- Escape from Rising Tensions

In 1950, Syria places even more restrictions on the Jewish community. The government seizes all Jewish property and Palestinian refugees move into the Jewish quarter of Damascus. There are more attacks on Jews in Damascus, Aleppo and Qamishli, and property and shops are looted.

In Beirut, there is an influx of provincial Jews, with 10,000 Jews moving to Lebanon from Iraq and Syria. Only 5,700 Jews remain in Syria, and more and more attempt escape.

“You can’t walk in the street with a kippah. You can’t walk in the street with a beard. And our clothing even was different, so whenever we used to go to school, we had to cover as much as possible our identity. That’s the safer way.” — Ralph S. Sutton, Episode 6

“I remember when we go to the school, that’s Jewish school, the Syrian boys, used to abuse us really. One time this Arab boy stab one of my friends, stab him in the back. Stab him and ran away. I remember that the government didn’t do anything about that, that’s for sure.” – Albert Ayal, Episode 6

(Image of wedding of Sarine Cattan and Rafael Shammah in Beirut.)