THE IMMIGRATION OF SYRIAN JEWS TO NEW YORK 1992-1994 An Agency's Adaptation to a Different Culture

GLORIA ZICHT, A.C.S.W. Director of Social Services, New York Association for New Americans, Inc., New York

From 1992 to 1994, virtually the entire Syrian Jewish community emigrated to New York City. To facilitate their smooth adjustment, resettlement workers employed a cultur­ ally sensitive approach, modifying policies and procedures to accommodate the needs of the Syrian Jews. This experience confirmed the importance of providing resettlement ex­ periences that are congruent with emigres' culture.

ews have hved in Syria since Old Testa­ (Cohen, 1973, p. 1). When the states ofthe Jment times, but, beginning in 1992, only region came under Islamic rule in the sev­ two years were required for the ancient Jew­ enth century, the political status ofthe Jews ish communities of that nation to virtually changed for the better. Under the Muslims disappear through immigration to America. they were entitled to the protection ofthe For thousands of years Syria's Jews had state and granted freedom of worship. lived under various rulers, suffering However, they were not considered equals through times of intense persecution re­ but were viewed as strangers, permitted to lieved by intermittent periods of relative tol­ live under Muslim rule with payment of a erance. At times, the Jews of Syria num­ poll tax. (This tax was abohshed in 1909.) bered over 40,000. By the begirming of A succession of nineteenth-century Muslim 1992, when the Assad regimelifted sanc­ rulers tried to enforce humiliating condi­ tions on travel, their numbers had already tions upon the Jews—at various times they shrunk to little over 4,000, and by most esti­ were forbidden to ride on horses and to mates, only 250 Jews remain in Syria today. build high houses—^but they were generally Although Syrian Jews were not cut off protected against grave injury. In cities lo­ from modern Western societies, the culture cated along international trade routes, such that they carried to America during the as Damascus and Aleppo, Jews lived for a twentieth century was one entirely their while under fairly good conditions. Yeshi- own, requiring the social agencies that re­ vas were founded where famous rabbis settled them to adapt in many different wrote important works, and under Ottoman ways. In order to estabUsh a successful re­ rule rabbinic courts flourished. All such settlement program, Jewish agencies had to stability was tenuous, however, as proven by understand the history of Syrian Jews and to episodes of persecution in the nineteenth exercise deep sensitivity to the norms, val­ century. ues, and customs of their culture. In 1840, the Jews of Damascus were charged with the ritual murder of a Capu­ HISTORY OF SYRIA'S JEWS chin friar, and the Damascus ghetto was ravaged by a mob. In the 1860s, Druze Jewish communities have been found in warriors again attacked the ghetto. In the Middle Eastern countries since the time of 20th century, Syrian Jews became scape­ the Second Temple. According to a goats for nationalists in a series of smaller present-day historian, 'The Syrian Jewish attacks and anti-Zionist riots. community was one of exiles, living in a After World War I, the French Mandate state originally under Christian rule, often assumed rule over Syria, which it held until knowing suffering and persecution"

