Syrian Jewish communities of the United States


The Syrian Jewish Communities of the United States are a collection of communities of Syrian Jews, mostly founded at the beginning of the 20th century. The largest are in Brooklyn, Deal, New Jersey and Miami. The population of the New York and New Jersey communities is currently estimated at about 90,000.

New York

The first Syrian Jews to arrive in the United States were Jacob Dwek and Ezra Sitt, both of Aleppo. They sailed from Liverpool, England on July 22, 1892 on the Germania. After the start of the 20th century, more immigrants came to the U.S. for three reasons: First, an economic decline in Syria crippled their ability to earn a living. Second, the Young Turks, a rebel group responsible for the overthrow of the Ottoman sultan, were conscripting Jews into the Army. Third, the rise of Zionism led to increased anti-Semitism in the Middle Eastern region. Most settled on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Later settlements were in Bensonhurst, Midwood, Flatbush, and along Ocean Parkway in Gravesend, Brooklyn. The latter is considered to be the current center of the community, though the community was formerly centered around the Magen David Synagogue on 67th street in the Bensonhurst neighborhood as listed below:
In addition to Syrian Jews proper, the community includes smaller groups of Israeli, Lebanese, Egyptian, Turkish, Moroccan and other similar origins, who have their own place within the overall "Syrian" communal structure. A distinction is also recognized between Halabis and Shamis. Furthermore, there is a perceived difference between the Modern Orthodox "White Hats" and those tending to Haredi Judaism "Black Hats", though this is a matter of degree rather than an absolute division. There are no Conservative or Reform congregations affiliated with the Syrian community.
Within the community, there is also a fulfilling functions similar to the national JCC organization. The community is characterized by multi-generational businesses; often, children are encouraged to stay within the family business. Still, many families, recognizing the challenges to financial success posed by a lack of a university degree, have been encouraging undergraduate and graduate education, especially in the fields of business and finance. Those who pursue higher education are encouraged to remain within the familial structure. A number of magazine publications, such as Image and Community Magazine, also cover social topics in relation to the community as a whole.

