Stories and memories with Tamima Salam, a symbol of modesty and sophistication from the Golden Age of Lebanon

I knew her since my childhood, as a lifelong friendship of many years brought together the late Prime Minister of Lebanon, Saeb Salam, and my father, Badih Serbey.

The relationship between them was not that of a politician and a journalist - as my father was the owner and editor-in-chief of the political magazine "Kol Shay", which was one of the most prominent political magazines in Lebanon and the Arab world - but rather it was a relationship of friendship, love and trust.

From here, the relationship between them was familial, and this is how I got to know the beloved late lady Tamima, the wife of the leader Saeb Salam. The truth is that my mother, Nadia Salam, and the late Tamima Salam became friends since they met, and their friendship continued for fifty years, which allowed me to get to know the beloved late lady closely. My many memories with her proved to me how this lady is a mass of warm feelings adorned with good morals and respect, fortified by principles, and adhering to the finest traditions of daughters of noble families.

Although she was the wife of a political leader who was one of the most important leaders of Lebanon, one of the men of Lebanon’s independence and one of the most prominent men of political struggle, she was keen to always be in his shadow, supporting him by building the pillars of love and stability in his family.

She was a symbol of modesty. She was never dazzled by the temptations of power. Rather, she was indifferent to all the privileges of power, the glitter of fame, and the hustle and bustle of social life, because she considered that the most important role, in addition to being the wife of a political leader, was to be a successful wife and a caring mother.

Regarding her disinterest in the privileges of power, my mother tells me that the late Saeb Salam was once officially invited to visit Cairo, as he was the Prime Minister of Lebanon. He preceded her to Cairo, accompanied by my father, Badih Serbey, who was his advisor. They agreed that Mrs. Tamima would travel to Cairo two days after him, and my mother was with her on her trip. When Mrs. Tamima arrived at the airport, she refused to have the VIP lounge opened for her, and sat in the lounge for ordinary passengers, without the pomp of formalities that did not concern her.

Another memory I still have of this lady's spontaneity and kindness.

When Saeb Salam left Lebanon and settled in France, he invited my father and I to lunch at a house where he was staying in Montfort-l'Amaury . I took my camera and photographed the modesty of Mrs. "Tamima" as she helped herself to set the table.

When Saeb Salam moved to Geneva, my father used to visit him frequently as he was writing his memoirs in which he recounts eras of Lebanon’s history. Once, we were invited to lunch at their home in Geneva and I saw how Mrs. Tamima was concerned about her husband and surrounded him with all manifestations of love despite their long years of marriage.

They were an example of a couple who went through life together, with its ups and downs, and love continued to overshadow their lives. I remember that day that we sat at the table to eat lunch and the main dish was Kibbeh bil-Sinniyeh. Because the doctor had given instructions that President Salam’s food should be without salt, all the food was without salt, even for the guests. I tasted the kibbeh and I remember at the time that its taste was fragrant with the flavor of love that Mrs. Tamima surrounded herself with...

With every meeting I had with her, I became more convinced of what a special lady she was.

After my father's departure, and after the departure of Saeb Salam, there were many meetings between her and my mother, and the meeting was daily at six in the evening. They would meet on the upper road of the "Ramlet al-Baida" Corniche on Beirut's beach, to practice walking.

In 2005, I was involved in a car accident that left me bedridden with broken ribs. During my recovery period, they insisted that I accompany them on their daily outings, which would begin with the late beloved distributing gardenias to us, which she had picked from her garden, and then our outing would begin. She would talk about everything from politics to the country and its concerns. Every morning, she would read the newspapers in all her elegance, careful to wear her white pearl earrings, leafing through the newspapers and reading about everything that was going on in the country.

On our daily outing, the three of us would walk side by side. Once, I saw her running quickly to carry a stone that was in the middle of the road, so I told her to hold on so I could help her. She moved it before me or her driver could help her, saying: The stone must be moved so that no one stumbles over it. Humility, morals, this is the “Peace Amulet.”

In the winter, when she used to meet with my mother in the living room of her house, I used to see her knitting woolen sweaters. When I asked her who she was knitting these clothes for, she told me that she was giving them to orphans...

This is a delicate, sophisticated "peace charm" that does not care about the trappings of power and influence, so that it can live in a world of love, tranquility, and family tenderness.

The last time I met her was when Tammam Salam became Prime Minister. It was natural for my mother and I to go to congratulate him. Her health had begun to fail, as had her memory, so she did not receive well-wishers and remained in her house on the upper floor of the “Salam” house in Musaytbeh. But my mother said to the distinguished lady “Lama,” the wife of Prime Minister Tammam Salam:

- For fifty years I have been coming to this house, and my beloved “Tamima” has always welcomed me with a smile. How can I be in this house today and not meet her?

Then Mrs. Lama said: I know how close your friendship is, and you should definitely meet her, because she will be happy to see you. We actually went upstairs and she was in full elegance. She said: Hello Nadia, how are you and your daughters? She sat quietly with the newspapers in front of her. We exchanged some conversations and were happy that she still remembered us and our love for her, so I said to her:

- We are here to congratulate you because your son Tamam has become Prime Minister.

She smiled and said, "Prime Minister, may God help him..."

Indeed, may God help Prime Minister Salam as he navigates the ship of government amidst the turbulent waves of political forces and the forces of corruption.

May God have mercy on the beloved Tamima Salam, she was a distinguished woman in a time of beautiful sophistication.