Jews of Syria
Because of the proximity of Syria and Israel, there was extensive contact between the two lands. Damascus is mentioned in the Bible numerous times and is thought to have been controlled by King David at one point. Later, Damascus and Aleppo were trade centers that contained large Jewish communities for centuries. Today, the major split among Syrian Jews is based on which city they originate from. Halabi Jews have roots in Aleppo, while Shami Jews trace their origins to Damascus.
