Connection Between Assyria and Syria

 Nadene Goldfoot                                       

Is there any connection between Assyria and Syria? 

Yes, there is a direct historical and etymological connection between Assyria and Syria. "Syria" is a shortened, Greek-derived form of "Assyria". While the ancient Assyrian Empire was centered in modern-day Iraq, it ruled over the area of modern Syria, leading to a blending of names that continues today. Etymological Origin: The name "Syria" is a 9th-century BCE Indo-European corruption/shortening of "Assyria". Archaeological findings, such as the 8th-century BC Çineköy inscription, confirm that the Luwian term Su-ra/i (Syria) was used to refer to Aššur (Assyria).                             

Assyrians were Semites and established an aggressive kingdom in the 20th century BCE.  They expanded in the 13th and 10th centuries.  Kings David and Solomon had success against the Aramean states in Mesopotamia and Syria helping Assyrian's success. Manassah of Judah was exiled to Assyria in 652 as a result of complicity in a plot against Ashurbanipal (669-626 BCE). After this time, Assyria declined rapidly and was succeed by Babylon.      

• Geographical Overlap: Ancient Assyria primarily covered northern Iraq, southeastern Turkey, and northeastern Syria. Over time, the name "Syria" was applied to a broader region, including the area previously known as Aramea.                                                                                     

A well-known king of Assyria was Ashurnasirpal.  Here he is on a lion hunt on horseback.  (Ezek. 28:14)

• Historical Shifts: After the fall of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, Greek and later Roman rulers used "Syria" for the region, which was, at times, administratively distinct from the Assyrian heartland.

                                                            

• Syria's first King was Prince Faisal of Hejaz who was proclaimed King of the Arab Kingdom of Syria by the Syrian National Congress on March 8, 1920. Following the San Remo Conference, French forces invaded, defeated Faisal's troops at the Battle of Maysalun, and expelled him in July 1920.  He was subsequently crowned King of Iraq on August 23, 1921, reigning until his death on September 8, 1933. 
• Modern Day: Modern Syria is an Arab republic formed in the 20th century,   which is distinct from the ancient Assyrian civilization. The projected population of Syria in 2025 is approximately 25.6 million people, according to estimates from the Worldometer and the United Nations Population Fund. This represents a growth from 2024, with a median age of around 23.3 years. 
  
                                     Assyrian Christian baptism in Syria
• However, the indigenous Assyrian people still reside in parts of modern Syria, Iraq, and Turkey.   Indigenous Assyrians in Syria are an ancient Aramaic-speaking, Christian ethno-religious minority native to Upper Mesopotamia, primarily residing in the Al-Hasakah Governorate. Numbering roughly 400,000–877,000 before the Syrian Civil War, they are descendants of ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. Today, they are facing significant displacement, threats from extremist groups, and demographic decline.   They are concentrated in the northeast, particularly along the Khabur River, and in cities like Qamishli, Al-Hasakah, and Tell Tamer. Hasakah, and Tell Tamer. They are recognized as a distinct indigenous group, sharing heritage with Chaldeans, Syriacs, and Arameans.
• 
             President Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa (born 29 October 1982)
• Today's President of Syria, 44 years old is a "former " terrorist known to many Syrians still practicing his old habits of terrorizing and leading a war against the Kurds and Israelis.  Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, now using his real name of Ahmed al Sharaa-being he is President,  is a Syrian who fought for Al Qaeda terrorists in Iraq and founded Jabhat al-Nusra, the Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria. He later broke with Al Qaeda and ISIS. He led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist group that opposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The United States had designated him a terrorist. Now, US President Trump trusts and loves  him.  Al-Sharaa was appointed as president by the Syrian General Command on 8 January 2025 during the transitional period at the Syrian Revolution Victory Conference.  Citizens are once again leaving Damascus.  

Resource:

 The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrians_in_Syria#:~:text=Assyrians%20in%20Syria%20(Syriac:%20%DC%A3%DC%98%DC%AA%CC%88%DC%9D%DC%9D%DC%90,Mesopotamia%20at%20the%20Euphrates%20River.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sharaa%2C+President+of+Syria&sca_esv=50e270cee628dfd9&sxsrf=ANbL-n6m05omhzkccQPN45FQCfaAjwUEwQ%3A1769660674099&source=hp&ei=

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faisal_I#:~:text=Faisal%20bin%20Hussein%20bin%20Ali,of%20Iraq%20under%20British%20administration.

