the History of the Syrian Jews derive their origin from two groups: those who inhabited Syria from early times and the Sephardim who fled to Syria after the expulsion of the Jews from Spain (1492 C.E). There were large communities in Aleppo, Damascus, and Beirut for centuries. In the early twentieth century a large percentage of Syrian Jews emigrated to the U.S., Central and South America and Israel. Today only a few Jews still live in Syria. The largest Syrian-Jewish community is located in Brooklyn, New York, and estimated at 40,000
Aleppo CodexThe Aleppo Codex, now known in Hebrew as Keter Aram Tsoba, is the oldest and most famous manuscript of the Bible. Written in Tiberias in the year 920, and annotated by Aaron ben Asher, it has become the most authoritative Biblical text in Jewish culture. The most famous halachic authority to rely on it was Maimonides, in his exposition of the laws governing the writing of Torah scrolls in his codification of Jewish law (Mishneh Torah). After its completion, the Codex was brought to Jerusalem. Toward the end of the 11th century, it was stolen and taken to Egypt, where it was redeemed by the Jewish community of Cairo. At the end of the 14th century the Codex was taken to Aleppo, Syria (called by the Jews Aram Zobah, the biblical name of part of Syria)—this is the origin of the manuscript's modern name. The codex is now kept in the Israel Museum, in the building known as "The Shrine of The Book." It lies there along with the Dead Sea Scrolls and many other ancient Jewish relics.
Famous Rabbis of Syrian background
Hayyim ben Joseph Vital (Student of the Arizal)
Chaham Ezra Attiya ZTL (Rav of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Shlita, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu ZTL, Rabbi Ben Zion Abba Shaul ZTL, and Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri ZTL)
Chaham Yitzhak Abulafia ZTL
Famous Jews of Syrian Background
Dan Hedaya
Jerry Seinfeld (mother of Syrian background)
Topic: Mizrahi Jews of Syria (Read 1837 times)