256 Emigration of Syrian Jews to New Yoric / 257

Syrian independence in 1945. As Israel was made. The Muhabaret, however, was pursued and gained independence, anti- always watching through its stations in the Jewish propaganda became more influential ghettos, and Jews were not free to travel in Syria. Jews were considered Zionists outside the country without leaving close and, as such, traitors to Arab ideals. In family members behind as hostages. Any 1947, a riot erupted in the Jewish quarter of sign of Zionist activity resulted in arrest, Aleppo, destroying a majority of the syna­ and after each war with Israel, young men gogues, and in 1948 and 1949, bombs ex­ were rounded up, imprisoned, and tortured. ploded in the Jewish quarter of Damascus. Modern-day Syrian Jews never lost their ap­ Over 15,000 Jews fled Syria during those prehension when speaking with non-Jews times, and many more followed between and feared the establishment of a funda­ 1948 and 1960, when restrictions upon emi­ mentalist regime upon the death of Assad. gration were periodically lifted. Through This fear of the fiiture served as a powerful most of these years, however, the Syrian re­ impetus in the decisions of thousands to fi­ gime withheld passports, and those caught nally quit the ancient homeland when the trying to escape to Israel were shot. Jewish opportunity arose. identification certificates were stamped "Musawi" (of Moses). Jews were not al­ NORMS, VALUES, AND CUSTOMS OF lowed to leave their cities, could not work SYRIAN JEWISH CULTURE in the civil service or trade with the mili­ Living for centuries as a persecuted or "tol­ tary, and were closely monitored by the spe­ erated" minority, Syrian Jews developed a cial police, the feared Muhabaret. Prayer self-contained community, characterized by books were censored, cars and telephones social homogeneity and religious insularity forbidden. The few Jews admitted to uni­ (SuHon, 1988). Restrictions that separated versities were prohibited from studying sen­ this community from the rest of Syrian soci­ sitive subjects such as electronics and engi­ ety intensified the bonds among them. They neering, and in Qamishli there were occa­ felt and reacted as one community, with sional public burnings of religious articles strongly held attitudes regarding mutual re­ (Friedman, 1989). sponsibility. Privacy was not a valued con­ The assumption of power by King Assad cept, information was shared, and it was in 1970 ushered in a period of greater free­ common for everyone to know how much dom and calm for Syria's Jews. The new each community member earned. The com­ sovereign withdrew most travel restrictions, munity took care of its most vulnerable except for the right to leave the country. He members who could not fiinction indepen­ allowed Jews to own cars and telephones, dently, and fragile families in Syria turned opened up opportunities to work, and eased to the community with an expectation of public harassment. It appeared to those in help. For example, a man unable to hold a Syria that additional restrictions were re­ tag">job might be given minimal tasks in a store moved after each high-level American dip­ near his home for a few hours a day while lomatic visit. the family's income was supplemented by After the 1970s, Syrian Jews were per­ the community. This sense of community mitted to engage in an active Jewish com­ expectation would stand in stark contrast to munal life, free from harassment. Although the American ideal of personal responsibil­ problems existed with the Palestinians with ity and create unrealistic expectations of the whom they lived cheek by jowl, they got American Jewish community when the Syr­ along well with most Muslims. There were ians arrived. dozens of active synagogues, a mikvah in In Syria, rabbis generally made major every community, and readily available ko­ decisions around religious and social life, sher food, and matzot were baked and wine and most Jews were accustomed to adhering

SUMMER 1996 Journal of Jewish Communal Service / 258 to a rabbi's instructions. The Syrian com­ for women who retied upon the families' in­ munity is a highly religious one, although tervention if trouble arose within the mar­ few judgments or distinctions are made riage. about how people practice. Jews observe Syrian Jews tend to view the world as in Shabbat and keep kosher homes, and all flux, with constantly changing rules, and children are expected to attend the free reli­ therefore do not see a direct cause-and-ef- gious schools, which are separate for boys fect relationship between action and conse­ and girls. Education typically went through quences. They distrust any authority out­ the eighth grade, though a handfiil of young side the community and hold a generally fa­ people became professionals (doctors, den­ talistic view of the world. Syrians are often tists, pharmacists). It was highly unusual heard to remark "in Sh'Allah," if God wiUs. for a girl to pursue education, and there are few female professionals. THE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM With many occupations historically Since 1949, the New York Association for closed to them, Syrian Jews traditionally New Americans (NYANA) has resettled practiced business and trade. Most of this more than 400,000 refiigees from over 39 class operated import-export businesses, countries. Employing a culturally sensitive primarily in textiles, or managed their own approach, the agency has developed strate­ shops or factories. Others were craftsmen gies for the adaptation to American society in silver and gold jewelry making. While of people from many cultures. The Syrian in Damascus most Jews tended to be crafts­ immigration of 1992 to 1994 presented men, weavers, upholsterers, barbers, tailors, NYANA's most recent challenge. engravers, merchants or artisans, in Aleppo By 1992 NY ANA already possessed more bankers, merchants, brokers, grocers some understanding of Syrian Jews, since and goldsmiths were found (Dresher & many had immigrated previously, but it Zenner, 1982). quickly became obvious that much more re­ Traditionally, women did not work out­ mained to be learned and that local leader­ side the home. They were raised to marry ship would be important in facilitating the young, often as teenagers, and to take care adaptation ofthe new emigres. NYANA of large families, typically of four to five entered, therefore, into a working partner­ children. Divorce was considered shamefiil, ship with the Sephardic Bikhur Holim, a lo­ intermarriage was unknown, and women cal social service agency that had served were taught to defer to their husbands and many Syrians. This partnership proved to fathers. Spousal abuse was frowned upon be critically important in meeting the needs and, when it occurred, was usually handled ofthe new emigres and in providing by the rabbi with coimnunity pressure, NYANA with a sounding board for cultural while the wife was counseled to remain in assumptions utilized in its decision making. the marriage. Like many other Middle Eastern societ­ Housing ies, Syrian Jews defined social relationships by kinship. Personal interactions, expecta­ Housing presented the first challenge of in­ tions, and responsibtiities were influenced stitutional adaptation. In dealing with suc­ by whether or how one was related to the cessive waves of refiigees over several de­ other. Elders were accorded great respect, cades, NYANA has maintained a network and adult male chtidren carried the burden of landlord contacts through which it ob­ of family support. Couples were accus­ tains low-income housing for emigres. This tomed to living close to one set of parents housing, however, is scattered throughout and were expected to visit frequently. Ge­ the city, and almost none exists in the major ography was an especially important issue Syrian neighl)orhood in Brooklyn where

