Historic 'Elijah's Chair' Stolen From Damascus Synagogue Recovered in Local Antique Market

A historic chair known as "Elijah's Chair," used for decades in circumcision ceremonies in Damascus's ancient Jewish quarter, was stolen from a local synagogue and disappeared for years. Recently, a community-led operation in Syria successfully located the chair in a local antique market and returned it to Jewish hands. The recovery was led by Joe Jajati, a prominent activist for Syrian-Jewish heritage preservation, who, with the help of a vigilant local Muslim antiques dealer named Moataz, identified and retrieved the chair discreetly.

The chair, crafted by local artists in 1946, holds immense artistic and cultural value and has survived many political upheavals. Although Damascus authorities have not officially commented on the theft or recovery, international media suggest the Syrian regime tacitly supports efforts to preserve Jewish sites to improve its image in the West by demonstrating respect for minority rights and religious freedom.

Alongside this recovery, extensive restoration work has begun at the old and neglected Jewish cemetery in Damascus. Notably, the grave of Rabbi Nissim Nadav, the last chief rabbi of Damascus and the final person to accompany Israeli spy Eli Cohen before his execution in 1965, has been refurbished. These restoration efforts are heavily guarded due to recent arson attempts that were thwarted by local residents and firefighters. Bichor Siman Tov, one of the few remaining Jews in Damascus, confirmed in an interview that the cemetery is undergoing significant renovation funded by civil and community organizations rather than the government.