Figure 1.-- Here Jewish boys (notice thete are no girls) are demonstrating in favor of Hafez al-Assad ( حافظ الأسد‎ ) for reelection. Of course there were no real elections in Syria, only show elections. Assad served as president of Syria from 1971 to 2000. It was like Sadam's Iraq a Bathist dictatorship. At the time, without a police state, there probably would have been terrible attacks on the small remaining Jewish cpmmunity remaining in Syria. Given the way Jews were treated in Syria, the boys' enthusism may seem strange, but at the time Assad was losening restrictions on Jewish immigration. The press caption read, "Syrian Jewish children hold aloft posters of Syrian president Hafez al-Assad during a rally at Damascus 29 Nov [1991] to support the candidiacy of the Syrian president for his reelection."

We have seen different asswssments concerning the number of Jews in Syria, rangunbg around 15,000-40,000. The Jewish community enjoyed only a brief respite from Vichy persecution. France granted Syria independence (1946). This mean that French law which recognized no dufference in relgion was replaced by majority Arab rule. The Arab officials who took control included many secuarists, but even so they had generally negative attitudes towards Jews and Zionism in neigboring Palestine. They also understood the anti-Semetic attitudes of much of the population. Violent attacks on Jews escalated. Boycotts were called for in Mosques on Jewish businesses. Anti-Jewish laws and regulations soon followed. The Syrian government immediately banned Jewish immigration to Palestine. The penlties for trying to reach Paslestine included death penalty or imprisonment at hard labor. The Government began resticting the teaching of Hebrew in Jewish schools. The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, which involved an independent Israel outraged the Arab population (1947). Old fashioned Arab pogroms resulted, the attacks in Damascus and Aleppo were particularly bloody. And unlike Ottoman and French authorities, the new Syrian Government officals were not all that interested in controling the violence. The Aleppo pogrom staggered the Jewish community. It left 75 Jews murdered and hundreds injured. More thsn 200 Jewish homes, shops, and synagogues were destroyed. Authorities did not procecute those responsible for the violence. Syrian Jews began emigrating in the thousands. Many illegally crossed the border into Palestine, especially after the First Arab-Israeli War broke out and they had open aid from the Israelis (1948). Violent attacks on Jews continued in Syria. Arab terrorists launched a grenade attack on the Menarsha synagogue in Damascus (August 1949). The attackers killed 12 people and injuring dozens.

Population

We have seen different asswssments concerning the number of Jews in Syria, ranging around 15,000-40,000 at the time of independnce.

First Years (1946-48)

The Jewish community enjoyed only a brief respite from Vichy persecution. France granted Syria independence (1946). This mean that French law which recognized no dufference in relgion was replaced by majority Arab rule. The Arab officials who took control included many secuarists, but even so they had generally negative attitudes towards Jews and Zionism in neigboring Palestine. They also understood the anti-Semetic attitudes of much of the population. Violent attacks on Jews escalated. Boycotts were called for in Mosques on Jewish businesses. Anti-Jewish laws and regulations soon followed. The Syrian government immediately banned Jewish immigration to Palestine. The penlties for trying to reach Paslestine included death penalty or imprisonment at hard labor. The Government began resticting the teaching of Hebrew in Jewish schools.

First Arab-Israeli War (1948-49)

