The original Jews in Aleppo and the other Jewish communities in the Middle East were known as Mustarabim. The term “Mustarabim” connotes that they resembled Arabs. These native-born Jews’ customs, dress and mannerisms, as well as their accent, were similar to those of the Arabs, among whom they lived.
The Aleppan community of Mustarabim was led by the Dayan family. This illustrious family traced its lineage directly to King David. Although it is unclear at what point the Dayans migrated to Aleppo, their presence in the city is documented by the fifteenth century.
(Image of the Dayan Family pedigree, traced back to King David.)
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Biblical Times
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950 BCE
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630s
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929
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1375
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1400s
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1492
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1527
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1565 c.
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1665
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1732
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1760 c.
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1840
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1869
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1892
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1909
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1911-1912
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1918
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1930s
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1935
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1944
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1945
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1946
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1947
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1948
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1949
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1950
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1951
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1956
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1956
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1957
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1958
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1964
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1965
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1967
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1972
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1974
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1975
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1975
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1980s
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1988
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1992
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1994
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The city of Aleppo has had many names. These include Aram Soba and Halab.
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King David gives Yoab ben Seruya the city of Aram Soba (Aleppo) as a present after their successful conquest of the city.
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Jerusalem falls to Muslim armies, and some legal protections are granted to followers of other monotheistic religions.
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The Keter Aram Soba is likely written sometime around this year.
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Rabbi David, a direct descendent of the Rambam, travels to Aleppo with the Codex.
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The Dayans, leaders of the Aleppan community of Mustabarim, migrated to Aleppo by the fifteenth century.
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Jews are expelled from Spain.
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The Mahzor Aram Soba is published, preserving the unique liturgy of the Mustarabi community.
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Rabbi Shemuel Laniado becomes the first of his family to be appointed chief rabbi.
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Shabbetai Sevi visits Aleppo, declaring that he is the messiah.
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Signor Hillel Haim Picciotto first travels to Aleppo from Livorno, Italy.
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Aleppo’s Bet Nasi synagogue is constructed. It is the first new synagogue to be built in the city in hundreds of years.
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Father Tomaso goes missing, and Christians blame the Jews. What came next would be known as The Damascus Affair.
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The Suez Canal opens, changing trade in the region forever.
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The first Syrian Jews emigrate to New York.
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Young Jews leave Syria & Turkey and other lands to avoid Ottoman conscription law.
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The Francos are deported from Aleppo in retaliation for the Italian invasion of Libya.
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Syria and Lebanon fall under French mandate.
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Syria’s economy is in crisis anti-Semitism is on the rise.
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The last Mustarabi minyan in the Great Synagogue ceases to function.
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The Syrian Arab Republic is established.
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1,300 Jewish children leave Syria for Israel.
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Rabbi Yishak Dayan leaves Aleppo, ending the Dayan family’s dynasty.
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Arab mobs riot and set fire to Jewish synagogues, establishments, institutions and homes in response to the UN plan to partition Palestine.
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The State of Israel is declared, and Arab nations attack; Jews flee Syria.
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Jewish bank accounts are seized in Syria, property is frozen, and a synagogue is bombed.
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The lives of the Jews of Syria are further restricted, and many escape to Lebanon.
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The backlash against Jews in Lebanon begins to grow.
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Egypt expels 20,000 Jews with 7 days notice.
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Identity cards for all Syrian Jews are stamped with a red line, the beginning of the Mussawi stamp. (Image of Syrian ID card with Mussawi stamp.)
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The remaining pages of the Keter Aram Soba are smuggled out of Aleppo by Mr. Murad Faham.
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Jews can leave Syria after the payment of a ransom, and begin escaping to Turkey with the help of Israeli agents.
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Jews are prohibited from traveling more than 3 miles from their hometowns.
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Israeli spy Eli Cohen is arrested and hanged.
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The Six-Day War changes the political climate throughout the Middle East.
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The Syrian Jews of Brooklyn say special prayers, and rabbis and political leaders in New York hold rally in support of on behalf of Jews in Syria.
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Four Syrian Jewish girls who try to escape through smugglers are raped and murdered. Jews protest in Damascus, and the news spreads throughout the world.
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A ‘week of solidarity’ with Syrian Jews is declared in Israel, Paris, and London.
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A rescue campaign for the remaining Syrian Jews is initiated by Canadian Judy Feld Carr.
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The restoration of the Great Synagogue begins.
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The Council for the Rescue of Syrian Jews (CRSJ) is formed.
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President Assad allows 2,800 Jews to leave on tourist visas without assets.
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Jews are allowed to leave Syria with their assets.
