Syria establishes first-ever Jewish organization

For the first time ever, a Jewish organization has been established in Syria. 

On December 10, 2025, Syria’s Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Hind Kabawat, who is the first woman to be appointed to the transitional cabinet, officially registered the Jewish Heritage in Syria Foundation, marking a major milestone for the country’s Jewish community.

This milestone came on the heels of a historic visit to Syria by Israeli rabbis. During the rabbinical visit, many of Syria’s synagogues, which had been sealed for several decades, finally reopened. 

The historic achievement comes with positive perks – including establishing an office. 

The priorities of the Jewish Heritage in Syria Foundation include working directly with the government and local communities, coordinating the return of Jewish properties, bringing Jewish delegations to the country on a regular basis, and ultimately, serving as the primary organization responsible for protecting Jewish sites and communities. 

“Judaism and Syrian Jews have long been part of Syria’s religious and cultural landscape. Restoring their right to belong, to visit and to live back in their homeland is a natural step toward a more just, tolerant and inclusive society,” Kabawat told Fox News Digital in a statement.

She added, “For decades, Syrian Jews were denied the right to celebrate their own cultural and religious heritage, and today we take a step toward long-term peace, security and stability. We wish the organization success in its efforts to preserve Jewish heritage in Syria, and we look forward to deeper cooperation and a stronger relationship going forward.”

Rabbi Henry Hamra, who’s the son of prominent Syrian American Rabbi Yosef Hamra, will be the organization’s first president. The two have traveled to Syria over the past year, which was the first time in over three decades. There are 22 synagogues in Damascus, but most have been destroyed. On a recent visit, Hamra and his team saw the rubble of the Jobar Synagogue (more commonly known as the Eliyahu HaNavi Synagogue), which is one of the oldest synagogues in the world. He added that the Faranj Synagogue is the only one mostly still in tact.  

“We’re ready to start working on the synagogues and to start getting all the people to come see what we have here — a beautiful place. And we’re ready for everybody to come,” he said to Fox News Digital.

While Hamra was unsuccessful in a recent bid to run for parliament, it marked the first time Jewish candidates were allowed to run since 1967. 

Syria’s Jewish community, once numbered in the tens of thousands, dwindled dramatically after 1948, with restrictions and regional tensions forcing families to flee. About fewer than 10 remain in the country today, mostly older men and women, and while most synagogues have been destroyed after 14 years of civil war, this move offers a glimpse of hope. Today, the vast majority of Syrian Jews live in the diaspora, with the largest communities in Israel and New York.