Unknown individuals set fire to the ancient Jewish cemetery in Damascus, Syria, marking the second such incident this month and raising renewed concerns about the preservation of one of the region’s most historic Jewish sites.

According to reports, emergency crews from Syrian authorities were dispatched to the scene and were filmed working to extinguish the flames, which burned through portions of the cemetery grounds. The incident was reported by Israeli journalist Roy Kais of Kan 11.

The latest fire is not the first act of vandalism targeting Jewish heritage sites in Syria since the rise of the country’s new government under Ahmed al-Sharaa. In April 2025, the kever of the renowned kabbalist Rav Chaim Vital, a primary talmid of the Arizal, was desecrated in what appeared to be an attempt to steal his remains. The damage was later repaired.

The repeated incidents have sparked concerns among those monitoring the condition of Syria’s remaining Jewish landmarks, many of which date back centuries and serve as important reminders of the once-thriving Jewish community that lived in the country.

At the same time, Syria’s current leadership has sought to project a more tolerant image toward the country’s Jewish heritage and the tiny Jewish community that remains there. Observers say those efforts are part of a broader campaign aimed at improving relations with Western nations and the United States and distancing the government from accusations of extremism.

The identity of those responsible for the latest fire remains unknown, and it is unclear whether the blaze was part of a deliberate campaign targeting Jewish sites.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)