I think the fact that father was a very well-known Arab scholar, not only Lebanon, but in the Arab world,

sort of helped push the idea that the street should be named after the family.

In recognition, I mean, this was sort of honoring the Magdisi family.

Welcome to another episode of the Makdisi Street podcast.

My name is Usama and I'm here as always with my two brothers, Karim and Sadi.

And we have a very special guest today, our father, Dr. Samir Makhdisi, a professor emeritus at the American University of Beirut

and also a man who's lived his entire life

working in public service and an education,

trying to sort of create a better Lebanon.

And here we are in 2025, and I guess the first question

we wanted to ask our father is that what is the history

of Makhtisi Street, the actual street?

Can you tell us a little bit about the history of this street?

Well, if I recall correctly, I think this was discussed between my father and my uncle, Julius,

that since the Makdisi family has been living in on Jan Dark Street for a long time,

and then the street adjacent to the John Draug Street was called the Magdisi Street.

They thought that they would request, or the municipality requested, decided that it should be called the Magdisi Street in honor,

honoring the Magdisi for money in Ras Beirut.

And just for our listeners who don't know what Ras Beirut is or what Ras Beirut signifies,

what does Ras Beirut mean in the history of Beirut,

obviously contemporary Beirut, 20th century Beirut.

What does it, if you say Ras Beirut,

...