Syria on Wednesday approved the registration of a Jewish organization for the first time in the nation’s history.

Hind Kabawat, the first woman named to Syria’s transitional government cabinet, registered the Jewish Heritage in Syria Foundation (JHS), a significant milestone for the country’s Jewish community.

This decision enables JHS to function fully in Syria, such as setting up an office, engaging formally with the government and local communities, and acting as the recognized body tasked with safeguarding Jewish sites. 

The registration further empowers the foundation to coordinate the return of Jewish properties and to regularly bring Jewish delegations to the country.

“Jews have long been part of Syria’s religious and cultural fabric. Restoring their right to belong, to visit, and to reside again in their homeland is a natural step toward a more just, tolerant, and inclusive society,” Kabawat told Digital in a statement.

“For decades, Syrian Jews were barred from celebrating their own cultural and religious heritage, and today we take a step toward long-term peace, security, and stability. We hope the organization succeeds in its efforts to preserve Jewish heritage in Syria, and we anticipate deeper cooperation and a stronger relationship moving forward.”

Syria’s Jewish community, once numbering in the tens of thousands, decreased sharply after 1948 as restrictions and regional tensions led most families to emigrate.

Only a small number remain in the country today, and most synagogues have been destroyed following 14 years of civil war.

Henry Hamra, a Syrian American Jew and president of JHS, along with his son Joseph, spoke with Digital from Damascus’ Jewish quarter about this historic moment.

“We’re ready to begin working and to get everyone to come see what we have here—a beautiful place. And we’re ready for everyone to visit,” he said.

“Being able to travel regularly to Damascus and Aleppo brings me immense joy. Syria was closed off to us for so long. The [regime] would arrest anyone who met with a Jew or hosted a Jewish individual. Today, Syria is finally returning to its people, regardless of faith or ethnicity.”

Hamra informed Digital he has returned to Syria four times since former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s government was ousted last year in a swift offensive that ended five decades of family rule.

Monday marked the fall of the Assad regime, and tens of thousands of Syrians took to Damascus’ streets to celebrate this momentous event.

The long-standing Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, considered the U.S.’s most restrictive sanctions on Syria since its 2019 enactment, is poised to be rolled back, with a full repeal included in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The NDAA passed the House on Wednesday and now goes back to the Senate for final approval before reaching the President’s desk for signature.

Hamra told Digital there are 22 synagogues in Damascus, though most have been destroyed.

During a recent visit, he and his team viewed the rubble of the Jobar Synagogue, also known as Eliyahu Hanavi, one of the oldest in the world.

The Faranj Synagogue, he added, is the only one mostly intact. 

“It still has their books and Torah scrolls,” Hamra stated. “It’s truly a work of art.”