Israel's Chief Rabbi of Syrian Jews, Rabbi Binyamin Hamra, addressed Syria’s de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly Abu Mohammed al-Golani) on Sunday, asking him to protect the few Jews still living in Syria and preserve their religious sites.
Hamra, the son of the late Rabbi Avraham Hamra, who was previously the chief rabbi of Syria's Jewish community, wrote, "To the Supreme Commander of the Headquarters for the al-Sham Liberation Army, Mr. Ahmed al-Sharaa, I am writing to you in these great days, days of hope for the entire Syrian people. First, allow me to bless you and pray that the Almighty will guide you with wisdom as you lead the honorable Syrian people toward a new era of peace, prosperity and success.
“I believe this historic moment is no coincidence and comes under divine providence. The Almighty has granted you leadership over Syria to advance it to a better place than before. Through your good deeds, you will earn great reward and honor in this world and the next."
Hamra continued his letter by highlighting the Jewish community’s history in Syria. "For thousands of years, the Jewish community in Syria, despite being a small minority, was an integral part of the rich and diverse fabric of the Syrian people. Across Syria, there are historic sites, ancient synagogues and the graves of righteous figures, all of which are a cultural and religious heritage of immense value to Jews worldwide.
“My late father, Rabbi Avraham Hamra, served as Syria’s chief rabbi for approximately 30 years, working alongside the government of the time to preserve these sites and ensure the well-being of the Jewish community in their places of residence — Damascus, Aleppo and Qamishli."
He asked the leader to safeguard Syria’s tiny Jewish community, which reportedly comprises just nine elderly individuals. "As my father’s successor, as a native of Syria and as the Chief Rabbi of the Syrian Jewish community in Israel — a community that endured years of persecution and dispossession — I turn to you with this request: to protect the precious Jews who remain in Syria and to ensure the strict preservation of these historical Jewish sites.
“Protecting these sites is not only a religious duty but also a gesture of respect for the history and culture of the entire Syrian people. Additionally, I ask for the protection of the properties and homes of Syrian Jews who were forced to leave everything behind."
Hamra specifically mentioned the Jobar Synagogue in Syria as a sacred site for Jews. "An example of a site with immense historical and religious significance is the Jobar Synagogue near Damascus. This ancient cave, thousands of years old, was destroyed during the fighting.
“Its destruction caused immense sorrow to millions of Jews and Muslims worldwide, who believe that great blessings flow from this place to all of Syria. Restoring the cave would be a great act of kindness, symbolizing the unity of peoples and their respect for shared heritage."
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"I am confident that under your leadership, Syria will become a multicultural, tolerant and inclusive country, where every religious group and ethnic minority can live in peace and security,” he concluded. “I hope we can collaborate to restore the Jewish community in Syria, visit our homeland and preserve our shared heritage."