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Syrian Jews say held first group prayer in decades in Damascus synagogue

Rabbi Joseph Hamra and his son Henry read from a Torah scroll in a synagogue in Damascus for the first time in three decades, expressing awe at being back home.
The Hamra family planned their visit to Damascus with support from the Syrian Emergency Task Force after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Syria's foreign ministry pledged to protect Jewish heritage, allowing Jews to visit sacred sites for the first time post-Assad regime.
Rabbi Hamra remarked that he didn’t recognize his old house, highlighting significant changes in the land itself.

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Deutschlandfunk

Syria - First visit of Syrian Jews to Damascus after decades in exile praised

Assad opponents in the USA have highlighted the importance of the first trip to Damascus by several Jewish Syrians who fled decades ago.

1 day ago·Germany

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The Syrian Observer

First Jewish Rabbi to Visit Syria After Assad’s Fall: ‘Our Neighborhood’ Has Been Neglected - The Syrian Observer

Rabbi Yosef Hamra, who recently arrived in Damascus leading a group of Jews, expressed his sorrow over the neglect of the city’s historic Jewish Quarter over the past decades. While walking through the alleys of the old neighborhood, he spoke to Rudaw reporter Dilkhwaz Muhammad about the changes that had taken place: “I am the first Jewish person to return to Syria. I arrived with my son last Monday evening and met with local residents.” Rabbi H…

1 day ago

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Associated Press News

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La Voz

Syrian Jews' homecoming brings hope for reconstruction and a permanent return after decades in exile

As Rabbi Yusuf Hamra and his son Henry were visiting Damascus this week for the first time since emigrating from Syria to the United States more than three decades ago, they were met by former neighbors with embraces and and gossip .

2 days ago·United States

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The New Arab

Syrian Jews hold first group prayer in decades in Damascus

Syria's tiny Jewish community said they held their first group prayer in decades Wednesday, in a synagogue in Damascus's Old City, expressing joy at the long-awaited return to public worship. In the Faranj synagogue, Syrian-American Rabbi Yusuf Hamra led the prayer for the first time since arriving this week from the United States, where he has lived since the 1990s. "The last time I visited the synagogue here and prayed was before I travelled t…

2 days ago·London, United Kingdom

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VOA News

After decades in exile, Syria's Jews visit Damascus

For the first time in three decades, Rabbi Joseph Hamra and his son Henry read from a Torah scroll in a synagogue in the heart of Syria's capital Damascus, carefully passing their thumbs over the handwritten text as if still in awe they were back home.

2 days ago·United States

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France24

+5 Reposted by 5 other sources

Syrian Jews say held first group prayer in decades in Damascus synagogue

Syria's tiny Jewish community said they held their first group prayer in decades Wednesday, in a synagogue in Damascus's Old City, expressing joy at the long-awaited return to public worship.

3 days ago·France

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