Syrian Security Recovers Stolen Ancient Copper Synagogue Door in Damascus
[Damascus] The Internal Security Forces in Damascus announced the recovery of an ancient copper door from one of the city’s historic Jewish synagogues.
According to The Media Line’s correspondent in Damascus, the door was stolen at dawn on Monday, prompting the Jewish community in the capital to alert the authorities.
Swift action by security units reassured many residents about the state’s ability to safeguard cultural and religious heritage.
An official source in the Ministry of Culture, the director of the Department of Antiquities Protection, told The Media Line that the door “is considered part of the religious and cultural heritage of the city of Damascus, which for centuries has embraced mosques, churches, and synagogues — all forming a mosaic of coexistence.”
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The source explained that the ministry plans to reinstall the door in its original location after restoration, emphasizing that such artifacts are protected under both national laws and international conventions.
A representative of the Internal Security Forces said early investigations suggest the theft was motivated by an attempt to sell the door as an ancient metal artifact on the black market, where demand for historical objects rises during times of crisis.
He added that security units traced the perpetrators’ movements, which made it possible to recover the door quickly.
In Jobar, the Damascus neighborhood where the synagogue is located, a resident named Ahmed expressed his relief to The Media Line: “We woke up to the news of the theft and were in great distress, not only because the door is historic, but because it is part of the memory of the neighborhood. Its quick recovery made us feel that this heritage still finds those who protect it.”
The synagogue to which the door belongs is considered one of the oldest markers of Jewish life in Damascus, reflecting the city’s long history of religious and cultural diversity.
Bakhour Shamntoub, head of the Jewish community in Syria, told The Media Line: “Today our number does not exceed the fingers of one hand, most of us are elderly. We live a quiet life, but we can no longer hold group prayers as in the past due to our small number. Although emigration was an available option for many, we chose to remain here because Damascus is our home and our roots, and we are part of its social and cultural fabric.”
This incident draws attention to the threats facing historical and religious landmarks, whether through vandalism or theft, while also pointing to the need for cooperation between local communities and official institutions to safeguard what remains of the country’s heritage.
