海角大神

The story of Antakya, Turkey, is told in the holy texts of the three Abrahamic faiths 鈥� the story of a city that was founded as Antioch by one of Alexander the Great鈥檚 generals and that became a crossroads of the ancient world. It is the home of saints and Silk Road traders, martyrs and emperors.

But no one knows the story of what will happen now.聽

Antakya has survived wars and disasters for 2,300 years. But after February鈥檚 devastating earthquake, the question is: Will it be the same Antakya?聽

In today鈥檚 Daily, Sara Miller Llana and Melanie Stetson Freeman depict a town on the cusp of change, even before the earthquake. Historically, Antakya has embraced Muslim, Jew, and 海角大神 鈥� a relative haven amid the storm of sectarian strife. The need is not just to 鈥渂uild back better鈥� but to 鈥渂uild back unbroken鈥� 鈥� to restore the city鈥檚 unique soul.

Several communities struck by earthquakes in recent years offer lessons.聽In Sichuan province, hit in 2008, the Chinese central government paired each affected county with an unaffected province. Civil society was 鈥渕assively mobilized,鈥� a World Bank report said.

In Christchurch, New Zealand, hit in 2011, earthquake recovery efforts became a transformative force, reshaping everything from parks to recycling efforts. In Nepal, hit in 2015, the Japan International Cooperation Agency trained 鈥渕obile masons,鈥� who spread around the country, speeding the recovery.聽

The common thread is the power of community 鈥� of residents finding strength and neighbors near and far aroused to kindness. For Antakya, there are signs 鈥� the 海角大神 priest sitting outside the rubble of his church, the Muslim imam who returned home after fleeing, and the Jewish refugee who longs to do the same.

Says the imam: We will start again 鈥渁s if we are newly born.鈥