850 Syria without Assad

'The Syrian people are convinced that Israel is better than Iran'

Syria's once-thriving Jewish community of 100,000 now numbers only 8; one of them is Bakhour Chamntoub, who describes improved freedoms under the new regime, warm ties with Muslim neighbors and hope for peace between Syria and Israel despite past bloodshed

Bakhour Chamntoub starts his day with a cup of coffee, checks his social media—Facebook, Instagram—and then runs errands. Later, he meets friends to play tennis at the Tishreen Sports Club. Surprisingly, this is the daily routine of one of the last remaining Jews in Damascus, Syria's capital.
Until recently, there were nine Jews left in Syria. However, on Sunday, the Chief Rabbinate for Syrian Jewry announced the passing of Hadiya Sittah, a 92-year-old Jewish resident of Damascus, who died of natural causes. Sittah left no descendants.
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Bakhour Chamntoub at the Eliyahu Hanavi in Jober, Damascus, Syria
Bakhour Chamntoub at the Eliyahu Hanavi in Jober, Damascus, Syria
Bakhour Chamntoub at the Eliyahu Hanavi in Jober, Damascus, Syria
(Photo: Omar Sanadiki, AP)
In its announcement, the Chief Rabbinate wrote: "Our heartfelt condolences to her dear sister, Mrs. Rosa Shtaah Takhia, a longtime resident of Damascus, and to the entire honorable family. May Heaven comfort you, and may you know no more sorrow. We call upon the descendants of Syrian Jews in Israel and the diaspora to study and pray in her memory." The statement was signed by Rabbi Binyamin Hamra, the Chief Rabbi for Syrian Jews in Israel and son of the late Rabbi Avraham Hamra, the legendary chief rabbi of Damascus.
Now, only eight Jews remain in Syria, most of them elderly, according to Chamntoub. Members of the dwindling community believe that within a few years, no Jews will remain in Syria at all. Once a vibrant Jewish community, it has gradually disappeared.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Syria’s Jewish population numbered approximately 100,000. The largest Jewish communities were in Damascus and Aleppo, though smaller communities existed in other cities. Over the years, due to anti-Jewish sentiment, pogroms and economic hardship, most Syrian Jews left the country—particularly after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Many emigrated to Israel, the United States and Mexico.
Chamntoub speaks to us from Damascus, describing the current situation after the ousting of former president Bashar Assad as an improvement. "In the past, there was crime, fear and terror," he says. "The new government is better than the previous one. There’s freedom—freedom of expression. And thank God, the economic situation has improved. Everything is fine."
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בכור סימנטוב בעת ביקורו בחורבות בית הכנסת "אליהו הנביא" בג'ובר שבפאתי דמשק
בכור סימנטוב בעת ביקורו בחורבות בית הכנסת "אליהו הנביא" בג'ובר שבפאתי דמשק
Bakhour Chamntoub at the Eliyahu Hanavi in Jober, Damascus, Syria
(צילום: Omar Sanadiki, AP)
Chamntoub owns a clothing factory in Damascus's industrial zone and a clothing store near Harat al-Yahud, the Jewish Quarter in the city. "The Jews live in one neighborhood, all close to each other," he explains.
Under the Assad family regime, both father and son, Jews lived under restrictions. They couldn’t register property in their names and needed permits even to go on a distant picnic. Their lives revolved around permits. "There was no freedom; people were afraid to speak," he describes.
Now, surprisingly, with the rise of Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Muhammed al-Golani, to power in Syria—Sharaa, with his controversial past in al-Qaeda, who led the coup against Assad as the head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham—Chamntoub describes an improvement in the situation for Jews.
During the Assad family's 54-year rule, Jews in Syria were allowed to practice their religion but were prohibited from leaving the country to prevent them from reaching Israel. It wasn’t until the early 1990s that travel restrictions were lifted, prompting many Jews to leave Syria.
Chamntoub has already met with a representative of Sharaa's regime and expressed satisfaction with the change in leadership. "I said that we are living happily, better than before," he shares.
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אחמד א-שרע אל ג'ולאני
אחמד א-שרע אל ג'ולאני
Ahmad al-Sharaa
(Photo: REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi)
While Chamntoub hopes for significant improvements in relations with Israel, moving toward peace, he acknowledges that such progress is not imminent. "It’s difficult now. The relationship is still new. In the future, I believe the future will be his. I hope there will be peace," he says.

