Syrian Jewish communities of the United States

The Syrian Jewish Communities of the United States are a collection of communities of Syrian Jews, mostly founded at the beginning of the 20th century. The largest are in Brooklyn, Deal, New Jersey and Miami. The population of the New York and New Jersey communities is currently estimated at about 75,000.^[1]

New York

The first Syrian Jews to arrive in the United States were Jacob Dwek and Ezra Sitt, both of Aleppo. They sailed from Liverpool, England on July 22, 1892 on the Germania. After the start of the 20th century, more immigrants came to the U.S. for three reasons: First, an economic decline in Syria crippled their ability to earn a living. Second, the Young Turks, a rebel group responsible for the overthrow of the Ottoman sultan, were conscripting Jews into the Army. Third, the rise of Zionism led to increased anti-Semitism in the Middle Eastern region.^[2] Most settled on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Later settlements were in Bensonhurst, Midwood, Flatbush, and along Ocean Parkway in Gravesend, Brooklyn. The latter is considered to be the current center of the community, though the community was formerly centered around the Magen David Synagogue on 67th street in the Bensonhurst neighborhood as listed below:

• Congregation Shaare Zion, at 2030 Ocean Parkway between Avenue T and Avenue U, housing several synagogues in a single building along with a separate house as an additional annex structure. It is the largest, and is now considered the flagship synagogue of the community. The synagogue was constructed in 1960 in the Gravesend neighborhood, and the community soon followed it there throughout the rest of the 1960s and early 1970s. Currently, the synagogue holds the seat of Chief Rabbi Saul J. Kassin. The Rabbi's father Rabbi Jacob S. Kassin, along with the Rabbi's brother-in-law Rabbi Baruch Ben Haim; were the previous spiritual leaders of the Syrian community in New York respectively, until their passings in 1994 and 2005. Another important rabbinic figure for a number of years was Rabbi Abraham Hecht. But due to conflicting political interests during the 1990s, the Rabbi was forced into submitting his resignation. Sharing in rabbinical duties are Rabbi Yaakov Ben Haim (son of Rabbi Baruch Ben Haim), Rabbi David Maslaton, Rabbi Meyer Yedid, Rabbi Raymond Haber, Rabbi Moshe Lagnado, Rabbi Moshe Arking, and Rabbi Raymond Beyda.^[3] The synagogue generally serves the Aleppo or (Halabi) Syrian community.^[4]
• Congregation Magen David Synagogue, at 2017 67th Street between 20th and 21st Avenues. This synagogue was the former flagship of the community, and was erected in 1921. The synagogue was at its height of popularity during the 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s. The synagogue is still in continual use for daily and Shabbat prayers. It is also very notable with the community at present for holding funeral services. In 2001, the building was declared a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. By 2004, the building was certified and listed with the National Register of Historic Places. Rabbi Salomon Lankry is the current rabbi presiding over the congregation.

In addition to Syrian Jews proper, the community includes smaller groups of Israeli, Lebanese, Egyptian, Turkish, Moroccan and other similar origins, who have their own place within the overall "Syrian" communal structure. A distinction is also recognized between Halabis (from Aleppo) and Shamis (from Damascus). Furthermore, there is a perceived difference between the Modern Orthodox "White Hats" and those tending to Haredi Judaism "Black Hats", though this is a matter of degree rather than an absolute division. There are no Conservative or Reform congregations affiliated with the Syrian community.

Within the community, there is also a Sephardic Community Center fulfilling functions similar to the national JCC organization. The community is characterized by multi-generational businesses; often, children are encouraged to stay within the family business. Still, many families, recognizing the challenges to financial success posed by a lack of a university degree, have been encouraging undergraduate and graduate education, especially in the fields of business and finance. Those who pursue higher education are encouraged to remain within the familial structure. A number of magazine publications, such as Image^[5] and Community Magazine,^[6] also cover social topics in relation to the community as a whole.

Presently, there is an array of different synagogues that cater to the community's many different backgrounds, customs and liturgical styles. They are as follows:

Name	Image	State	City	Clergy	Culture	Address, Website
Ahaba Ve Ahva		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Shimon Alouf	Egyptian	1744 Ocean Parkway, Ahaba.org
Ahaba Ve Ahva Congregation & Yeshiva		New York	Brooklyn		Egyptian	2001 East 7th Street
Ahi Ezer Congregation		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Shaul Maslaton	Syrian - Shami	1885 Ocean Parkway
Ahi Ezer Torah Center		New York	Brooklyn		Syrian - Shami	1950 East 7th Street
Ahi Ezer Yeshiva Synagogue		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Hanania Elbaz	Egyptian	2433 Ocean Parkway, Ahiezeryeshiva.org
Aur Torah		New York	Staten Island	Rabbi Aharon Zeev	Syrian	1180 Rockland Avenue, Aurtorah.org
Avenue O Synagogue, Ohel Yeshua VeSarah		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Shemuel Beyda	Syrian	808 Avenue O, Avenueosynagogue.com
Ateret Torah		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Yosef Harari Raful	Sephardic Haredim	901 Quentin Road
Bet Shaul U'Miriam		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi David Cohen	Syrian	2208 Avenue S
Congregation Beth-El of Flatbush		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Ani	Syrian - Shami	2181 East 3rd Street, betelny.org
Congregation Beth Torah		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Yehuda A. Azancot	Syrian	1061 Ocean Parkway, Beth-Torah.com
Beth Yosef		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Aharon Farhi	Lebanese	2108 Ocean Parkway, BethYosef.com
B'nai Yosef Synagogue		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Haim Benoliel	Syrian, Sephardic Haredim	1616 Ocean Parkway
Bnei Binyamin Torah Center		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi David Seruya	Sephardic Haredim	727 Avenue O
Congregation Bnei Ovadia		New York	Brooklyn		Syrian	1922 East 8th Street
Bnei Shelomo V'Yaffa		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Eliezer Zeytouneh	Syrian	1305 Gravesend Neck Road, Bneishelomovyaffa.com
Congregation Bnei Yitzhak		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Joseph Beyda	Syrian	730 Avenue S, Bneiyitzhakweb.org
The Edmond J Safra Synagogue		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Eli Mansour	Syrian	1801 Ocean Parkway, ejss.org
Edmond J. Safra Synagogue		New York	Manhattan	Rabbi Elie Abadie	Syrian	11 East 63rd Street, ejsny.org
Emek Hatorah Congregation		New York	Brooklyn		Syrian	1781 Ocean Parkway
Congregation Har HaLebanon		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi David Jemal, Rabbi Clem Harari	Lebanese	820 Avenue S
Hayim Shaal Congregation		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Mordechai Maslaton	Syrian	1123 Avenue N, HayimShaal.org
Congregation Hochma U'Mussar		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Harold Sutton	Syrian	718 Avenue S, Hochmaumussar.org
Kehilat Bnei Yaakov		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Yaakov Farhi	Syrian	630 Avenue S
Keter Sion Torah Center		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Max Maslaton	Sephardic Haredim	1914 East 8th Street, Ketersion.com
Kol Israel Congregation		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Tawil, rabbi shweky, rabbi zanulani	Syrian	3211 Bedford Avenue, Kolisrael.org
Congregation Kol Yaakov		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Raymond Beyda	Lebanese	1703 McDonald Avenue
Kollel Ohel Moshe		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Shlomo Lankry	Moroccan	1848 East 7th Street
Madison Torah Center		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Danny Tawil	Syrian	2221 Avenue R
Magen Abraham		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Duvi Ben Soussan	Syrian - Shami	2066 East 9th Street
Magen David Synagogue of Manhattan		New York	Manhattan		Syrian	177 Sullivan Street, MagenDavidNY.org
Magen David Synagogue		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Haim Shaul, Rabbi Joey Haber	Syrian	2130 McDonald Avenue, Magendavidsynagogue.org
Manhattan Sephardic Congregation		New York	Manhattan	Rabbi Raphael Benchimol		325 East 75th Street, Sepharad.org
Midrash Moshe ben Maimon Congregation		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Yair Alfieh	Syrian - Shami	59 Gravesend Neck Road
Mill Basin Sephardic Congregation		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Yirmi Levy	Syrian	2133 East 64th Street, MillBasinsc.com
Mishkan Yerushalaim		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Yehoshua Alfieh	Syrian - Shami	520 Avenue X, MishkanYerushalayim.org
Mikdash Eliyahu Synagogue		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Raymond Harari, Rabbi Nissim	Syrian	2145 East 2nd Street, Mikdasheliyahu.org
Netivot Israel Congregation		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Gad Bouskila	Moroccan	1617 Ocean Parkway, Netivotisrael.org
Ohel David & Shlomo - Torat Israel Sephardic Congregation		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Yosef Bitton	Syrian	710 Shore Boulevard, Ohelds.com
Congregation Ohel Moshe		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Moshe Levy	Syrian	1601 Avenue P
Congregation Ohr Hachaim		New York	Brooklyn		Syrian - Shami	2286 Coney Island Avenue
Rabbi Yehouda Ben Betera Congregation		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Yohai Cohen	Syrian - Qamishli	2296 Coney Island Avenue, Rybbc.org
Sephardic Lebanese Congregation		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Eliyahu Elbaz	Lebanese	805 Avenue T, Slcshul.com
Sephardic Lebanese Congregation Annex		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Raymond Beyda, Rabbi Solly Mizrahi	Lebanese	807 Avenue T
Sephardic Institute Synagogue		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Moshe Shamah, Rabbi Ronald Barry	Syrian	511 Avenue R, Judaic.org
Congregation Shaare Rahamim		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Shlomo Churba	Syrian	1244 East 7th Street
Congregation Shaare Shalom		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Avi Harari	Syrian, Egyptian	2021 Avenue S, Shaareshalom.com
Shevet Achim Congregation		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Yosheyahu Shammah, Rabbi Yosef Hamra	Syrian - Shami	708 Avenue T
Shevet Achim Youth Congregation		New York	Brooklyn		Syrian - Shami	706 Avenue T
Shuva Israel		New York	Brooklyn		Persian	2015 Avenue R
Tiferet Torah Congregation		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Michael Haber	Syrian	1741 East 3rd Street
Yad Yosef Torah Center		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi David Ozeri, Rabbi David Sutton	Syrian	1032 Ocean Parkway
Congregation Yam Hatorah		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Isaac Mohadeb	Syrian	1573 East 10th Street
YDE Synagogue		New York	Brooklyn	Rabbi Ralph Gindi	Syrian - Shami	2533 Coney Island Avenue, ydeschool.org

New Jersey

The New Jersey community is mainly based in Monmouth County, especially Deal, Elberon, Long Branch, Oakhurst and Bradley Beach. The community largely consists of people who reside there during the summer months, though some live there permanently, especially in the more inland regions of Eatontown, Oakhurst and West Deal. Hillel Yeshiva, located in Ocean Township, is a notable private school that is popular among the youth of year round residents in the Deal area.

Florida

South Florida serves as a winter retreat for many Syrian Jews from the New York metropolitan area. The majority live in a gated community called Turnberry in Aventura and near-by in Sunny Isles facing the beach.

California

Maryland

Pennsylvania

References list

External links

• Sephardic and Syrian Jews in Manhattan