The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, which involved an independent Israel outraged the Arab population (1947). Old fashioned Arab pogroms resulted, the attacks in Damascus and Aleppo were particularly bloody. And unlike Ottoman and French authorities, the new Syrian Government officals were not all that interested in controling the violence. The Aleppo pogrom staggered the Jewish community. It left 75 Jews murdered and hundreds injured. More thsn 200 Jewish homes, shops, and synagogues were destroyed. Authorities did not procecute those responsible for the violence. Syrian Jews began emigrating in the thousands. Many illegally crossed the border into Palestine, especially after the First Arab-Israeli War broke out and they had open aid from the Israelis (1948). Violent attacks on Jews continued in Syria. Arab terrorists launched a grenade attack on the Menarsha synagogue in Damascus (August 1949). The attackers killed 12 people and injuring dozens. Israel declared independence (May 1948). A coalition of Arab states invaded Israel launching the First Arab-Israei War. Syria joined the coalittion Syria had only a small arnmy, but they were better euipped than th Israelis. The major threat to Israel was the substantial Egyptin Army. And the Syrian invaion in the north meant that the Israels could not concentrate its forces in the siouth gainst Egyopt. The Syrian Army invaded the Galilee (now northern Israel). The U.N. Partion plan had split the Galilee between a Jewish and Arab stste. The Israelis managed to stop the Syrian Army and push them back into the Golan Heights where the cease fire line ould be drawn. As in other areas, the Arabs would up with less land than they would have had had they not launchged the War. And more important for the Palestinisns, no Palestinin state was created. Egypt, Jordan, and Syria annexed the areas pf Palestine tht they had occupied.

First Truce Era (1949-66)

Syrian Jews to emigrate to Israel and oyther countries. Direct emmigtation to Israel had to be don sureptuiusly. The same kind of exodus occurred throughout the Arab world. Syria did not not officially expell its Jewish population, but after the 1947 pogroms most Jews began to realize there was no future for them in Syria. Despite the laws agains immigrating to Israel and draconin punihments, many crossed the border illegally. The Govrnment instituted many restrictive ant-Semetic laws and regulations. Any remining Jews were dismissed fron the civil service and barrd pemsnently. Jews were not pemitted to own telephones or driver’s licenses. They were prohibuted from purchasing oproperty. The fudamntal anti-Semitic policy of the Syrian Government was clear when it protected Alois Brunner, an aide to Holocaust architect Adolf Eichmann. It was Brunner who commanded the Drancy Concentration Camp in Paris. He would die in Syria (probably 2001). For a time it was relstively eay to get to Israel. Lebanonese officils allowed Syrian Jews pass through to Israel. This was no longe possibkle when Syrian officils began seizing the passports of Jes. Lebanon did not allow anyone to pass through its territory without the poropriate travel documents. Another 5,000 Syrian Jews reached Israel (1948-61). Many Syrian Jews also emigrated to Lebanon which did not have such repressive laws. Some were deported back to Syria when the Syrian Governmnt complained. The Jews in Lebanon, both the native Jewish community and the Syrian newcomers, would also largely emigrate as well. The Syrian government continued to intensiufy restictions on Jews, actuiins resminest of the NAZI persecutions. The Government prohibited Jews from selling proiperty (1948). This mean tht if they emograted that they could not ant wealth acquired with them. Finanncil pressure was further increased when Jews had their bsnk ccounts frozen (1953). Jewish property was confiscated. The Jewish homes which had been seized were used to house Palestinian refugees. The Syrian government wavered on emigration. They temporarily lifted the emigration ban, Jews who left had to turn over their property to the government. When the first group of Jewish emigrants was allowed to deprt for Turkey (November 1954), oficiuals changed their mind. The emigration ban was reinstated. Syria joined Egypt in an aborted effort to form the United Arab Republic (1958). The emigration ban was again lifted, but they still had to turn over their valuables. When the union failes the emifration ban was reinstated. Persons accused of helping Jews escape were arrested an tried. A new retriction prohibited from traveling more than 5 kilometres (3 miles) from their hometowns (1964). Jews were not allowed to work in banks. Even with all these restrictions, Jews were still banned from leaving the country A few permits were granted for commercial or medical purposes. Jews that were granted permission to travel, had to leave behind a bond of $300–$1,000. And family members served as hostages to ensure that they would return. An airport road was paved over the historic Jewish cemetery in Damascus. Jewish schools were closed and turned over to Muslims. The Jewish Quarter of Damascus was intensively surveiled by the secret police. They attended synagogue services, weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other Jewish events. The secret police especially devoted careful attention to contact between Jews and foreigners. Files were opened on every member of the Jewish community. Mail sent and received by Jews was read by the secret police. Syrian Jews who were increasingly desperate to leave as a result of the emigration ban had no choice but to escape illegally. Here they received from Israelis and others. Syrian Jews living abroad bribed officials to help friends and family Jews escape. Judy Feld Carr, a Canadian-Jewish activist, reoportedly helped smuggle 3,228 Jews out of Syria. Carr reoorts that Jewish parents were 'desperate' to get their children out of Syria.[UJA] All were aware of what happened to Jewish children during the Holocaust. They were in an impossible situation. Anyone aprehended attempting to escape faced faced possible execution or forced labor. And even if an escape suceeded, family members could be imprisoned and their property seized. Many turned to smugglers and attempted to cross the border into Lebanon or Turkey which was not as heavily ptrolled as the Israeli border. In both Turkey and Lebanon they were assisted by undercover Israeli agents and local Jewish communities. Most of the escapees were young unmarried men. Single men forvthevmost part decided to delay marriage until they escaped. They wanted to raise their children in free society. And once married they could not escape and abandon their families. This mean that fewerand fewer young Jewish men were left in Syria. Many Jewish women were unable to find husbands. The Syrian militry did not respect the ceasefire agreement. Palestinian militants crossed over the border and attacked Israeli civilians. Artillery on the Gollan heifgts constantly shelled Israeli settlents in the Galillee. The conflict became a Cold Wat issue. The Siviets began supplying Egypt, Iraq, and Syriaith large quantitu=ies of advanced mikitary equipment. Thiswas equipment that the Israelis could not build or afford to buy. The military ballance on paper turned decively to the Arab advantage. An Nasser was determined to win the war this time. .

