Michel Khalil GEHA  was an important pillar in the early days of the Orient Institute Beirut, founded in 1961. He was one of the very first researchers at the OIB, who has since then continuously supported it, especially the library, as well as researchers, with his wealth of knowledge and energy.

Michel Geha was born in Beirut in 1930 and moved to Germany in 1957, where he submitted 1961 his doctoral dissertation "The Arabic Dialect of Bishmizzin" in Münster. His dissertation was published in 1964 as the first volume of the OIB series Beiruter Texte und Studien. Michel Geha is well-known for his work on Arabic literature, Lebanese history and the Nahda. In 2008, Michel Geha published his monumental work on the Short Story in Lebanon with the OIB and the Lebanese University (Short Story in Lebanon. Biographies and Texts), Beirut 2008).

At our 60th anniversary in December 2021, we had the pleasure to honor him for his many years of support, friendship and longstanding loyalty.

Michel Geha passed away on January 7, 2022. The Institute and all its employees will always remember him.