Synagogues

Presently, there is an array of different synagogues that cater to the community's many different backgrounds, customs and liturgical styles. They are as follows:
NameImageStateCityClergyCultureAddress, Website
Ahaba Ve AhvaNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Shimon AloufEgyptian1744 Ocean Parkway,
Ahaba Ve Ahva Congregation & YeshivaNew YorkBrooklynEgyptian2001 East 7th Street
Ahi Ezer CongregationNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Shaul MaslatonSyrian - Shami1885 Ocean Parkway
Ahi Ezer Torah CenterNew YorkBrooklynSyrian - Shami1950 East 7th Street
Ahi Ezer Yeshiva SynagogueNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Hanania ElbazEgyptian2433 Ocean Parkway,
Aur TorahNew YorkStaten IslandRabbi Aharon ZeevSyrian1180 Rockland Avenue,
Avenue N Sephardic CongregationNew YorkBrooklynSyrian321 Avenue N
Avenue O Synagogue, Ohel Yeshua VeSarahNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Shemuel BeydaSyrian808 Avenue O
Ateret TorahNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Yosef Harari RafulSephardic Haredim901 Quentin Road
Bet Shaul U'MiriamNew YorkBrooklynRabbi David CohenSyrian2208 Avenue S
Congregation Beth-El of FlatbushNew YorkBrooklynRabbi AniSyrian - Shami2181 East 3rd Street
Congregation Beth TorahNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Yehuda A. AzancotSyrian1061 Ocean Parkway,
Beth YosefNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Aharon FarhiSyrian2108 Ocean Parkway,
B'nai Yosef SynagogueNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Haim BenolielSyrian, Sephardic Haredim1616 Ocean Parkway,
Bnei Binyamin Torah CenterNew YorkBrooklynRabbi David SeruyaSephardic Haredim727 Avenue O
Congregation Bnei OvadiaNew YorkBrooklynSyrian1922 East 8th Street
Bnei Shelomo V'YaffaNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Eliezer ZeytounehSyrian - Shami1305 Gravesend Neck Road
Bnei Yehuda CongregationNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Yohai CohenSyrian - Qamishli2296 Coney Island Avenue
Congregation Bnei YitzhakNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Joseph BeydaSyrian730 Avenue S,
The Edmond J Safra SynagogueNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Eli MansourSyrian1801 Ocean Parkway,
Congregation Beit EdmondNew YorkManhattanRabbi Shlomo FarhiSyrian11 East 63rd Street,
Emek Hatorah CongregationNew YorkBrooklynSyrian, Sephardic Haredim1781 Ocean Parkway,
Congregation Har HaLebanonNew YorkBrooklynRabbi David Jemal, Rabbi Clem HarariLebanese/Shami820 Avenue S
Hayim Shaal CongregationNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Mordechai MaslatonSyrian1123 Avenue N
Congregation Hochma U'MussarNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Harold SuttonSyrian718 Avenue S,
Kehilat Bnei YaakovNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Yaakov FarhiSyrian630 Avenue S
Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun Sephardic MinyanNew YorkManhattanRabbi Meyer LaniadoSyrian125 East 85th Street,
Keter Sion Torah CenterNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Max MaslatonSephardic Haredim1914 East 8th Street,
Keter Torah CongregationNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Abraham Harari RafulSephardic Haredim2220 Avenue L
Kol Israel CongregationNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Tawil, Rabbi Shweky, Rabbi ZanulaniSyrian3211 Bedford Avenue,
Congregation Kol YaakovNew YorkBrooklynRabbi MansourLebanese1703 McDonald Avenue
Kollel Ohel MosheNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Shlomo LankryMoroccan1848 East 7th Street
Madison Torah CenterNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Danny TawilSyrian2221 Avenue R
Magen AbrahamNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Duvi Ben SoussanSyrian - Shami2066 East 9th Street,
Magen David Synagogue of ManhattanNew YorkManhattanRabbi Maimon MamanSyrian177 Sullivan Street,
Magen David of ScarsdaleNew YorkScarsdaleSyrian1225 Weaver Street,
Magen David Synagogue of Staten IslandNew YorkStaten IslandSyrian192 Braisted Avenue
Magen David SynagogueNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Haim Shaul, Rabbi Joey HaberSyrian2130 McDonald Avenue,
Manhattan East SynagogueNew YorkManhattanRabbi Elie AbadieSyrian1231 3rd Avenue,
Manhattan Sephardic CongregationNew YorkManhattanRabbi Raphael Benchimol325 East 75th Street,
Midrash Moshe ben Maimon CongregationNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Yair AlfiehSyrian - Shami59 Gravesend Neck Road
Mill Basin Sephardic CongregationNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Yirmi LevySyrian2133 East 64th Street,
Mishkan YerushalaimNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Yehoshua AlfiehSyrian - Shami520 Avenue X
Mikdash Eliyahu SynagogueNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Raymond Harari, Rabbi NissimSyrian2145 East 2nd Street,
Mikdash MelechNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Chaim Benoliel, Rabbi BeydaSyrian1326 Ocean Parkway
The Ohel Moshe Synagogue SynagogueNew YorkManhattanSyrian130 East 82nd Street,
Netivot Israel CongregationNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Gad BouskilaMoroccan1617 Ocean Parkway
Ohel David & Shlomo - Torath Israel Sephardic CongregationNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Yosef BittónSyrian710 Shore Boulevard,
Congregation Ohr EliyahuNew YorkBrooklynRabbi David KhaskySyrian702 Avenue O
Congregation Ohel MosheNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Moshe LevySyrian1601 Avenue P
Persian Congregation of FlatbushNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Shmuel SoleimaniPersian1434 Ocean Parkway
Sephardic Congregation of the Five TownsNew YorkCedarhurstRabbi Mordechai Ben-HaimSyrian539 Oakland Avenue,
Sephardic Lebanese CongregationNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Eliyahu Elbaz
Rabbi Abraham Hayoun		Lebanese/Shami805 Avenue T,
Sephardic Institute SynagogueNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Moshe Shamah, Rabbi Ronald BarrySyrian511 Avenue R,
Sephardic Torah Center of Marine ParkNew YorkBrooklynSyrian3602 Quentin Road
Congregation Shaare RahamimNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Shlomo ChurbaSyrian1244 East 7th Street
Shaare Zion of Great NeckNew YorkGreat NeckPersian25 Devon Road
Congregation Shaare ShalomNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Avi HarariSyrian, Egyptian2021 Avenue S,
Shevet Achim CongregationNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Yosheyahu Shammah, Rabbi Yosef HamraSyrian - Shami708 Avenue T
Shevet Achim Youth CongregationNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Yosheyahu ShammahSyrian - Shami706 Avenue T
Shuva IsraelNew YorkBrooklynPersian2015 Avenue R
Tiferet Torah CongregationNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Michael HaberSyrian1741 East 3rd Street
West Side Sephardic SynagogueNew YorkManhattanSyrian270 West 84th Street,
Yad Yosef Torah CenterNew YorkBrooklynRabbi David Ozeri, Rabbi David SuttonSyrian1032 Ocean Parkway,
Congregation Yam HatorahNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Isaac MohadebSyrian1573 East 10th Street
YDE SynagogueNew YorkBrooklynRabbi Ralph GindiSyrian - Shami2533 Coney Island Avenue,