Six Days War (1967)

Syria participated again in another war against Israel. This would be the Six Day War. The Syruan Arnmy and Air Force was heavily armed wuth Sovier equipment includuing jet aircraft and tanks. At the time, the United States was imposing an arnms embsrgo on both he Arabs and Israelis. Despite the arms embargo, The Israelis msnaged to defeat the Arab armies gain, this time deisively. It became known as the Six Day War because the Arabs were so decisivey defeated in only 6 days. The Syrins were driven from the heavily fortified Golan Heights.

Second Truce (1967-73)

The Jewish population in Syria steadily declines. We have seen different estimates at the time of the First Arab-Israeli War (1948-49). One report suggests 5,300 Jews (1957). And this declined to 4,000 (1968). Most want to leave, but were prevented from leaving by the Syrian Government. Israel's victory in the Six-Day War only hightened resentment toward Syria's Jews. More restrictions were imposedd. A pogrom in Qamishli left 57 Jews dead. The Government during and after the Six Days War held the Jewish communities of Damascus, Aleppo, and Qamishli under house arrest for 8 months. Many Jewish workers lost their jobs as a result of the War. Yhe Israeli government became increasingly aware of the situation for Jews in Syria, and the attemopts many Jewish youths to flee in theface of the verybreal danger (1970). Israel launched Operation Blanket, a series of individual attempts to aid Jews escaping to Israel. Israeli naval commandos and Mossad operatives launched dozens of covert incursions into Syria. The operation only brought a few dozen Syrian youth to Israel.

Yom Kipur War (1973)

The main Arab attack launching the Yom Kipur War came from Egypt in the south. The Soviets had also heavily equipped the Syrians again with modern equipment. The Syrians struck with 800 tanks and five divisions in the north. As with the Egyptians it was a surprise. The Israelis had not picked up prepsrations for the assault. And as a result, the reserves had not been mobilized. The Syrians took heavy loses in the Quneitra Gap, but broke through the Isreali defenses at some points in the Golan. he Iraelis had difficult choices as to where to commit their forces because the Egyptins were also making gains in he Sinai to the south. Heavy casualties followed on both sides, but as Israeli reserves began to arrive the weight of the battle shifted. The Israelis retook the areas in the Golan they had lost and began a drive toward oward Damasca. Iraqi and Jordanian units arrived. The Israeli were stopped, but held Syrian territiory near Danascus. The Soviets rushed in replacements for lost lost material. The Syrians were preparing a major counter offensive, but decided to accept a U.N. sponsiored cease firethat Egypt has accepted.

