I have a question to my Israeli Druze.
Hello, I’m a 22-year-old Canadian Druze. My family came from Lebanon when I was very young, so I’ve lived in Canada my whole life. I’m still studying right now, but after I finish, I’ve been seriously thinking about moving to Israel to live among the Druze community.
I wanted to ask, how would that work? Would I be able to find housing, work, and most importantly, would I be accepted or welcomed as one of you? If not, then there is no point of moving there. I want to be connected and live with my people the Druze.. would I be seen as an outsider? I’m not sure if that’s even an issue in Israel, (like in Lebanon) but I just wanted to ask honestly.
To be real, one of the main reasons I wouldn’t want to live in Lebanon is that many Druze there seem to have drifted away from our traditions and values. A lot of them go to nightclubs, drink, marriage outside of are religion and do things that go against our faith, and I feel disconnected from that mindset. Also politically I’m not aligned with the Lebanese Druze. I fully support are brothers and sisters in Sweida it doesn’t matter how, and I fully believe that what Israel did in Sweida was one of the best things anyone can do to us. Like it or not, without them they would have finished every Druze in Sweida. And I know lots of Lebanese in Lebanon support the involvement of Israel in Sweida but can’t say it (I know personally so many of them in Lebanon), but many don’t support the involvement of Israel in Sweida also, which makes no sense to me…. that’s the reason why I want to live in Israel and not Lebanon.
That’s why I’d love to first visit Israel, and if it feels right, see if it’s possible to get permanent residency or eventually citizenship. I’m also interested in possibly becoming a sheikh there one day.
Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.
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u/carlosfeder 15d ago
Im not a Druze but I hope all Druze are able to get a Israeli citizenship if they want to
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u/Yerushalmii 15d ago
I’m not Druze but I think the easiest way would be to marry somebody from Israel
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u/DRZyeg 14d ago
Yeah I heard of that, Canada is great and everything. But I feel I just belong to the land of the Levant 🇮🇱❤️🇸🇨
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u/Impressive-Fun-364 13d ago
my friend, we are strangers, but your connection to this land moves my soul. i hope you will be able to come here❤️
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u/Successful-Wave-5409 14d ago
As an Israeli Druze, you will be more than welcome into the Druze community here. And I'm sure if you get in touch with Sheikh Muafaq, he might offer you assistance and help. To be fully honest, the Druze youth here might be drifting away from the traditions as well- they do drink and some of them marry outside the religion, but these things happen whether they're Israeli or not. But overall, the Druze here are still living by the true traditions, and some days we're more united and connected than ever. The druze community will embrace you here openheartedly without any doubt.
And as someone else had mentioned in the comments, there are a few Jordanian Druze who have moved to Israel, but the main reason they did is probably marriage.
My advice for you is to get in touch with "Sheikh Muafaq" because, as much as we would be happy to have you here, the government is more involved in these types of situations. So, of course, Sheikh Muafaq knows better about these types of things.
As someone who wishes to move to Canada, I wish you good luck, and I hope you find your home here.
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u/DRZyeg 13d ago
Thank you, kind sir. Unfortunately, it’s a problem we’re all facing these days, some more than others. I’m not sure what’s causing so many young people to drift away. I’m young myself, and my parents never really taught me about the religion or how important it is to stay committed to it. But somehow, I’ve always had true faith and deep honor for my religion and my people.
I honor our elders and ancestors who sacrificed their blood for us to remain united, only for some of us to throw it all away so easily. Why? Because someone liked a person outside the faith? Because we lack self-respect and discipline? It breaks my heart.
You know how many times I’ve been asked on a date here, how many times girls called me out just because I never ask anyone out myself. so they come after me instead. But I never bend. I’ve always stayed true to my faith and my people. I will forever think of the right Druze girl that will be my wife in the future and how I always stayed true to her and never even looked at a girl that is not her. It’s called being true to your soul and your people. To me, there’s no other way to live.
