Bell-making in Beit Chabeb
Lebanon is the only country in the Middle East that owns a factory for making bells, specifically in Beit Chabeb. The history of bell-making in this village dates back to the early 18th century, when a Russian engineer arrived in Lebanon to build a bell for the Mar Abda church in Bickfaya, which at the time was attached to Beit-Chabeb. The engineer needed a young man with expertise in metalworking, and hired Youssef Ghrobril (Joseph Gabriel). The latter helped the Russian during the day, and at night repeated the same work at home. When the Mar Abda bell was finished, so was the other bell. The villagers were amazed and delighted at Youssef’s completion, exclaiming: “Youssef nafaa (useful)”, and so Youssef Ghobril became Youssef Naffah. Since then, the know-how has been handed down from father to son. This monopoly was preserved for a long time by the same family, which forbade its members to divulge the secret, especially when they married “foreigners”.
Between 1700 and 1900, ten bell workshops were established in Beit Chabeb. But unfortunately, during the Great Famine (1915-1918), many craftsmen left the village and others died. After the Second World War in 1940, only 2 workshops remained. Between 1700 and 1900, ten bell workshops were established in Beit Chabeb. But unfortunately, during the Great Famine (1915-1918), many craftsmen left the village and others died. After the Second World War in 1940, only 2 workshops remained. Today, there is just one bell founder in Beit Chabeb, who intends to pass on his skills to his young children.
First, the craftsman begins to create the inner and outer molds to shape the bell. For each bell under construction, a new mold is created. The molding material used consists of clay and goat’s hair (the goat’s hair prevents the mold from cracking); this composition withstands very high temperatures. Once the molds are dry, the craftsman fires a furnace and melts an alloy composed of 78% copper and 22% tin. This alloy is melted at 1200°C.
Before letting the mixture flow into the molds, he blesses the bell and prays that no mistakes will be made, otherwise all the work of forty days will go up in smoke. A ladle is used, either by hand or with the aid of a hoist, to retrieve the bronze from the furnace and pour it into the mold.
About two hours later, once the mixture has cooled, the molds are destroyed, revealing the bronze bell which will be engraved with the “Naffah et fils” trademark, then transformed into a piece of art ready to adorn the steeple of a new church.
The bells can weigh between 60 and 250 kilos. These bells are sold mainly in Arab countries: Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and in diaspora countries (France, Australia, Canada and the USA).
In Beit Chabeb, a village of eighteen bell towers, heralding joy, sorrow and disaster, bellmaking refers to a particular identity that of know-how transmitted in the Naffah family from generation to generation since the 18th century. The sense of identity and continuity, linking the past, present and future (if it persists), consolidates the village community’s allegiance to the Christian religion.