April 20, 2008
Syrian Jews Celebrate Passover
 Syrian Jews celebrate Passover at the al-Firenj Synagogue in downtown Damascus. April 20, 2008. There are only an estimated 100 Jews in Syria with 20 synagogues. (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi) The Syrian government insists it is tolerant of Judaism, even though it is still officially at war with the state of Israel. That said, authorities in Syria seem not to be as tolerant of opposition activists: a Syrian appeal court on Wednesday upheld a 12-year jail term against Kamal Labwani who was jailed for contacts with Washington, a human rights group said. From AFP: Labwani was convicted of having "contacts with a foreign country aimed at encouraging it to attack Syria," after being arrested on his return to Damascus from talks with White House officials in November 2005. It was the longest jail sentence handed down against an opposition activist since President Bashar al-Assad took power in 2000, human rights lawyers said. Update: I'm happy to see this item has already generated some heated and passionate comments. This is what this forum is for. I welcome all views and opinions and will post a selection in this space. Have you visited a Syrian synagogue? Is your family originally Jewish of Syrian origin? Have you left Syria for religious reasons? Please add a comment below or send us an email at mideast@cnn.com. Thanks, Hala
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Just like Teresienstadt concentration camp when the Red Cross delegation visited.
Everything fine, no problem. Reports to the contrary are lies. And CNN fell for the Syrian ploy.
The entry states there are 100 Jews left in a nation of 20 million. To compare a Damascus synagogue to a concentration camp is preposterous and intellectually dishonest.
intellectually dishonest?
The 100 or so Jews have their lives made miserable by the Syrian authorities. If any of them wants to go abraod, another family member is being held hostage. They cannot leave Syria, they are not free. They live like in a concentration camp. Only CNN sees their freedom, they do not.
100 out of 20 million.
100 hostages to 20 million. Not to see the truth is preposterous and intellectually dishonest.
I know this Synagogue, and I know some of the families who worship there every Saturday. I have lived with them in the Jewish quarter of the Old City.
I feel very angry that you are putting words in their mouths. This is your 'intellectual dishonesty'. "The 100 or so Jews have their lives made miserable by the Syrian authorities." Really? Have you spoken to them? Did they tell you this? I suggest you visit Damascus, and ask them. Because this is not the lives of my friends. They have chosen to stay in their homes, one of my friends even came back after spending years studying in New York. Sure, he laments the economic problems, but this is his home.
in answer to some posters who are surprised that a hundred Jews live in a country that have 20 million people. I ask them how many Hindus live in Israel?
Tens of thousands Jews fled Syria to Israel in the fifties. Most walk across the borders at night. I know some of them. The Arab states in general had traditionally favorable treatment to Jewish religious rights, but not to civil rights.
Israel (proper) have 20% Muslim population, with full voting rights to the parliament and option to serve in the army, which many do (several served with me).
Oh yes, Muslims in Israel have many rights. But don't try buying a house. Or marrying a Muslim from outside Israel (unless you want to live apart). Or travelling abroad, unless you want your property seized under the absentee law. Or serving in the army (only Bedouin and Druze can serve in the Israeli army - they are a cross between Christians and Muslims).
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