New Jersey

The New Jersey community is mainly based in Monmouth County, especially Deal, Elberon, Long Branch, Oakhurst and Bradley Beach. The community largely consists of people who reside there during the summer months, though some live there permanently, especially in the more inland regions of Eatontown, Oakhurst and West Deal. Hillel Yeshiva, located in Ocean Township, is a notable private school that is popular among the youth of year round residents in the Deal area.
NameImageStateCityClergyCultureAddress, Website
Bet RachelNew JerseyWest Long BranchRabbi Howard Bald, Rabbi Richard TobiasSyrian48 Larchwood Avenue
Edmond J. Safra Synagogue of DealJoseph S. Jemal synagogue New JerseyDealRabbi Isaac FarhiSyrian75 Hathaway Avenue,
Logan Road SynagogueNew JerseyOcean TownshipRabbi Sion OzeriSyrian1200 Roseld Avenue
Magen David of West DealNew JerseyWest DealRabbi Saul J. Kassin, Rabbi Albert Setton, Rabbi Joseph DanaSyrian395 Deal Road,
Magen David CongregationNew JerseyBradley BeachSyrian101 5th Avenue
Synagogue of DealNew JerseyDealRabbi Isaac DwekSyrian128 Norwood Avenue
Synagogue of OakhurstNew JerseyOakhurstRabbi Jack MevorahSyrian280 South Lincoln Avenue
Ohel SimhaNew JerseyLong BranchRabbi Shemuel ChouekaSyrian295 Park Avenue,
Ohel YaacobNew JerseyDealRabbi Moshe Malka, Rabbi Eli MansourSyrian4 Lawrence Avenue,
Ahabah Ve AhvaNew JerseyDealRabbi Michael Haber, Rabbi Joey HaberEgyptian108 Norwood Avenue,
Shaare EzraNew JerseyLong BranchRabbi David NahemSyrian36 Cedar Avenue,
Ohel Yis'hak Sephardic SynagogueNew JerseyAllenhurstRabbi Moshe ShamahSyrian108 Allen Avenue
Magen AvrahamNew JerseyWest Long BranchRabbi Reuven SemahSyrian479 Monmouth Road,
Shaare Tefilah Bnei MosheNew JerseyEatontownRabbi Moshe Douek, Rabbi Victor GherianiSyrian20 Whalepond Road,

Florida

South Florida serves as a winter retreat for many Syrian Jews from Brooklyn and the New York metropolitan area. The majority spend the winter season in the opulent gated community of Turnberry Isle and the surrounding communities, located within the City of Aventura. There they live according to the Jewish and Sephardic traditions of benefiting the community by studying Torah, prayer, and performing acts of kindness.
NameImageStateCityClergyCultureAddress, Website
Edmond J. Safra Synagogue of TurnberryFloridaAventuraRabbi GalimidiSyrian19275 Mystic Pointe Drive,
Shaare Zion of FloridaFloridaSunny Isles BeachRabbi Aaron LankrySyrian200 178th Street
Shaare Ezra Sephardic CongregationFloridaMiami BeachRabbi SovaSyrian945 41st Street,

California

Michigan

Pennsylvania