Jacques Romano now lives in Canada, but will never forget his hometown • "This is a sad day for all the Jews who lived in Beirut" • "This is a disaster that destroyed the city"

• "It's an unbearable thing." Jacques Romano, a former Lebanese Jew currently living in Canada

Jews lived in Lebanon for many years alongside members of other religions who lived in the country. Over time and after the establishment of the State of Israel, the status of the Jewish community, of which many of its members were wealthy, was undermined - and they left their homeland.

Rescue trapped alive from rubble in Beirut

Some moved to Israel, others to North America in general and Canada in particular. One of the members of the Jewish community who left his hometown is Jacques Romano, who over the years has lived in both Israel and the United States. "This is a very sad day for all the Lebanese Jews who once lived in the Switzerland of the Middle East - Lebanon," he tells Israel Today about the city that was hit by an explosion in the seaport. The reports and sights from the city where he grew up make it very difficult for him: "Seeing what happened in Beirut, especially for innocent people, is an unbearable thing. It is a disaster that has destroyed the city."

The scenes of destruction in the Lebanese capital remind him of another great trauma, one from North America - those of the 9/11 attacks in New York. "It bothers me so much that I can't find the words to express my deep sorrow and that I can't share my beautiful memories of the country that was once my home," he says.

More on this topic:

• "The explosion - like a nuclear bomb": 100 killed in Beirut, almost 4,000 wounded

• The dimensions of destruction in Beirut are revealed; Documentation - A person is rescued from the rubble after 18 hours

Hiroshima in Beirut: The apocalyptic explosion in the Lebanese capital is a sub-reality event

Romano notes that he is proud of his past and his roots planted in Beirut. "Although I currently live in Canada and have previously lived in Israel and the United States, I will never forget the city where I was born," he concludes. "I am a Lebanese Jew and I am proud of that."

More than 100 people were killed and more than 4,000 people were injured in an explosion last night in Beirut. Due to the great destruction in the Lebanese capital, the local government has declared a two-week state of emergency. The damage from the blast is estimated at between six and eight billion dollars. Israel, along with other countries, offered its help.