Inside old Damascus: A rare glimpse of Syria’s Jewish heritage and renewed hope

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Region 07-05-2026 | 11:02

Inside old Damascus: A rare glimpse of Syria’s Jewish heritage and renewed hope

From the narrow alleys of Old Damascus, the head of Syria’s Jewish community reflects on decades of change, coexistence, and the possibility of return after years of separation.

Areej Farzali
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Inside old Damascus: A rare glimpse of Syria’s Jewish heritage and renewed hope
Jewish Quarter (Archive).
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In the narrow alleys of Old Damascus and among its stones that preserve stories of many long centuries, the Jewish community lived an important chapter in the city’s history.

 

In the Jewish Quarter, life was not merely a religious presence, but daily life filled with detail, where small shops, neighborly relations, friendships, and customs were intertwined with the spirit of Damascene life.

 

 

 

 

 

In Old Damascus, Behor Shamantov, the head of the Jewish community in Syria, recounts the changes the community has experienced in recent times.

 

In previous years, the community faced hardships, particularly under Assad’s rule, including restrictions on freedoms, difficulties with property ownership and communication, and a heightened sensitivity toward receiving foreigners or journalists.

 

Today, after the fall of Assad’s regime, he notes that the situation has changed, with greater freedom and the removal of previous restrictions, allowing community members to live more openly and strengthening their sense of security and belonging.

 

He confirms that coexistence exists among everyone—Muslims, Christians, and Jews—without any noticeable barriers, adding: “I don’t feel strange; I am part of this community. People love me and greet me with the Jewish greeting ‘Shalom,’ meaning peace, and I love everyone too.”

 

 

Head of the Jewish community in Syria, Behor Shamantov (Annahar).
Head of the Jewish community in Syria, Behor Shamantov (Annahar).

 

 

This discussion reflects an image of social relations based on closeness and simplicity, where the details of daily life outweigh any differences, in an environment he describes as resembling a single family.

 

He also expresses hope for the return of Syrian Jews who left the country, considering that their connection to Syria remains and that the current circumstances may provide an opportunity to reconnect what was once severed.

 

 

The Jewish community in Syria (Annahar).
The Jewish community in Syria (Annahar).

Tags
Syria ، Jews ، Damascus ، Jewish heritage ، Middle East