‘It was a government body previously linked to the Palestinian security branch in Syria, known as Fara’a Filastin. In Arabic, it was called Idarat mumtalakat al-yahud al-gha’ibin, meaning the administration of the assets of absent Jews. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, this system came under the control of the Syrian Ministry of the Interior. During the regime, the body administered the property of Syrian Jews who had left the country through Khoder Kabariti. Working alongside him was Albert Qamho, another key figure chosen by the regime. Kabariti did not hold the religious title of rabbi, which is sometimes erroneously attributed to him. These individuals not only held the keys to synagogues and private homes, but also managed a network of contacts, procedures and authorisations relating to bank accounts, which remained operational until the end of the regime. Although he was Jewish, Qamho did not reside in Syria and had been appointed to that role by the regime; he was not chosen by the Jewish community. The Committee administered the properties without involving the actual owners, whilst the rent collected flowed into the coffers of the Syrian state. In essence, the body – which still exists today – acted as an intermediary between the state, the rightful owners (who formally retained title to the properties without receiving any rent), and the tenants. Even today, for example, if you wish to visit a synagogue, you must contact the Palestinian branch of the internal security services and request permission to enter. The properties remain under government control. Our foundation is working to ensure that everything is returned to the Jewish community, entrusting the keys to trusted individuals.”
How many Jewish-owned properties in Syria are considered ‘abandoned’?
‘The keys to all properties, both communal and private, are held by the Syrian government. At present, it is only possible to estimate the total number of properties. It is, however, important to distinguish between the different historical phases of Jewish emigration from Syria. The first major wave occurred after 1948, following the establishment of the State of Israel, when many Jews left the country. At that time, there were around 30,000 Jews living in Syria, concentrated mainly in Damascus, Aleppo and Qamishli. It is important to emphasise that, during that period, their homes were confiscated and used to house Palestinian families in the Yarmouk camp, including people expelled from Israel. It was then that the body known as Idarat mumtalakat al-yahud al-gha’ibin was established. We estimate that it currently administers between 300 and 400 Jewish homes. The current situation, however, is different. On paper, these are Jewish properties, but we do not yet know the total number of properties belonging to the Syrian Jewish community across the country. Part of the complexity stems from the fact that some Jews still hold the title deeds, whilst others left Syria in a manner deemed ‘illegal’ and no longer possess documents proving their rights. One of the foundation’s challenges is to trace families who, from a documentary point of view, appear to have disappeared. Reconstructing and retrieving all this information is an essential part of our work, but also one of the most difficult.”
What happened to your house in Damascus after you left?
‘When I returned to Damascus, I visited my old home. I’d lived there until I was 15 and wanted to see it again after 33 years. It was a large house, with many rooms, in the city’s Jewish quarter. Today, several Palestinian families live there, each in a different room. I am trying to reclaim it, but the process is a long one. The house belonged to my grandfather and it will take time to establish our family lineage through the bureaucracy and the necessary documentation.”