Syria's tiny Jewish community and Syrian Jews abroad are trying to build bridges after Bashar al-Assad's ouster in the hope of reviving their ancient heritage before the community dies out.

This week, a small number of Jews living in Damascus, along with others from abroad, held a group prayer for the first time in more than three decades, in the Faranj synagogue in Damascus's Old City.

"There were nine of us Jews (in Syria). Two died recently," community leader Bakhour Chamntoub told AFP in his home in the Old City's Jewish quarter.

"I'm the youngest. The rest are elderly people who stay in their homes," the tailor in his sixties added in a thick Damascus accent.

After Islamist-led rebels finally toppled Assad in December last year after nearly 14 years of conflict, the country's dwindling community has recently welcomed back several Syrian Jews who had emigrated.

Syria's millennia-old Jewish community was permitted to practise their faith under Assad's father, Hafez, and had friendly relations with their fellow countrymen.

But the strongman restricted their movement and prevented them from travelling........

© Al Monitor