An abandoned synagogue in Syria has been reopened by a rabbi who hopes to bring back to life the country’s once-thriving Jewish community under the recently installed new regime.
The Franje shul in the Old City of the capital Damascus was built by Sephardic Jews who had fled Spain after the expulsion in the 15th century.
On Wednesday, it was formally reopened by Rabbi Michael Eilyahu Houry, who told the JC he is seeking to revive Jewish life in Syria.
Inside the synagogue menorahs are damaged but survive[Missing Credit]
The community numbered around 100,000 at the turn of the last century but is now all but extinct, with just seven Jews believed to be left.
The Tunisian rabbi said: “The main reason for my visit to Syria is to help ensure the return of Jews to Syria.”
He says he has the backing of the country’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the former al-Qaeda fighter who has been seemingly rehabilitated as a legitimate politician.
Speaking at the rededication of the synagogue that lies hidden away on a side street in the millennia-old city, Rabbi Houry made what would until recently have an unthinkable claim: “I believe that Jews in Syria would have a very good life. They would be safer here than in Europe.”
Beautifully decorated doors bear Hebrew inscriptions under the stone walls[Missing Credit]
He added: “From a religious point of view, Islam is very close to Judaism. Today, Jews do not feel comfortable in other countries.”
Although the synagogue has stood largely unused for decades, much of the interior has survived intact, with old menorahs, Torah scrolls and psalm books still inside.
Rabbi Houry said: “It was amazing to enter the synagogue and see how beautiful it still is. It’s now been cleaned and is ready for ceremonies.”
Finely carved historic wooden bimah[Missing Credit]
The sizable Jewish community that existed a century ago in Syria was concentrated mainly in Damascus and Aleppo.
That presence steadily eroded following the establishment of Israel. The Jewish population dropped in the subsequent decades against the backdrop of the series of wars between Syria and Israel, and decades of repression under the rule of former dictator Hafez al-Assad.
Over time, the Jewish community all but vanished. In 1992, when Assad lifted long-standing travel restrictions on Jews, thousands left Syria in the years that followed, never to return.
A large Moden Dovid adorns one wall[Missing Credit]
Historic Jewish sites were badly damaged amid the widespread devastation of the civil war of 2011 to 2024, in which a popular revolt ultimately prevailed against the brutal regime of Hafez al-Assad’s son, Bashar,
The toll included the Jobar Synagogue in Damascus, one of the oldest shuls in the world which is said to have been built on the site where the prophet Elijah once hid in a cave. Dating back as far as 720BCE, it was left in ruins after being shelled and looted.
Torah scrolls kept behind a glass case[Missing Credit]
Now Rabbi Houry hopes not only to encourage Jews to return to Syria but also to restore the historic Jewish sites that have been abandoned or destroyed. According to Rabbi Houry, around 30 synagogues remain in Syria.
He said: “We will try to collect donations from everywhere in order to rebuild the Jobar Synagogue. Some synagogues need rehabilitation because they were abandoned for a long time and need some repairs, but we will do our duty to organize the situation of the synagogues and restore their beautiful appearance.”
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Syria has undergone a series of dramatic changes, including the lifting of Western sanctions, the re-establishment of diplomatic ties with the United States and Europe, and the return of refugees from abroad.
Mr al-Sharaa has overseen a remarkable personal transformation. Once he had a bounty on his head, now he is a president welcomed by world leaders.
Yet his forces have also been involved in violent clashes with minority groups over the past year, including Alawites, Druze and Kurds.
While Mr al-Sharaa has pledged that Syria will be inclusive and respectful of minorities, some observers fear that the unrest seen so far may only be the beginning.
Rabbi Michael Eilyahu Houry[Missing Credit]
Rabbi Houry, however, remains confident that Jews will once again be able to return to Syria and live freely under the new leadership.
An American-Jewish delegation recently visited Syria, led by Rabbi Asher Lopatin of the Jewish Federation of Ann Arbor in Michigan. The group visited the National Museum in Damascus to view the Dura-Europos synagogue wall paintings. Dating back to 244 CE, they are thought to be the oldest surviving synagogue art in the world.
He said: “The Syrian government is cooperating very seriously, especially with the Syrian Jews who are here. They are living in Syria in peace and their conditions are very good. The government also welcomes Jews coming from all over the world.”
Rabbi Houry even voiced his hope that Damascus may soon be a signatory to the Abraham Accords: “Of course, when there is peace between Syria and Israel, Jews will feel safer and will be encouraged to live in the country.”
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