'Under this regime, there is freedom'

When it comes to Syria-Israel relations, a rosy picture is still far from reality. Despite Sharaa's moderate policies since taking control of Syria, Israeli concerns persist over potential chaos and dangerous developments along the shared border. Following the coup, Israel took control of the buffer zone established under the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria after the Yom Kippur War and also seized the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.
In recent weeks, IDF forces have been operating in various Syrian villages to prevent emerging threats to Israel. Reports indicate that this Israeli presence has led to tensions with local populations and incidents of gunfire. One notable incident occurred on December 20 in the Syrian Golan Heights, when IDF forces fired at Syrian demonstrators, injuring one. The IDF said that "a threat was identified that required neutralization." Syrian protesters demanded Israel withdraw from the buffer zone.
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Regarding Israeli airstrikes in Syria, both during the battles leading up to Assad’s fall and after the rebels’ takeover, powerful strikes attributed to Israel targeted various areas across Syria. The opposition-linked website Voice of the Capital claimed that Israel "is systematically destroying all brigades and battalions of the former regime in southern Syria, directly targeting air defense systems, missile depots and development and production sites involved in weapons threatening Israel."
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פשיטת כוחות יחידת שלדג בצק"ח ההרים (810) למרחב החרמון הסורי
פשיטת כוחות יחידת שלדג בצק"ח ההרים (810) למרחב החרמון הסורי
IDF forces on the Syrian Hermon
(Photo: IDF)
Even before Assad's fall, over the course of the war, Israel was attributed with major strikes in Syria, including in Damascus neighborhoods, against threats such as Hezbollah sites, Iranian and pro-Iranian elements and arms and missile depots. These operations are part of a broader campaign, including high-profile assassinations of figures involved in the Iran-backed Shiite axis, many of which have been attributed to Israel in Syria and other regional states, with Israel claiming responsibility for some.
The situation in recent months raises the question of whether there is resentment in Damascus and among Syrians toward Israeli strikes and actions. According to Chamntoub, "Quite the opposite. People are convinced that Israel is better than Iran and any Arab country. Israel does not target civilians. It strikes weapon depots and areas with Hezbollah and Iranian elements. Its focus is Iran."
Chamntoub has no issue speaking with Israeli journalists and says he does not fear doing so. "Under this regime, there is freedom. You can say whatever you want to whomever you want, and there's no problem with that," he said.
During our conversation, he repeatedly emphasized that he feels free to express his pro-Israel opinions in Syria without concern, and he has done so even when asked pointed questions, such as which side he would choose.
In an interview with the Associated Press in late December, Chamntoub shared that he was one of the few Jews who openly spoke about his faith over the years. He said he never faced discrimination. However, he noted that other Jews preferred to remain silent for safety reasons, given Syria’s historical animosity toward Israel and fears of being labeled as spies or collaborators.

The synagogue that was destroyed

The Syrian Civil War destroyed nearly everything, including the synagogues in Damascus's Jewish Quarter. According to Chamntoub, there were over 20 synagogues in the quarter, but only one remains in good condition. The rest were completely destroyed.
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בכור סימנטוב
בכור סימנטוב
Bakhour Chamntoub: 'I am a Jew and I am proud of it'
(Photo: Omar Sanadiki, AP)
The December report by the Associated Press noted that after the fall of the Assad regime, Chamntoub returned to visit the ruins of the Eliyahu Hanavi synagogue in Jobar, on the outskirts of Damascus. It was the first time he had been there in 15 years.
“This synagogue means a lot to us,” he told the AP, adding that he had heard the synagogue was damaged, but he did not expect to see that part of it had been reduced to a pile of debris. He further said that Jewish people from around the world have been calling him to say they are ready to help rebuild.
Before the civil war broke out in 2011, Chamntoub and other remaining community members came on Saturdays to the synagogue in Jobar, one of the world's most ancient synagogues, for prayers. “I am a Jew and I am proud of it,” said Chamntoub, who refused to leave Syria throughout the years of war, in that interview.
In our conversation, he shared that he comes from a family of 12 siblings, who, unlike him, chose to leave Syria and emigrate. Some of them are now in Israel.
Amid the recent reports from Syria about the consolidation of Sharaa's regime, the constant flow of diplomatic delegations to the country and occasional localized fighting, life in Damascus for Syrians continues as usual. What are people in Syria doing these days? Apparently, much the same as anywhere else in the world, despite how things may appear from the outside.
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בכור סימנטוב
בכור סימנטוב
Bakhour Chamntoub
(Photo: Courtesy)
When Chamntoub describes his daily routine, social media plays a significant role, and he is particularly proud of his Facebook page. "Everyone loves it. The whole world follows me," he says, making sure I follow and enjoy it too.
His Facebook page, as the representative of Syria's last remaining Jews, is filled with video clips of his interviews on various channels, footage from the Jewish Quarter in Damascus and photos of him playing tennis with friends at the Tishreen Sports Club in Damascus. He is a well-known figure and seems perfectly comfortable with the attention. According to him, the new regime allows this openness, which was not possible before.
His daily schedule also includes cooking for an elderly Jewish woman in her 90s who has no surviving relatives. "She lives alone, and I cook for her every day. I make kosher, good food," he shares. "Afterward, I go to the market for groceries, and then I head to play tennis."
Chamntoub describes a warm atmosphere in the Syrian streets, with people calling out to him, "Shalom Aleichem." His relationships with his Muslim neighbors, he says, are "very good, like brothers, even more." According to him, they are curious about Jews and also about Israel.
He ends the interview on an optimistic note with a message of hope: that 2025 will be a year of peace. "This year will be a year of good and peace. I will make it happen myself. I will try to make peace with Israel," he says.
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