Historic Elijah Prophet Chair Returned to Old Damascus Synagogue Amid Jewish Cemetery Renovations

As renovation work begins on the Jewish cemetery in Damascus, local authorities appear to be demonstrating improved treatment of the Jewish community. A historic chair used for circumcision ceremonies, believed to have belonged to the prophet Elijah and stolen from the old synagogue in Damascus's Jewish quarter, was recently found in a local market. Local residents helped recover the chair, which is considered one of the most significant heritage items of the Syrian Jewish community.

Joe Jajati, speaking to The Media Line, expressed immense gratitude and relief for the chair's return, emphasizing its exceptional historical value. Crafted by Jewish artisans in Damascus around 1946, the chair symbolizes the rich cultural and artistic legacy left by Damascus's Jewish population over centuries. Details about the theft and its timing have not been disclosed, and Syrian authorities have not officially confirmed the theft or recovery.

On his X (formerly Twitter) account, Jajati thanked Moutaz, an antiques shop owner in Old Damascus, and the local neighbors who supported the effort, highlighting the community's unity and respect for their shared heritage. He described the chair as a sacred link to the past and a unique symbol of faith and tradition from the old Jewish quarter.

Separately, a heritage organization recently documented the start of restoration work at the ancient Jewish cemetery in Damascus, including the grave of Rabbi Nissim Nadav, the city's former chief rabbi who accompanied Israeli spy Eli Cohen in his final moments before execution. In recent days, there were at least two arson attempts at the cemetery, which were extinguished by local emergency services, leading to increased security. Bikur Siman Tov, one of the last Jews in Damascus, told Kan 11 that the cemetery is undergoing extensive renovation without direct involvement from the authorities.