Reports: Synagogue in Damascus looted and burned
Published March 31, 2013
(JTA) — A synagogue in Damascus has been looted and burned to the ground.
The Syrian army loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and the rebel forces are blaming each other for the destruction of the historic Jobar Synagogue, according to reports.
The 2,000-year-old synagogue is said to be built on the site where the prophet Elijah anointed his successor Elisha as a prophet.
The synagogue was damaged in early March, after mortars were fired at it, reportedly by Syrian government forces.
The rebels say that the Syrian government looted the synagogue before burning it to the ground, Israel Radio reported Sunday. The government says the rebels burned the synagogue and that so-called Zionist agents stole the historic religious items from the synagogue in an operation that had been planned for several weeks, the Arabic Al-Manar Television reported citing the Arabic Syria Truth website.
ADVERTISEMENT: Visit OneHappyCamper.org to find a Jewish camp and see if your child qualifies for a $1,000 grant.
Click to write a letter to the editor.
This article was made possible by the support of readers like you. Donate to JTA now.
