Early Life and Upbringing
Jihad Naaman was born on April 19, 1949, in the picturesque town of Harissa, nestled in the mountains of Lebanon, overseeing the Mediterranean. Born into a Byzantine/Eastern Christian family, Jihad’s early life was steeped in a rich cultural and intellectual environment. His father, Mitri Naaman, a respected poet and the director of a Byzantine Christian publishing house, instilled in Jihad a deep appreciation for literature and the arts. Jihad’s mother, Angélique, a dedicated homemaker, nurtured a warm and supportive household where Jihad and his five siblings, including two sisters and three brothers, grew up.
The influence of his family’s involvement in publishing and the foreign service was evident in Jihad’s upbringing. Surrounded by clergymen and intellectuals, he developed a keen interest in the humanities and social sciences from a young age. This environment laid the foundation for his diverse and illustrious career in academia and literature.
Education and Early Academic Career
Jihad’s pursuit of knowledge took him beyond the borders of Lebanon to the University of Nancy in France, where he embarked on an extensive academic journey. He earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy in 1975, followed by a Diplôme d’Etudes Supérieures Européennes, a Ph.D. equivalent, in 1978. His dedication to the humanities was further underscored by his Master’s degrees in Modern French Literature (1978) and Social Studies from the Faculty of Law & Economics (1975).
Jihad’s academic career began as an Assistant Professor of Arabic at the Université de Nancy from 1972 to 1975, and he briefly returned to this role in 1990-1991. His unique approach to teaching Arabic, which included voice lessons recorded solely by him since 1972, distinguished him as an innovative educator.
In 1975, Jihad returned to Lebanon and joined the Université Saint-Esprit, Kaslik, where he served as a professor and later as a director of theses. His expertise in comparative civilizations (East/West) and sociology was also sought after at other prestigious institutions, including the Institut Saint Paul pour la philosophie et la théologie in Harissa, the Lebanese State University in Beirut, and the Faculty of Religious Sciences at Université Saint Joseph in Beirut. His commitment to education was further demonstrated through his pro bono work at the Lebanese Military and Naval Academies.
Publications and Intellectual Contributions
Jihad Naaman’s prolific writing career spans both French and Arabic publications, reflecting his deep engagement with a range of intellectual and cultural themes. His notable French works include “Le Freudisme de Marcuse” (1972), “Le Problème de la Connaissance d’après Ibn-Khaldoon” (1975), and “Thoughts” (2018). His Arabic contributions are equally impressive, covering topics from social critique to philosophy and human rights. Among these are “Al-Maaleshia” (1979), “Ibn-Khaldoon and Psychology” (1982), and “Falsafat Al Sawwra” (2021).
Jihad’s intellectual pursuits extended beyond academia. He introduced the Philosophies of the Far East to various Lebanese universities and has contributed over 5000 articles to Lebanese and foreign newspapers since 1965. His cultural and societal impact was recognized internationally, leading to his representation of Lebanon at the European parliament in 1976 and invitations by foreign governments for discussions on cultural and human rights issues.
Personal Life
Jihad’s personal life has been marked by love, loss, and resilience. He married Marie El Khoury on August 10, 1980, and together they welcomed their son, Jade. Marie, a figure of strength and community involvement, passed away on January 15, 2019, after a brave battle with an autoimmune disease. Despite her health challenges, she remained actively involved in her community, various charitable organizations and politics, even running for parliament.
Today, Jihad Naaman continues to be a prolific writer, regularly contributing to newspapers and magazines, primarily in Lebanon. His life’s work reflects a profound commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and the enrichment of cultural and intellectual discourse.
He currently spends his time between Byblos, Lebanon and Round Rock, Texas, with his son’s family.