  

US Ships In Mediterranean Ready To Act

Nadene Goldfoot                                             

As of late January 2026, the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) carrier strike group has entered the Middle East, operating within reach of Iran to address escalating tensions. Concurrently, the USS Roosevelt (DDG-80) is deployed in the region, and other U.S. naval assets, including additional carriers, have been reported in the Mediterranean and broader area. 

President Donald Trump said that the US has a "big armada"near Iran, so Tehran's leadership now want to make a deal.

• "Iranian authorities continue to warn of serious ramifications in case of US military strikes,"  They are continuing to arrest citizens of Iran participating in the protests.  At the same time, they have created an internet blackout so that these young people cannot communicate with each other.  They can't watch TV, either.  

• "Reports indicate a significant, multi-carrier, and destroyer presence, including the USS McFaul and USS Mitscher, in the region, say Stars and Stripes and Ynetnews.
• Regional Presence: Alongside carrier groups, the U.S. maintains a persistent presence of destroyers (such as the USS Forrest Sherman and USS Truxtun) in the Red Sea and Mediterranean for missile defense and deterrence.
• Context: These movements are part of a surge in military assets to the Middle East, with roughly 30,000 troops and numerous warships stationed in the region to counter threats, including those from Iran. 
This deployment is highly fluid, with ships frequently moving between the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf. 

• Yemen Rebels Threaten Attack as US Aircraft Carrier Heads Toward Iran | Associated Press 

  Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels threatened new attacks on ships traveling through the Red Sea corridor, likely trying to back Iran as it worried Monday about an approaching U.S. aircraft carrier after President Donald Trump threatened military action over its crackdown on nationwide protests. 

• Context: This buildup is a response to intense, direct warnings from the Trump administration to the Iranian regime." 

Iran Protest Death Toll Could Top 30,000, According to Local Health Officials | Time 

As many as 30,000 people could have been killed in the streets of Iran on Jan. 8 and 9 alone, two senior officials of the country’s Ministry of Health told TIME—indicating a dramatic surge in the death toll. So many people were slaughtered by Iranian security services on that Thursday and Friday, it overwhelmed the state’s capacity to dispose of the dead. Stocks of body bags were exhausted, the officials said, and eighteen-wheel semi-trailers replaced ambulances.                           

As of late January 2026, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is reportedly in hiding, having moved to a heavily fortified underground bunker in Tehran. He relocated to this secure facility in the Lavizan area of northeastern Tehran following fears of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes amid intense protests and regional conflict. Location: He is believed to be in a secure site linked by tunnels, possibly in the Lavizan area or another, undisclosed fortified bunker in Tehran. He is reportedly still in control but operating from a hidden location, managing the regime with close family members, including his son, Mojtaba

.  

Contingency Plans: Reports suggest a "Plan B" exists, with potential plans to flee to Moscow if necessary. 

As of January 2026, there is no deal between Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Donald Trump. Instead, tensions have escalated, with Trump urging negotiations to prevent the total destruction of Iran's nuclear capabilities while Khamenei has rejected these offers, calling them arrogant pressure. The situation remains hostile, with Iran warning against U.S. actions against its leadership. 

• Failed Negotiations: Trump sent a letter in early 2025 seeking negotiations, which was rejected by the Ayatollah.
• Heightened Rhetoric: Khamenei has accused Trump of having "stained" hands and of inciting protests.
• Military Tension: Trump has stated he knows the location of the Iranian leader and has urged a "deal" to avoid further escalation, following Iranian retaliation against Israel.
• Fatwa: Reports indicated an Iranian grand ayatollah issued a fatwa against Trump in June 2025. 

 

Resource:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/1/27/live-us-iran-ratchet-up-rhetoric-as-big-armada-forms-in-the-middle-east

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/26/aircraft-carrier-iran-trump-navy/

https://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/news/iran-protest-death-toll-could-top-30000-according-to-local-health-officials

Could Jews From Holocaust Era Enter Syria?

