Remains of a mortar bomb on the walls of the destroyed Old Bath, an ancient building located 450 meters to the east of The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue.

Al-Sadat Mosque was also destroyed in the Syrian civil war. The famous ancient mosque is located some 450 meters to the east of the The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue in Jobar, Damascus.

Destroyed buildings near The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue in Jobar, Damascus.

The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue was an ancient synagogue complex destroyed in May of 2014.

Remains of the destroyed Old Bath, an ancient building located 450 meters to the east of The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue.

Remains of the destroyed Old Bath, an ancient building located 450 meters to the east of The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue.

Remains of the destroyed Jobar Grand Mosque in the rebel held part of Damascus.

Remains of the destroyed Jobar Grand Mosque in the rebel held part of Damascus.

Remains of the destroyed Jobar Grand Mosque in the rebel held part of Damascus.

The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue was an ancient synagogue complex destroyed in May of 2014.

The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue was an ancient synagogue complex destroyed in May of 2014.

The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue was an ancient synagogue complex destroyed in May of 2014.

Inside the destroyed Jobar Grand Mosque in the rebel held part of Damascus.

Inside the destroyed Jobar Grand Mosque in the rebel held part of Damascus.

Inside the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue, an ancient synagogue complex destroyed in May of 2014.

Inside the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue, an ancient synagogue complex destroyed in May of 2014.

Inside the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue, an ancient synagogue complex destroyed in May of 2014.

On the wall The Eliyahu Hanavi synagogue a plaque stating it was from 720 b.c.

On the wall The Eliyahu Hanavi synagogue a plaque stating it was from 720 b.c.

Al-Sadat Mosque was also destroyed in the Syrian civil war. The famous ancient mosque is located some 450 meters to the east of the The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue in Jobar, Damascus.

Destroyed buildings near The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue in Jobar, Damascus.

Al-Sadat Mosque was also destroyed in the Syrian civil war. The famous ancient mosque is located some 450 meters to the east of the The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue in Jobar, Damascus.

Ancient Jewish and Islamic sites in the Jobar neighborhood of Damascus are victims of the Syrian civil war. The rebel held area includes the oldest synagogue in Damascus and one of the oldest in the world.
The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue complex was heavily damaged in May of 2014, during shelling by the Syrian regime forces as they attempted to retake the area.
Mortar bombs also damaged and destroyed neighboring ancient Islamic sites such as the al-Sadat Mosque, al-Assaami tomb, and the Old Bath. All were hundreds of years old.
The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue used to contain what is believed to be the oldest Torah. Both regime and rebels accuse the other of stealing the synagogue’s artifacts.
The Jobar neighborhood has been controlled by Syrian rebels since regime forces withdrew in 2013. It is the closest opposition held area to central Damascus, and witnesses clashes almost on a daily basis.
Translation:
- (02:18) Abu Kamakl, Local activist:

“The Synagogue remained here in Jobar until the beginning of 2013 before the withdrawal of the regime forces. It used to contain the oldest Torah in the world and the closet to the Torah of the prophet Moses. The Synagogue also known asThe Prophet Khedr Tomb, was looted in 2013 when the regime forces withdrew from the area, they stole all the content and ancient properties of the synagogue. The Synagogue is a complex composed of two main courtyards, one of which is renovated and contains the house of the synagogue servant, and a second very old courtyard. After it was looted the regime bombed the synagogue many times until it was destroyed, as you can see there is almost nothing left of the building. There used to be a passage here and a passage there and the tomb of the prophet Khedr, the house of the servant a small school belonging to the synagogue, they were all destroyed in shelling, twice with airstrikes, once with remotely guided missiles, and now the synagogue turned to be only rocks.”

• (05:25) Abu Najem, Resident of Jobar:

“We are here near the Jobar Grand Mosque.. When the Alawite regime recognized the value of this historical old mosque that was built in the era of the Caliph Omar ben Abdul Aziz, he destroyed it to prevent muslims from coming and praying inside. As you can see they destroyed it, as they also destroyed the neighboring synagogue which is the most inveterate in the world not only in Syria, it was also looted by the Shabiha who left nothing behind. Also the targeted the Harmala ben Walid Mosque which has a great historical value and it’s famous among the Arab world, the regime forces ruined it before leaving the area.”

A local Jewish mother is teaching her young daughter how to enter a bomb shelter in their garden in case of an artillery strike.

Mariupol’s Jewish community is spread out, and some members, like Natalia Lavushko and her husband, Grigory, live on the city’s outskirts—areas that would be early targets in the event of a new offensive. The Lavushkos have stopped renovating their modest house because Ukraine’s currency devaluation has eaten into their meager income.

A young Jewish girl from the Mariupol community is writing on a board during classes inside the Chabad center.

Bar Mitzvah service, a Jewish religious tradition, in the old city of Jerusalem.

A man reads a notice posted in the Mea Shearim district, an Ultra Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Jerusalem.

A few remaining Jewish families still present in the port city of Mariupol allow their children to be taught at the only Chabad center left in the town.

Young members of the Jewish community are learning how to use a computer in a basement inside the Chabad center of Mariupol.

Teachers from the Chabad center of Mariupol are teaching young ones how to use a computer.

A group of Jewish teenagers have gathered, as they do each day, in the Chabad center to play piano, and interact.

A group of teenagers are taking some time off by inspecting the near by destroyed original Synagogue of Mariupol.

A pair of Jewish girls are having fun inside the remains of the destroyed Synagogue of Mariupol.

Rabbi Cohen is reflecting on the idea to one day rebuilt the once proud and only Synagogue of Mariupol.

Rabbi Cohen is playing with a tree branch inside the remains of the only Synagogue in Mariupol.

Rabbi Cohen and two teenagers of the community are walking back to the Chabad center.

Only a few thousand Jews have remained in the port city of Mariupol. A mere 12 kilometers east of the city, fighting rages between pro-Russian separatists and volunteer battalions struggling to keep the town of Shirokino. The Chabad Lubavitch organization tries to keep track of its members still within the city while providing aim to the numerous Jewish families in need. Volunteers gather each day at the local Chabad center in central Mariupol helping to pack foodstuffs in plastic bags for local Jewish families who have decided to remain in the port city.

Natasha Ralko's windows were blown out while she was sitting in the living room of her apartment with her daughter and 8-month-old infant. Her kitchen is now heavily damaged. Ralko believes the death toll in eastern Ukraine is much higher than reported. Mariupol’s Jewish community is spread out, and some members, like Natalia Lavushko and her husband, Grigory, live on the city’s outskirts—areas that would be early targets in the event of a new offensive. The Lavushkos have stopped renovating their modest house because Ukraine’s currency devaluation has eaten into their meager income.

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Members of the Chabad community are taking a break from packing food produce.

A view of a Jewish calendar which shows old photos of the thriving Jewish community before WWI.