SUMMER 1996 Emigration of Syrian Jews to New Yorli, / 259 rents tend to be somewhat higher. Further­ allowed to choose between school and work. more, the new arrivals' reliance on the With patience and understanding no family community demanded serious attention, and ever had to be reported for keeping a child a decision was reached to do everything out of school. possible to preserve this valuable support structure. With the help of the Bikhur Gender Roles Holim staff who searched for and found The role that women play in Syrian families apartments, NYANA provided resources required agency staff to make changes in enabling all 3,000 new arrivals to be housed thinking and methodology. Whereas case­ within the Syrian community's boundaries. workers might have wanted both husband A distance of a few blocks meant a great and wife to work to ensure economic inde­ deal to the newcomers, whose sense of dis­ pendence, staff realized that they could not tance proved to be very different from that expect to counteract an entrenched cultural of Americans. One client remarked, "I feel norm. Wives were expected to stay at more comfortable seeing my people on the home, cook, and care for the children and street." For a community whose sense of household; husbands were expected to pro­ safety and rules of social interaction depend vide income. The men did not see their upon their close proximity to one another, wives as extra breadwinners, even though conmiunity boundaries are crucial. most were obtaining entry-level jobs and had large families to support. NYANA Schooling therefore developed a supplementary in­ Schooling was another area in which cul­ come schedule administered as a loan pro­ tural understanding helped NYANA avoid gram, to bridge the resetdement period until the pitfalls of cultural conflict. With so income had stabilized at a higher level. many school-aged children arriving in so short a time, it was not always possible to Loan Program have yeshivah placements waiting. While The issuance of a means-tested loan, based the Bikhur Holim worked tirelessly to se­ on assessment of a family's resources, is a cure these school enrollments, NYANA very American concept and unavoidably caseworkers monitored outcomes and caused conflict with the newcomer commu­ waited patiently for each child to be placed. nity because it stood in opposition to that In cases requiring special education services community's sense of oneness. Whereas that could not be provided by the yeshivahs, the agency needed to make distinctions be­ families were repeatedly counseled by their tween families in order to allocate its re­ NYANA caseworkers, which enabled them sources efBciently, the community would to accept necessary public school services. have preferred that each family, according Education in Syria often terminated at to its size, receive the same allotment, re­ the end of the eighth grade, as opposed to gardless of family resources. "We are all the American norm of twelve grades. Jews" was a phrase commonly heard by Among NYANA's new arrivals were boys agency caseworkers. between the ages of 14 and 17 who had fin­ The loan checks themselves became a ished school by that age and had already be­ source of confiision, as heads of households, gun working. Taking into account Ameri­ accustomed to participating in commercial can law on this subject, attention was fo­ transactions by relationship, failed to under­ cused upon the 14- and 15-year-olds whose stand why their cousins could not endorse families were given long explanations of and cash checks made out to them. American law and custom; the 16-year-olds Loan check issuance became similarly were advised on the advantages of having problematic. When the agency realized that an education in the United States, but were

