Syria, once home to a large Jewish community, takes steps to return property to Jews

"Henry Hamra of Brooklyn, N.Y., 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."

"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. "What we're trying to do is come see the properties, come see the synagogues and see what's the condition," says Hamra, now 48."

Henry Hamra of Brooklyn, a Syrian Jew, holds keys to a small Aleppo synagogue as control of Jewish religious properties returns to a licensed heritage foundation he leads. Many Syrian Jews left in the early 1990s after travel bans were lifted, often unable to sell homes that became occupied by others while the government managed synagogues and schools. The newly licensed foundation will oversee restoration of religious properties and help return private property appropriated when the community left. Syrian officials pledged assistance in restoring ownership. Activist Mouaz Moustafa helped negotiate the arrangements. Aleppo hosted a Jewish community dating back at least 2,000 years.

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