 Nadene Goldfoot                                              

                                                 Jewish family in Damascus 1901

I have a friend whose mother lived on Jew Street in Damascus, Syria with her family.  She parents were Cohens, a Jeweler.   Could they have been immigrants? Could this be their family? The family was Halabi.    

No, it was generally not possible for Jewish refugees from Holocaust Germany to legally enter Syria during that period. Syria was under French Mandate authority at the time, and its immigration policies, much like those of many other nations and the British Mandate in neighboring Palestine, were highly restrictive toward Jewish refugees. 

During the 1930s and 1940s:

• Widespread Restrictions: Most countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, significantly restricted Jewish immigration due to a combination of antisemitism, economic depression, isolationist policies, and national security concerns. The British, who controlled the Palestine Mandate, severely limited Jewish entry there as well, particularly after the 1939 White Paper, making it nearly impossible for many to find safe haven.
• Syria Under Mandate: Syria was under French control until 1946. There is no evidence of a specific policy by the French Mandate authorities to accept Jewish refugees from Germany. In fact, within Syria itself, there were periods of heightened anti-Jewish sentiment and violence in the late 1930s and early 1940s, leading many local Syrian Jews to seek escape to Palestine.
• Illegal Escape Routes: Some European Jews attempted to escape via the Balkans and Turkey toward Palestine, often through clandestine operations, but this was a difficult and dangerous process, not a legal immigration channel into Syria.
• Post-Independence: After Syria gained independence, the situation for its Jewish population deteriorated further, with the government explicitly banning Jewish emigration to Palestine and imposing harsh penalties for those who attempted to leave illegally. 
In essence, during the Holocaust, the overwhelming majority of countries closed their doors to Jewish refugees, and Syria was no exception to this global pattern of indifference and restrictive policies. 

                                        Aleppo Syria Jewish wedding in 1904
  1492 When Columbus (a hidden Jew (anusim) sailed the ocean blue

The history of the Jews in Syria goes back to ancient times. They were joined by Sephardim who fled after the expulsion of the Jews from Spain and Portugal in 1492 CE. There were large Jewish communities in Aleppo, Damascus, and Qamishli for centuries. In the early 20th century, a large percentage of Syrian Jews immigrated to British Mandate-Palestine (Israel), the U.S. and Latin America.  

However, following the Syrian Civil War, some of the remaining Jews of Syria left the country. In 2022, it was alleged that only four Jews remain in Damascus. As of April 4 2025, there are approximately six remaining Jews in Damascus.

• Sephardic Haven: Following the 1492 expulsion from Spain, many Sephardic Jews settled in Aleppo, enriching its intellectual and commercial life. 

The community, known as Halabi (from Aleppo), maintained a strong, distinct, and influential presence until most left following anti-Jewish riots in 1947. 

                                 



Model of the Central Synagogue of Aleppo in The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot:  Is it still there in 2026?  

Resource:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Syria

Jews Living In Germany At Start Of Holocaust

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                

First day of school

Berta Rosenheim, Jewish,  poses with a large cone, traditionally filled with sweets and stationery, on her first day of school. Leipzig, Germany, April 1929.

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Approximately 500,000 to 530,000 Jews lived in Germany around 1930–1933, comprising less than 1% of the total population. While precise yearly census data for 1930-31 is less common than 1933 figures, estimations confirm the population remained around 525,000 just before the Nazis took power.  (We Jews continue to be only less than 1% of world population.)

In the 1930s, prominent German ships like the SS Europa and SS Bremen dominated transatlantic routes from Germany to the United States, representing a peak in maritime luxury and speed. These, along with other vessels, frequently transported passengers and mail, often sailing from major ports like Hamburg or Bremen to New York, often featuring distinctive, sleek designs.                                               

      MS St Louis ship:  In 1939, the St. Louis carried more than 900 Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany intending to escape antisemitic persecution. The refugees first tried to disembark in Cuba but were denied permission to land. After Cuba, the captain, Gustav Schröder, went to the United States and Canada, trying to find a nation to take the Jews in, but both nations refused. He finally returned the ship to Europe, where various countries, including the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, accepted some refugees.

