‘I am a Syrian Jew’
July 26, 2016Of the thousands of Syrian immigrants who have found asylum from the civil war currently plaguing Syria, it appears that there is at least one Jewish voice among them.
The Swedish The Local Voices interviewed Alonov, 25, a Jewish Syrian who has sought asylum in Sweden since 2014, about his experience growing up as a Jew in Syria.
Alanov said that, growing up in Syria, he had a nice life: ” Most of our neighbors knew that we were Jews, it was quite normal and fine.”
However, he qualified that “I never said openly that I was Jewish to those who didn’t know us[…] Schools always taught indiscriminate hatred of all Jews. Whenever I was asked, I would say that I’m Christian.”
Despite being a Jew, Alonov clearly identifies himself with the Syrian destiny, and expresses a desire to return to Syria one day and help rebuild the country:
Similar posts
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...
-
Women's Empowerment in Israel
December 15, 2023In recent decades, Israel has witnessed a remarkable evolution in the status and empowerment of wom...
-
Female Israeli Soldiers Who Defeated 100 Terrorists
December 6, 2023In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, the valiant all-female unit of the Israeli Defense Force...
-
Dear World: I Don't Care
November 2, 2023By Avi Lewis I don’t care that you sympathize with Hamas I know you wouldn’t tolerate any of ...