Launch Committee for Syrian Jewry

The plight of the 4500 Jews remaining virtual captives in Syria has been placed on the city’s Jewish community’s agenda with the formation of the Legal Committee for Syrian Jewry. The Committee’s formation was announced at a special meeting chaired by Rabbi Jacob Ott, chairman of the Commission on the Middle East of Jewish Federation-Council’s Community Relations Committee.

Janet Waxman, wife of Congressman Henry Waxman (D.Calif.) briefed the participants on the current situation of the Jews in Syria. Mrs. Waxman has traveled to Damascus and was involved in the recent release of 14 Syrian Jewish women for proxy marriages in New York. Also participating in the meeting was Councilman Art Snyder who pledged the support of the Los Angeles city government and Fred Nameth, chairman of the Legal Committee.

According to Ott, “The problem of Syrian Jewry is after overlooked due to the cultural background and relatively small number of people involved. Yet these Jews, with the Falashas of Ethiopia, may be the most victimized in the Jewish world.”

While briefing the nearly 50 attorneys and CRC members attending the meeting, Mrs. Waxman encouraged committee members to utilize their positions in the legal community to expose the plight of Syrian Jewry in all forms of the media. She also urged the committee to present legal documents to international human rights agencies highlighting Syria’s constant refusal to acknowledge the basic human rights of emigration and reunification of families promised by its signing of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. The major focus of the committee’s work will be to exert pressure for the free emigration of the entire community, Mrs. Waxman said.