State of the World from NPR Syria’s New Government Returns Property to Syrian Jews Who Left Decades Ago
Feb 11, 2026
A return of long-lost synagogue keys in Aleppo sparks a look at reclaimed property and cultural recovery. A Syrian-American returns from Brooklyn to oversee restorations and tour a 1,400-year-old synagogue. Neighbors express cautious welcome while politics and safety concerns linger. Rebuilding decay and hopes for revival are explored in short, vivid scenes.
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Brooklyn Rabbi Reclaims Family Synagogue
- Henry Humra, born in Syria and now based in Brooklyn, returned to Aleppo to reclaim Jewish properties held by the state for decades.
- He received keys to synagogues after lobbying the new Syrian government, marking official recognition of his heritage group's role.
Property Left Behind And Community Decline
- Many Syrian Jews left in the early 1990s and couldn't sell homes, leaving properties occupied or taken by the government.
- Aleppo once hosted a large Jewish community but religious life dwindled without rabbis and active congregations.
Local Welcomes And Complicated Views
- Local Aleppo residents, like shop owner Abu Alaa al-Mahandis, welcomed Jewish returnees as former neighbors and friends.
- He said Syrians hope returning Jews will bring life back to the city despite controversy over Israel's actions.