A momentous return: Syrian-Jewish Americans revive prayer in Damascus historic Synagogue

Damascus’s Ancient Synagogue Echoes with Prayer Again After Decades of Silence

On Tuesday, a delegation of Syrian-Jewish Americans, led by Rabbi Yosef Hamra, 77, returned to the historic synagogue. It was the first time in over 30 years that prayers filled the ancient sanctuary, symbolizing hope for a community that had been nearly wiped out by decades of repression and conflict.

Rabbi Hamra, who was the last rabbi to leave Syria in the 1990s during the mass exodus that saw the Jewish population in Damascus shrink from 5,000 to just seven elderly residents, returned to the synagogue with his son and other Syrian Jews who had relocated to the United States. Their return, unimaginable just months ago, was made possible with the blessing of Syria's transitional government under the leadership of Ahmad al-Sharaa.

“The last time I visited the synagogue here and prayed was before I traveled to America,” Rabbi Hamra shared with Reuters. “After arriving in Damascus two days ago, I came to pray for the first time… after 34 years.” His emotional return to the Faranj Synagogue is a powerful reminder of the Jewish community's deep roots in the region, which have been severely diminished by decades of oppression and war.

Under Hafez al-Assad’s rule, Syria’s Jewish population faced immense restrictions. They were forbidden from leaving the country until 1992, after which an exodus began, resulting in a sharp decline in the community. The outbreak of civil war in 2011 further decimated the Jewish presence, leading to the closure and looting of synagogues across the country, including the famed synagogue in Jobar.

However, with the fall of Assad’s regime in December and the establishment of Syria’s transitional government, there is now a glimmer of hope for the return of the Jewish community. Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmad Badrieh has extended formal invitations for Syrian Jews to come back, offering a sense of restoration for the long-suffering community.

Bakhour Chamntoub, a community leader, expressed his joy at the synagogue’s reopening, saying, “I want to see my kids come back and see this beautiful synagogue. It’s a work of art. For nearly 40 years, I haven’t prayed with others. The feeling is indescribable.”

The prayers of Syrian Jews once again resonate in a synagogue that has withstood the trials of time, offering hope for a future where the community’s presence in Syria can be revived.