Golan (Northern Israel). Controversy surrounds those living in the Golan as many who lived in those villages since before the 1967 war maintain allegiance to Syria and have been cut off from family in neighboring villages across the border.
6. If a Druze marries outside the religion they are shunned from the community- no exceptions.
7. If you found any of the above interesting I strongly suggest you watch "The Syrian Bride", a critically acclaimed Israeli film about a young bride from Majdal Shams, a Druze village in the Golan Heights who is being married off to a man on the other side of the border in Syria. It is an immensely powerful and insightful look into Druze society, the personal problems their families must confront, and the political storms their community must weather.
I learned all of this from the siyur (field trip) I took yesterday to a Druze village where we toured the community, visited several holy sites and even had the chance to meet and speak with high school students our age.
1. They believe in reincarnation. Specifically, they believe that every time someone dies another person is born with the same soul.
2. No one is allowed to convert to be Druze. The population size remains constant because of reincarnation.
3. At the age of 15 Druze boys and girls are given the choice to live a life as a religious or secular Druze. If they choose to go down the religious path, they are allowed to read the series of letters that reveal certain Druze secrets (I don't know if that's also true for women) and both men and women must conform to a dress code of modesty. Approximately 10% of the population choose to become religious.
4. The Druze are loyal to the land they live in. For example, a Druze who lives in Lebanon is first and foremost loyal to the land. In that spirit, all Druze men proudly serve in the IDF (Israeli army) and you always see the Israeli flag flying along side the Druze flag.
5. The Druze make up approximately 2% of Israel's population, living primarily in the Galil and the Golan (Northern Israel). Controversy surrounds those living in the Golan as many who lived in those villages since before the 1967 war maintain allegiance to Syria and have been cut off from family in neighboring villages across the border.
6. If a Druze marries outside the religion they are shunned from the community- no exceptions.
7. If you found any of the above interesting I strongly suggest you watch "The Syrian Bride", a critically acclaimed Israeli film about a young bride from Majdal Shams, a Druze village in the Golan Heights who is being married off to a man on the other side of the border in Syria. It is an immensely powerful and insightful look into Druze society, the personal problems their families must confront, and the political storms their community must weather.
I learned all of this from the siyur (field trip) I took yesterday to a Druze village where we toured the community, visited several holy sites and even had the chance to meet and speak with high school students our age.
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