"Decades after almost the entire #Syrian #Jewish community left the country, Henry Hamra of #Brooklyn, #NY, stands at the metal door of a small #synagogue in this ancient Syrian city, literally holding the keys to a possible return of Jewish citizens.

Hamra was 15 years old when his family left #Damascus in the early 1990s after the #Assad regime lifted a ban on travel. Many of the Syrian #Jews were unable to sell their homes before they left. Some of the homes ended up occupied by other Syrians while the government took charge of the #synagogues and #schools.

In December, just days before Hamra's visit to #Aleppo, the Syrian government licensed a Jewish heritage foundation he leads, transferring control of Jewish #religious properties from the government to the organization.

The organization will also help restore private property appropriated when the Jewish community left to its Jewish owners."

https://www.npr.org/2026/02/03/nx-s1-5674746/syria-jewish-syrians-jews

"Decades after almost the entire #Syrian #Jewish community left the country, Henry Hamra of #Brooklyn, #NY, stands at the metal door of a small #synagogue in this ancient Syrian city, literally holding the keys to a possible return of Jewish citizens.

Hamra was 15 years old when his family left #Damascus in the early 1990s after the #Assad regime lifted a ban on travel. Many of the Syrian #Jews were unable to sell their homes before they left. Some of the homes ended up occupied by other Syrians while the government took charge of the #synagogues and #schools.

In December, just days before Hamra's visit to #Aleppo, the Syrian government licensed a Jewish heritage foundation he leads, transferring control of Jewish #religious properties from the government to the organization.

The organization will also help restore private property appropriated when the Jewish community left to its Jewish owners."

https://www.npr.org/2026/02/03/nx-s1-5674746/syria-jewish-syrians-jews

Syria’s government has ordered soldiers to guard a mass grave created to conceal atrocities under Bashar Assad and has opened a criminal investigation. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/29/world/syria-mass-grave-probe/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #syria #basharassad #syriancivilwar #damascus #middleeast

I just visited Damascus for the first time since 2006. I grew up there, so the trip was a LOT of emotions.

A few photos from the trip.

1. One the major streets of Damascus, Nasr Street
2. A community centre in the old city. Film directing students are gathered in the courtyard for a lesson. Very neglected treasure of a building.
3. The Hamadieh market in the old town
4. Sunrise/moon set in the edge of the city. Solar panels everywhere.

#syria #damascus #lebanon #palestine

I just visited Damascus for the first time since 2006. I grew up there, so the trip was a LOT of emotions.

A few photos from the trip.

1. One the major streets of Damascus, Nasr Street
2. A community centre in the old city. Film directing students are gathered in the courtyard for a lesson. Very neglected treasure of a building.
3. The Hamadieh market in the old town
4. Sunrise/moon set in the edge of the city. Solar panels everywhere.

#syria #damascus #lebanon #palestine

Powerful airstrikes shook Damascus on Wednesday, as Israel targeted the Syrian Defense Ministry vowing to destroy Syrian government forces attacking Druze communities in southern Syria and demanding they withdraw. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/16/world/society/israel-strikes-damascus/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #society #israel #syria #lebanon #damascus #middleeast

Die Zionisten gaan gewoon lekker door, op weg naar een Groot-Israël. Niemand houdt ze tegen. Volledige carte blanche van de VS én de EU. /s

NOS: Israël bombardeert Syrische hoofdstad Damascus, ook nabij presidentieel paleis

https://nos.nl/l/2575261

#Damascus#Syrië#Israël#Netanyahu