Syria
Jews and Judaism
Most Jews now living in the Arab world belong to communities dating back to Old
Testament times or originating as colonies of refugees fleeing the Spanish
Inquisition. In Syria, Jews of both origins, numbering altogether fewer than 3,000 in
1987, are found. A Syrian Jew is Arabic-speaking and is barely distinguishable from
the Arabs around him. In Syria, as elsewhere, the degree to which Jews submit to the
disciplines of their religion varies.
The government treats the Jews as a religious community and not as a racial group.
Official documents refer to them as musawiyin (followers of Moses) and not
yahudin (Jews). The government's translation into English of
musawiyin is "Judists.".
Although the Jewish community continues to exercise a certain authority over the
personal status of its members, as a whole it is under considerable restriction, more
because of political factors than religious ones. The economic freedom of Jews is
limited, and they are under continual surveillance by the police. Their situation,
although not good before the June 1967 War, has reportedly deteriorated considerably
since then.
Library of Congress Country Studies
-->
