American Jews who fled Syria urge White House to lift sanctions for rebuilding in Damascus

Express Tribune

07-03-2025

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A group of American Jews, including Henry Hamra, who fled Syria decades ago, appealed to the White House on Wednesday to lift sanctions on Syria, which they say are hindering the restoration of some of the world's oldest synagogues and the rebuilding of Syria's Jewish community.
Henry Hamra, who fled Damascus in the 1990s, expressed his concerns about the condition of Syria's Jewish heritage.
"The old synagogues, the old cemetery, what's going on, who's taking care of it?" said Hamra, whose family now lives in New York.
In December, with the fall of Bashar Assad's regime, Hamra and his father, Rabbi Yusuf Hamra, along with other community members, visited Syria for the first time in decades.
The Hamras briefed US State Department officials and members of the White House about their plans to restore Syria's Jewish landmarks.
Mouaz Moustafa, executive director of the Syrian American Task Force, joined them, advocating for the lifting of sanctions to allow investment in Syria's reconstruction.
"If you want a stable Syria... even if it's as simple as rebuilding the oldest synagogue in the world, the only person that's able to make that a reality today is, frankly, Donald Trump," Moustafa said.
Syria's Jewish community, one of the world's oldest, has faced severe challenges. The once-thriving Jewish population, estimated at 100,000 in the early 20th century, has dwindled to only seven known members remaining in Damascus.
The country has been devastated by civil war since 2011, leading to the destruction of many historical sites, including the Jobar synagogue, which Hamra visited.
Despite efforts to protect and salvage artifacts during the conflict, much of the structure was destroyed in the fighting.
Asserting that Syrian Jews abroad wish to help restore their heritage, Hamra said, 'My main goal is not to see my Jewish quarter, my school, and my synagogue fall apart.'
The Hamras, alongside Moustafa, are urging the U.S. government to lift sanctions on Syria to facilitate investment and restoration efforts, which they believe will aid the revival of Syria's Jewish community, similar to Morocco's thriving Jewish presence in a Muslim-majority country.