Third Truce (1973- )

Jews contiunued fleeing Syria. Some failed and the consequences were dire. Four Syrian-Jewish girls (three sisters and their cousin) were raped, killed, and mutilated while trying to flee to Israel (1974). Their bodies were discovered by border police in a cave in the Zabdani Mountains northwest of Damascus. With them were the remains of two male Jewish youth, Natan Shaya 18 and Kassem Abadi 20, who had been caughr and killed erlier by unknown individuals. [Friedman] Syrian officils left sacks with remains in sacks at the door steps of their horrified parents in what had become the Jewish ghetto of Damascus. [“Quatre femmes ...."] Syrian President Hafez al-Assad explained why he refused to allow Jewish emigration: "I cannot let them go, because if I let them go how can I stop the Soviet Union sending its Jews to Israel, where they will strengthen my enemy?"[Gilbert] At the time, The Six Days War had began to stir up Soviet Jews (1967). They began applying for exit visas (1960s) and the United States began pressuring the Soviets on the issue. The Yom Kipur War only intensified feeliings (1973). The small number of Syrian Jews left in the country would have not real impact on Israel. Soviet Jews were a very different mtter. President Assad, as a gesture to U.S. President Jimmy Carter who was pursuing a peace process, began allowing limited numbers of young women to leave the country, and some 300 left in total under this program (1977). [Shulweitz] Chief Rabbi Avraham Hamra organized an effort to smuggle a collection of ancient Jewish holy objects out of Syria. The collection included nine Old Testment manuscripts, each believed to be between 700 and 900 years old, 40 Torah scrolls, and 32 decorative boxes where the Torahs were held. The invaluable items were delivered to the Jewish National and University Library of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. [Johnson, p.72.] The Syrian Government finally began to let their remaining Jews go. The Government agreed to allow 500 single Jewish women lkeave (November 1989). Because so mny young men has escaped sureptiously, they could not find husbands in Syria. The United States pressed the issue at the Madrid peace conference (1991). American diplomats pressed Syria to ease restriction on its Jewish population, especially emmigration restrictions. Jewish Syrian Americans had brought up the issue. Syria decided to let their Jews go. It only stipulated that they could not go to Israel. The restictions were lifted on the Passover Holiday for the 4,000 remaining Jews. This included the Damascus Jewish community (Yehud ash-Sham), the Aleppo community, and the Jews of Qamishli (1992). They were all granted exit permits (1992). And the Jew responded enthusiastically. Within only a few months, thousands of Syrian Jews left for the United States, France, and Turkey. They were assisted by donations from the overseas Syrian Jewish community. [Parfitt.] Some 300 Jews decided to remain in Syria, most elderly Individuals.

Sources

Friedman, Saul S. (1989). Without Future: The Plight of Syrian Jewry (Praeger Publishers: 1989).

Gilbert, Lela. "Thank God, There Are Almost No Jews in Syria Now," National Review Online (September 14, 2013).

Johnson, Loch K. Strategic Intelligence: Understanding the Hidden Sde of Government.

Parfitt, Tudor. (1987) The Thirteenth Gate: Travels among the Lost Tribes of Israel (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1987).

Shulweitz, Malka Hillel. The Forgotten Millions: The Modern Jewish Exodus from Arab Lands

UJA Federation of Greater Otranto. "Rescuing Syrian Jews," (September 29, 2014).

“Quatre femmes juives assassiness a Damas,” Le Figaro (March 9, 1974).

Created: 7:25 PM 10/31/2018
Last updated: 7:25 PM 10/31/2018