Once a thriving part of Syria’s cultural and social fabric, the Jewish community in Syria has nearly disappeared.
Before 1947, Syria was home to around 30,000 Jews, divided into three distinct communities, each with its own unique traditions: the Kurdish-speaking Jews of Qamishli, the Sephardic Jews of Aleppo with roots tracing back to Spain, and the Musta’arabi Jews of Damascus, believed to be the region’s original Eastern Jewish population.
The vibrant centres of Jewish life in Aleppo, known in Hebrew as Aram Tzova, and Damascus were emblematic of a deep, historical presence.
However, following the Nakba in 1948, which saw the displacement and massacres of Palestinians during the establishment of the state of Israel, Syrian Jews began to leave the country. The resulting regional tensions led to a mass exodus of Jews from the Middle East.
In Syria, the Jewish population dwindled to fewer than 5,000, as most fled to Israel and other countries. By the time the Syrian revolution erupted in 2011, only a small number of Jews remained in the country. In October 2015, the last of Aleppo’s Jewish families emigrated to Israel, marking the end of a centuries-old chapter for Syria’s Jewish community.
Today, the story of Syrian Jews is largely one of diaspora, with the majority of the community now residing in the United States, Israel, and Latin America.
‘My life is here’
George Dabdoub, one of the last remaining Syrian Jews and owner of one of Damascus’s oldest antique shops, recently told The New Arab (TNA) that Syria continues to be a “safe place for Jews.”
Currently, estimates suggest that between 3 and 20 Jews remain in Syria, with George indicating that the most recent count is closer to eight, most of whom are elderly.
While many chose to leave, George stayed in Syria throughout the Syrian uprising and the subsequent war.
He explained that Syria is his home, and he feels comfortable there. “I have my work here, my life is here, and I am happy here. I have no reason to leave. I feel safe here; I have had no problems,” he shared with TNA.
He added that despite the turmoil in recent years, he has managed to maintain his livelihood and stay connected to his roots. In saying this, George shared that other Syrian Jews have left in search of better opportunities abroad and acknowledges that the war has taken its toll on everyone, not just his community.
Discussing the political changes in his country, especially following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, George noted that these shifts have not brought any significant changes to his life or to the remaining Jewish community.
“We have not noticed any significant change for us. I do not feel afraid, and I have no issues in my daily life,” he said.
In conclusion, George stated that he has no intention of leaving Syria anytime soon.
Challenges faced
Weighing in is Bachour Shamantob, a businessman who owns a clothing factory and trades in properties and gold. He has become the unofficial leader of Syria’s Jewish residents.
Born in Syria in 1960, Bachour has lived there his entire life, witnessing decades of change and upheaval. Despite the exodus of most Syrian Jews, he chose to stay and has taken on the role of preserving what remains of the dwindling community.
“I stayed in Syria because I am happy. My situation is good,” Bachour told TNA. “But of course, we face certain challenges, such as the lack of kosher meat. We haven’t tasted meat in 10 years because there are no kosher butchers left in Syria.”
He added, “Life was difficult for the Jews in Syria in the 70s under Hafez al-Assad, and there were some instances of harassment.”
Elaborating further, Bachour explained that Jews were barred from owning property and faced restrictions on movement, adding that popular recreational areas like Bloudan and Latakia were off-limits.
“Among the other restrictions we faced was that we were forbidden to meet with any soldier,” he explained.
Bachour also noted that most Jews left due to the restrictive policies and pressures of the time, but noted that the situation improved in the 90s when an agreement between Syria and the United States allowed Syrian Jews to emigrate, a freedom they had not previously had.
“The Jews didn’t believe in their freedom in Syria back then,” he recalled. “They left Syria within about a year of the agreement.”
Navigating a new Syria
Despite the challenges, Bachour told TNA that one positive aspect was the freedom to practice their religion. “We were able to pray and worship peacefully, without any disturbance or harassment. The authorities ensured our safety by stationing a security guard at each synagogue to protect us from any potential threats.”
For Bachour, life has improved under the new interim government, despite concerns about the safety of minorities in Syria and fears that the new Islamic ruling party may not offer adequate protection.
“Of course, the new government is much better,” he said. “There is complete freedom in buying and selling, dealing in dollars, and everything has become cheaper.”
Looking ahead, Bachour remains hopeful for a revival.
“The only future for Syrian Jews is for those who left to return. They are waiting to see what happens, but they shouldn’t hesitate,” he said.
[Cover photo: Jewish men in the courtyard of al-Firenj Synagogue, Damascus, Syria, 14 April 1994]
Salwa Amor is an independent documentary maker. Most recently she was one of the producers of the award-winning BBC Panorama two-part series Children of Syria