Following the German occupation of France, Belgium and the Netherlands during World War II, refugees were persecuted during the Holocaust, and some historians have estimated that approximately a quarter of them were killed in death camps. These events, also known as the "Voyage of the Damned", have inspired film, opera, and fiction.

   Jewish refugees arrive at Haifa's Port on November 1, 1945. 

 In 1945, it was illegal for Jews to immigrate to Palestine primarily due to the British Mandatory authority’s strict enforcement of the 1939 White Paper. This policy, aimed at preventing further Arab revolts and securing British strategic interests, aimed to limit Jewish immigration to 75,000 over five years, after which further immigration was disallowed without Arab consent. (Giving the mandate to Britainwas political as they had kept out Jews from their country for365 years!!!)

Of 75,000 Jewish refugees of 1933, 1934 and 1935, the largest singlegroup, 30,000 in all, had gone to Palestine.   9,000 had gone to the USA.

About 2,000 had gone to Britain and others to South Africa, Canada, andAustralia, which were English speaking countries.  Thousands more went toFrance, Holland, Belgium, Austria and Czechoslovakia.  

Those German Jews who, like Richard Frankel, were under pressure, left Germany .  More than 75,000 German Jews had emigrated or fled by theend of August 1935.  Of these, several thousand were Jewish according toNazis, known to them as "Christian non-Aryans".  They were condemnedwith being non-Aryan;  meaning Jewish.

Who was Richard Frankel?  Take your pick.  

• Dr. Richard E. Frankel (Modern Historian): A contemporary American professor of modern German history at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, who specializes in antisemitism, nationalism, and the Holocaust. He is the author of Bismarck's Shadow: The Cult of Leadership and the Transformation of the German Right, 1898-1945 and Antisemitism Before the Holocaust. He is not a person from the 1930s himself, but a scholar of that era.
• Richard Frenkel (Holocaust Victim): A two-year-old child born in 1940 who was deported from France to Auschwitz in 1942.
• Richard Frenkel (Berlin/New York): A man born around 1884 in Germany who lived in Berlin in 1935 and emigrated to New York by 1940. 
• What happened to the Jews who remained in Germany like my Uncle Werner Oster's parents?  They were Ferdinand Oster and Rosa  Ullmann.  They  died August 1, 1942 in Krasniczyn concentration camp, Poland Camp; Holocaust KZ.  Based on available records, there is no evidence of a major concentrationor extermination camp in Krasniczyn, Poland. It appears there may be confusion with the nearby Budzyń concentration camp, where hundreds to thousands of Jews were imprisoned and many perished between 1942 and 1944. 
• These camps were as follows:
• Auschwitz-Birkenau (Oswiecim, near Kraków) 
• Belzec (near the current Ukrainian border north-west of L'viv) 
• Kulmhof (Chelmno, between Warsaw and Poznan) 
• Majdanek (near Lublin) 
• Sobibór (south of Brest-Litovsk) 
• Treblinka (north-east of Warsaw) 
• Warschau (in Warsaw) 
• A quarter (1/4) of the remaining Jews had been kept from their professional liveli-
• hood by boycott, decree, or local pressure.  More than 10,000 public health and
• social workers had been driven out of their posts.  4,000 lawyers were without the
• right to practice, 2,000 doctors had been expelled from hospitals and clinics;  
• 2,000 actors, singers and musicians had been driven from their orchestras, clubs
• and cafes.  1200 editors and journalists had been dismissed, and 800 university
• professors and leturers, and 800 elementary and secondary school-teachers.

The search for Jews, and for converted Jews, to be driven out of their jobs was con-

tinuous.  On September 5, 1935, the SS newspaper published the names of 8 half

-Jews and converted Jews, all of the Evangelical-Lutheran faith at the time, who had

been dismissed without notice" and deprived of opportunity 'of acting as organists in

Christian churches".  The Reich Chamber of Music is taking steps to protect the

church from pernicious influence." 

Reference:

Holocaust by Martin Gilbert