The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/syrian-jews/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:48:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Syrian Jews | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/syrian-jews/ 32 32 Five arrested as Syria says it foiled Hezbollah-linked plot to kill Damascus rabbi https://www.timesofisrael.com/five-arrested-as-syria-says-it-foiled-hezbollah-linked-plot-to-kill-damascus-rabbi/ Sat, 11 Apr 2026 21:59:53 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3799834 Ministry says suspects tried to plant bomb next to target's home, adds they 'received specialized military training abroad'; Syria source: Act shows Jewish community being protected

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]]> Syrian authorities release Jewish antiquities dealer, dismiss charges against him https://www.timesofisrael.com/syrian-authorities-release-jewish-antiquities-dealer-dismiss-charges-against-him/ Mon, 29 Dec 2025 20:54:03 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3722778 Salim Hamadani, one of a handful of Jews remaining in the country, was falsely accused of illegal trading, activist says, held for 20 days

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]]> In historic housing deal, American Jews buy two full apartment buildings in Jerusalem https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-historic-housing-deal-american-jews-buy-two-full-apartment-buildings-in-jerusalem/ Thu, 25 Dec 2025 02:34:33 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3719177 Some 200 apartments are being marketed to Syrian Jewish community in New York area, in sale believed to be worth around NIS 1 billion ($270 million)

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]]> Syria permits Jewish group to begin work on returning seized assets, restoring holy sites https://www.timesofisrael.com/syria-permits-group-to-restore-jewish-property-seized-under-previous-regimes/ Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:07:27 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?post_type=liveblog_entry&p=3709293 Son of Syrian rabbi meets with social affairs minister in Damascus, tours father's former synagogue; two Israeli rabbis reportedly visit closed synagogues in Aleppo

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]]> Syria selects members of first post-Assad parliament in vote panned as undemocratic https://www.timesofisrael.com/syria-selects-members-of-first-post-assad-parliament-in-vote-panned-as-undemocratic/ Sun, 05 Oct 2025 21:23:26 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3657142 Assembly's formation expected to consolidate power of al-Sharaa, who appoints a third of the new lawmakers; Jewish candidate vying for seat for first time since 1940s

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]]> Henry Hamra, a Syrian Jew living in US, running in elections for new Syrian parliament https://www.timesofisrael.com/henry-hamra-a-syrian-jew-living-in-us-running-in-elections-for-new-syrian-parliament/ Fri, 03 Oct 2025 15:35:48 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?post_type=liveblog_entry&p=3655617 If victorious in Sunday vote, the nephew of Syria's last chief rabbi who fled to US with his father in 1992, pledges to work with US Syrians to abolish law levying sanctions on Damascus

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]]> 11 members of Syrian Jewish community in NY attend meeting with visiting President Sharaa https://www.timesofisrael.com/11-members-of-syrian-jewish-community-in-ny-meet-with-visiting-president-sharaa/ Mon, 22 Sep 2025 10:58:09 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3647945 'One offered to donate $100,000 to help rebuild Syria. The president laughed and said it wasn't enough,' says US-based Syrian Jewish businessman who was present; Israel was not discussed

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]]> After years of war, world’s oldest synagogue paintings seen intact in Damascus https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-years-of-war-worlds-oldest-synagogue-paintings-found-intact-in-damascus/ Sat, 20 Sep 2025 00:18:32 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3646321 Dispelling fears for their fate, Dura-Europos synagogue wall paintings shown to Jewish visitors including academic Jill Joshowitz and ToI editor David Horovitz at Syria's national museum

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]]> 48 surreal hours in Damascus — an Israeli reporter’s travelogue from an enemy capital https://www.timesofisrael.com/48-surreal-hours-in-damascus-an-israeli-reporters-travelogue-from-an-enemy-capital/ Fri, 19 Sep 2025 08:16:18 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3642552 I had no idea what to expect from a visit to Syria, accompanying a US Jewish group to holy sites and meetings with Sharaa government officials. I found a nation poised between healing and fresh chaos, reaching out to its former Jews, and aware that these are fateful moments for its destiny

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]]> In Damascus’ abandoned Jewish Quarter, final 5 Jews want to flee as expats yearn to return https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-damascus-abandoned-jewish-quarter-final-5-jews-want-to-flee-as-expats-yearn-to-return/ Thu, 04 Sep 2025 07:24:16 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3633490 A tour of the former hub of Syrian Jewry reveals a dim domestic view in stark contrast to that of the community's diaspora, who see glimmers of hope in the new post-war government

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]]> Desecration of 17th-century rabbi’s Damascus tomb tests new Syria’s tolerance https://www.timesofisrael.com/desecration-of-17th-century-rabbis-damascus-tomb-tests-tolerance-of-new-syria/ Tue, 29 Apr 2025 03:40:07 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3536810 Authorities commit to investigating after unknown perpetrators dig up burial site of Rabbi Chaim Vital amid push by country’s new leadership to shed Islamist image

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]]> Bucking stereotypes and fighting hatred, a Syrian Jewish ex-refugee lights up Instagram https://www.timesofisrael.com/bucking-stereotypes-and-fighting-hatred-a-syrian-jewish-ex-refugee-lights-up-instagram/ Mon, 17 Mar 2025 01:39:47 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3488514 An immigration lawyer by day, New Yorker Abraham Hamra has gained over 59,000 followers using his fluent Hebrew and Arabic to bridge gaps with adversaries and counter misinformation

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]]> US Jews from Syria ask White House to lift sanctions so they can rebuild in Damascus https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-jews-from-syria-ask-white-house-to-lift-sanctions-so-they-can-rebuild-in-damascus/ Sun, 09 Mar 2025 11:27:58 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3498953 Only seven Jews believed to remain in Syrian capital, once one of the world's largest Jewish communities; New York family seeks to rebuild destroyed synagogues

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]]> ‘Excited Jews are coming back’: US Jewish group receives warm welcome in Syria https://www.timesofisrael.com/excited-jews-are-coming-back-us-jewish-group-receives-warm-welcome-in-syria/ Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:05:30 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3488028 Delegation of American Jews visits Damascus for first time since Assad regime's fall, finding hospitality but Jewish sites in disrepair

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]]> Son of last Syrian chief rabbi urges new leader Sharaa to restore Jewish community https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-rabbi-urges-new-syrian-leader-to-restore-preserve-countrys-jewish-community/ Mon, 06 Jan 2025 16:15:49 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3453905 Binyamin Hamra, rabbi of Syrian community in Israel, writes Sharaa that toppling Assad was 'historical move due to God's providence,' protection of Jewish sites his religious duty

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