Sephardic Jewish Genealogy in Syria: Damascus and Aleppo

Introduction to Sephardic Jews in Syria

Sephardic Jewish Genealogy in Syria on this page means the modern state of Syria. Once, Syria also meant the Levant, including Lebanon, Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Jordan.

Syria, with its historically significant cities of Damascus and Aleppo, has a rich and complex history intertwined with the Sephardic Jewish community. This page provides a comprehensive guide to the genealogy, history, and archival records of Sephardic Jews in these two pivotal cities.

Sephardic Jews in Damascus

Historical Overview of Jews in Damascus

Damascus, historically a crucial city on the east-west trade route prior to the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, hosted a small Sephardic Jewish community within a predominantly Mizrahi Jewish population. Prominent Sephardic families included the Lisbona family. The infamous Damascus Affair of 1840, a blood libel against the Jewish community, attracted international attention from the British and French Jewish communities.

The commercial significance of Damascus waned post-1869, leading to the migration of many Jews to Egypt, Western Europe, and the Americas. The termination of Ottoman rule in 1922 led to French control, and following Syrian independence in 1946, increased antisemitism and anti-Jewish legislation precipitated significant emigration. By 1992, virtually the entire Jewish community had departed.

Genealogical Resources for Jews in Damascus

  • Ottoman Period Records: Sharia Court Files (1583-1909) Source
  • Rabbinical Burials: 196 rabbis buried in Damascus (1650-1933) Source
  • French Consulate Archives: (1824-1945) Source
  • British Government Archives: Prior to 1900 Source
  • Additional Resources:
  • Les Fleurs de l’Orient Website
  • Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain library Website
  • Brown University Library: Ottoman Records of Greater Syria Website
  • Historic Jobar Synagogue (destroyed in 2014) Source

Books and Publications on Jews in Damascus

  • Persécutions contre les juifs de Damas Google Books
  • Les grandes familles juives de Damas de 1799 à 1948 Amazon
  • The Ottoman Court Records of Syria and Jordan by Jon E. Mandaville Google Books

Sephardic Jews in Aleppo

Historical Overview of Jews in Aleppo

Aleppo, referred to as Haleb in Arabic, was a vital city on the ancient Asian trade route, serving as a hub for Mizrahi Jews, Eastern Sephardim, and Western Sephardim (‘Francos’). The community had substantial connections to Italian cities like Livorno and Venice. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 severely impacted Aleppo’s economy, leading many Jews to migrate to Egypt, Western Europe, and later to the Americas.

The Jewish community of Aleppo faced significant destruction during the Bab al-Faraj project in 1995 and the Syrian civil war starting in 2012. The last Jewish family left Aleppo in 2015.

Genealogical Resources for Jews in Aleppo

Books and Publications on Jews in Aleppo

  • The Jews of Aleppo: Community, Culture, and Heritage by Abraham Marcus and Joseph A. Levi Google Books
  • Aleppo Chronicles by Abraham Levy Amazon
  • The Sephardic Jews of Aleppo by Efraim Karsh Google Books
  • Les Juifs d’Alep by Salomon M. Malka Amazon

General Research Tips

When researching Sephardic Jewish ancestry in Syria, consider:

  • Ottoman Archives: Valuable for tax registers and civil records.
  • French Colonial Records: Important for the period of the French mandate.
  • Travel and Trade Reports: Offer insights into daily life and international connections.
  • Zionist and Israeli Archives: Contain significant materials on Jewish communities.

Additional Resources and Support for Researching Sephardic Jewish Genealogy in Syria

  • SephardicGen Website: A treasure trove of databases and records Website
  • JewishGen: Continuously updated with records from Aleppo and Damascus Website
  • Israel Genealogy Research Association Website
  • Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People Website
  • National Library of Israel Website
  • Central Zionist Archives Website
  • Israel State Archives Website

Genealogist

For professional genealogical assistance with your Sephardic ancestry, click here.

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Jewish family in Damascus, 1910