Key Points:
- Appeal to Lift Sanctions on Syria:
- A group of American Jews, including Henry Hamra, who fled Syria decades ago, appealed to the White House to lift sanctions on Syria.
- They argue that sanctions hinder the restoration of ancient synagogues and the rebuilding of Syria’s Jewish community.
- Concerns Over Jewish Heritage:
- Henry Hamra, who fled Damascus in the 1990s, expressed concern about the deteriorating condition of Syria’s Jewish heritage, including synagogues and cemeteries.
- In December, Hamra and his father, Rabbi Yusuf Hamra, visited Syria for the first time in decades to assess the situation.
- Efforts to Restore Jewish Landmarks:
- The Hamras briefed US State Department officials and the White House about plans to restore Syria’s Jewish landmarks.
- Mouaz Moustafa, executive director of the Syrian American Task Force, joined their efforts, advocating for lifting sanctions to enable investment in Syria’s reconstruction.
- Decline of Syria’s Jewish Community:
- Syria’s Jewish community, once numbering 100,000 in the early 20th century, has dwindled to just seven known members in Damascus due to decades of conflict and displacement.
- The civil war since 2011 has destroyed many historical sites, including the Jobar synagogue, which Hamra visited.
- Call for U.S. Support:
- The group urged the U.S. government to lift sanctions to facilitate restoration efforts and revive Syria’s Jewish community, drawing parallels to Morocco’s thriving Jewish presence in a Muslim-majority country.
The appeal by Syrian-American Jews to lift U.S. sanctions on Syria highlights the urgent need to preserve and restore one of the world’s oldest Jewish communities and its cultural heritage. With Syria’s Jewish population nearly extinct and historical sites in ruins, the group seeks international support to rebuild and revive their heritage. Their efforts underscore the potential for cultural restoration to contribute to broader stability and reconciliation in war-torn Syria.