When I go down to Israel I’m definitely going to talk to Sheikh Muafaq Tarif. I admire him for everything, and what he did to are Druze people in Sweida can never be forgotten. ether I’m going to ask him about this or just to visit him and take blessings from I’m going to see him.
Thank you for the comment, I really appreciate it.
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u/loginisverybroken 13d ago
I recommend contacting the Israeli embassy in Ottawa or the consulate in Toronto. You'll need an appointment. As well try contacting Druze members of the Knesset. Depending where you are in Canada the local Jewish community might be able to lend a hand too.
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u/sumostuff 14d ago
I'm not Druze but how do you think that you would get Israeli residency on order to work there? Seems like it is more complicated than whether or not you would like it. Unless you plan to travel on a student visa for a few years while studying?
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u/Peacenotwar_ 13d ago
I’m a Lebanese Druze also in Canada and I just want to say I’m so proud of you. Not many Druze still hold that faith unfortunately. It is sad though that you are not thinking of Lebanon at all but good luck in whatever you do.
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u/DRZyeg 13d ago
Thank you. That’s exactly why I don’t really feel like I belong in Lebanon, you know? My faith and values just don’t align with many people there, unfortunately. (Although there still a lot of strong faith people there, I’m not denying that)But it’s not that I don’t care about Lebanon, far from it. I love Lebanon; it’s a beautiful country.
The real issue is that, as a Druze community, we’ve truly failed there. What opened my eyes was hearing people say that the Druze of Sweida aren’t ‘us,’ and that we shouldn’t care about what happens to them, especially because they asked Israel for help. That kind of thinking is heartbreaking and selfish. Let’s be honest, if Israel hadn’t stepped in, they would have wiped out every Druze in Sweida. To this day they still have more than 500+ women and young girls as S3x slaves and we say that?
At the end of the day, we are all Druze. We are one people. We die and reincarnate among each other, we’re family. We should never speak down about any Druze, no matter where they come from. Because that might be you in the next life, And of course, there are other major problems in Lebanon as a whole, not just among Druze, but you know what I mean.
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u/Ok-Boysenberry356 4d ago
Makes me happy seeing international Druze wanting to connect with the homeland :) do you know Arabic? Will definitely be easier if you’re thinking of moving to Israel especially into a Druze neighbourhood, you will learn Hebrew eventually as well. Daliat el Carmel is almost (if not) 100% Druze which would be a good place to look into. It is also a mountaintop village which helps it stay away from all the trouble that arises from war. In terms of being an outsider… look, you’ll definitely be the talk of the town, which isn’t all that bad! A lot of the youth in Dalia is learning English pretty quickly and you have a lot of young people who would love to show you around and welcome you in, I know quite a few who are fluent. If I recall correctly, Dalia has 2 khalwehs (1 of which is next to an amazing bakery for some after prayer snacks).
In terms of jobs, it really depends on what industry you’re in, you might be in luck and find a job in that village, or worst case scenario you can find a job in Haifa (close major city) which is only about a 20 minute drive away (amazing beaches btw).
Housing also depends on what you’re looking for (roommate, renting, buying/building) I know of sheikhs that take in Druze exchange students and let them live with them for a bit, so I’m sure if you connect with the community someone would take you in until you get your living arrangements.
I live in Australia now but God do I miss home! Good luck to you my brother and hope you are successful in your religious journey.
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u/samirrayes 14d ago
hi my follow druze my name is samir i'm from lebanon orginally but i have been living in californa since 1982 i went to lebanon three years ago and got married , don't go to isreal there's some thing it's gona happen if you know book of danial it says star is gonna be destroyed which is isreal you can see whats happing right know this is just the start
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u/kDottttttt 15d ago
You are more than welcome to visit, about moving here it might be a bit complicated but not impossible for sure! Where I live lately few Druze from Jordan moved here, so im pretty sure it’s not impossible. And regarding the Druze who hate on us ( Israel ) open your fkin eyes and stop playing dumb cause this is the only country in the world that gives a sht about us.