Prominent NY Arab Community leader, Ahmad Jaber dies at 73

One of the most prominent Muslim and Arab leaders in Brooklyn, Dr. Ahmad Jaber, has died after a battle with liver cancer.

Jaber founded a number of community-based organizations and masjids after surviving loss and poverty.

While announcing the death on Thursday December 10, 2020, Council Member Justin Brannan said, “It’s hard to imagine a Bay Ridge without Dr. Jaber. His arrival in this neighborhood in 1975 started a ripple effect that lasted for generations.”

Brannan affirmed that the late Jaber did so much to establish the Arab community. “But he also did so much for his fellow neighbors of all backgrounds,” Brannan said.

“Whenever I needed advice or guidance or wanted to reach out to the community, he greeted me with open arms.

“He was a bridge-builder. A benefactor. A man of faith and compassion.

“He was a giant whose reputation preceded him, but his humility was unmatched. He is irreplaceable, but his constant investment in the generations after him will continue to reap enormous benefits for our city, state, and country,” he added.

Jaber, who died at 73, impacted the lives of many people.

He was an OBGYN and personally delivered over 5,000 babies. He was Muslim and his faith was at the forefront of everything he did. He was the founder of the Al-Noor Islamic School, Beit Al-Maqdis Islamic Center, the Brooklyn Heights Interfaith Clergy Association, the National Arab-American Medical Association, and the Arab American Association of NY. He helped establish the prayer room at Lutheran Medical Center.

Brannan noted that Jaber left a lasting impact on the community.

“We spoke to people who loved him and knew him best. But, we also listened to Dr. Jaber himself. In 2018, he spoke for two hours recording his oral history with Liz Strong for the Brooklyn Historical Society’s Muslims in Brooklyn oral history project.

“You can listen to Dr. Jaber tell you his own extraordinary story in his own words here—two hours which are worth listening to.

Three days ago, Dr. Jaber posted on Facebook letting everyone know that he was diagnosed with liver cancer in April 2019. Since then, he had undergone various tests and treatments including immunotherapy, internal radiation, surgery to stabilize the spine, and external radiation to limit the spread. He said that he feels the disease is continuing to progress,” he said.

Brannan quoted Jaber, “I hesitated to write this post because I am not a big fan of social media. I also don’t want to cause any stress to anyone or beg for your prayers because I truly believe in destiny and God’s will. Nothing will happen to us except what God has ordained for us and whatever calamity afflicts us is written in a book before you are born.”

“Nobody lives or leaves this earth except by the acceptance or approval of Allah. So please do not fill my page with prayers, but instead, keep these wishes between you and your deity, and do not post it on Facebook. The best supplications are those that are unseen and kept in secret.”

He then encouraged people that knew him to share stories about him.

“A funny anecdote, a first impression, anything at all – I invite you to share it here, so that we may all reminisce about fonder times,” he wrote. “I am excited to hear all your wonderful stories so they may be cherished. God willing, they will reinvigorate my spirit and provide some enjoyment to all who read them.”

While expressing his condolences, Eric Adams said, “Brooklyn mourns the loss of Dr. Ahmad Jaber, founder and chair of Arab American Association of New York.”

He added that Jaber was a truly good man who was a pillar in our Arab and Muslim communities.

“I was honored to share a close relationship with him. May his memory be eternal, in Bay Ridge and beyond,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

Also expressing condolences over Jaber’s death, NYPD Muslim Society’s wrote in a statement, “Extremely sad to learn about the death of Dr. Jaber a great person, a well recognized leader.”

The statement adds that Jaber was integral part of many organizations around the city and always supported the community.

Dr. Jaber was born in a small village in Palestine called Yamoun on June 5th, 1947. When he was three years old, his father died. Dr. Jaber was the fourth child in his family, with two older brothers, one older sister, and one younger sister. They were raised by their dedicated mother who was often teased about raising her kids on her own. She used to tell them, “You will see, tomorrow, I’ll be called the mother — the mother of the teacher.” And soon enough, she was called the mother of the doctor.