SUMMER J 996 Journal of Jewish Communal Service / 260 the men were taking off from work in order to be part of the community. NYANA's on- to pick up their checks, rather than have site mental health unit, operated by the Jew­ their wives perform tliis task, scheduling ish Board of Family and Childrens Services, around work hours had to be arranged. finally decided to use its own staff in con­ junction with Arabic interpreters. Although Medical Problems this presented problems of confidentiality, impartiality, neutrality, and accuracy, it was Caseworkers and other agency staff became felt that with ongoing interpreter training, acutely attuned to the special needs ofthe an acceptable level of communication could Syrian population and made the necessary and did occur. accommodations. The medical staff real­ Treatment modalities necessarily ized that this was a population accustomed changed in serving this population, as the to taking medications easily and in larger culture exerted strong influences on pos­ amounts than other ethnic groups. Whereas sible effective methodologies, Syrian cli­ refiigees from the former Soviet Union, with ents were not open to introspection and the whom NYANA staff had much experience, self-knowledge to be gained through tend to take medications episodically, the psychodynamic exploration. This is hardly Syrians tended to take too much for too long surprising given the cultural emphasis upon and required much health education. community as opposed to the individual. Many ofthe medical problems with In Syria, psychological problems were which the Syrians arrived were similar to treated with medication, which was an those observed in other populations (hyper­ expectation brought with them. Syrian cli­ tension, diabetes, heart disease), but the ents with psychological problems were in­ Syrians tended to suffer from fewer systemic terested solely in immediate symptom relief diseases (lungs, rheumatoid arthritis, leuke­ and tended to displace emotional distress mia, muscular sclerosis), and obesity was onto external causes, such as the lack of rare, undoubtedly a fiinction of a predomi­ fiinds to provide sufficiently for their fami­ nantly vegetarian diet. Infant mortality was lies. This was clearly illustrated by the case quite low. of Jamila K. Psychiatric problems presented NYANA staff with the most intense frustration and Jamila was a 17-year-old Syrian woman who sense of helplessness. In any population of married shortly after her arrival in flie United significant numbers there will be cases of States. Her yonng husband soon lost his job, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, and she felt humihated at not being ade­ and the Syrians were certainly not different quately supported. She dashed her wrists in in this respect. Some people arrived with a suicidal gesture that was not mtended to psychiatric problems of long duration for kill herself, but to focus attention upon her which medication had been the sole treat­ problem. Jamila's sense of shame was not ment in Syria. Now, however, it was neces­ purely of internal origms; she knew that on sary to assess and diagnose before treatment Friday nights, when the entire Syrian com­ could be planned, which then might or munity came together in the synagogue, each might not involve medication. The commu­ family's material well-being was obvious to nity was wary of outsiders, men had diffi­ all. While Jamila was hospitaUzed, her case­ culty confiding in women, and the lack of worker met with the entire family and sym­ privacy in the community caused suspicion pathetically portrayed Jamila's phght. As a ofthe principle of confidentiality. In addi­ result, the in-laws agreed to substantially tion, effective treatment methods were diffi­ contribute to the couple until they were more cult to find. Attempts at utilizing bilingual on their feet. Jamila recovered and displayed professionals failed as they were considered no subsequent problems.

SUMMER 1996 Emigration of Syrian Jews to New York / 261

Psychological counseling was seldom ac­ The Syrians, on the other hand, by necessity cepted by Syrian chents, although they re­ arrived on tourist visas and applied for po­ quested help from their caseworkers. They htical asylum through the help of the He­ did not want to be identified as psychiatric brew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS). As patients, which would have interfered with asylum applicants, they were accorded the their own or their children's chances for right to work, but were barred from all gov­ marriage, and they did not understand or ernment benefit programs pending the reso­ believe in talking as a means of therapy. lution of their asylum applications, a pro­ cess that was to take over a year. Without Jack M., a young man in his twenties, was the help of any government programs, the identified at intake as someone with a severe Syrian asylum group was totally dependent anxiety disorder. He had phobic symptoms on NYANA for financial support and sub­ and insomnia, had lost weight, and could not ject to its policies regarding early employ­ concentrate. Jack had undergone serious sur­ ment. They tookjobs far quicker than the gery before emigrating and arrived feeling Soviets, who as a more educated, more pro­ less than adequate. It was apparent that he fessionally trained group had higher expec­ felt he could never marry. Although Jack fo­ tations of the job market. The Syrian group cused only on medication for his symptoms, was one primarily of shopkeepers and arrangements were made for him to consult a tradesmen, with littie formal education be­ doctor vAo clearly explained wliat his limi­ yond the eighth or tenth grade. Entry-level tations were and all that was posable for jobs, those that are found most readily for him. His family was counseled to help him immigrants who do not have a fiill com­ to marry, and soon a wife and a job were mand of English, were within their expecta­ foimd; Jack's symptoms disappeared. tions, although the wages were disappoint­ ing. For large Syrian families, NYANA The short-term nature of treatment, the had to supplement those wages to keep therapist's reliance on family and commu­ them above the poverty level. Over 95 per­ nity, and the use of concrete forms of help cent of the work-eligible Syrian men (those as opposed to psychotherapy distinguished who were 18 to 65 years old and not dis­ treatment for this population. abled) were working by the end of their first year in the country. COMPARING TWO POPULATIONS The Syrians integrated quickly into their new community, but remained isolated from It is interesting to contrast the general adap­ the rest of the city. There was little contact tation to this country of entigres from the with those outside the Syrian neighborhood. former Soviet Union and those from Syria The older established Syrian community who arrived during the same time period was active in welcoming the newcomers, and were resettled by the same agency particularly in ensuring that Jewish day (NYANA). schools were available for the children. Govertunent-accorded immigration sta­ However, the earlier wave of Syrians (who tus often drives an adaptation process. So­ were primarily from Aleppo, while the new viet Jews entered the country as refiigees, a group came from Damascus) prayed in their government status bestowed on those who own synagogues and tended to socialize have fled their native country due to a fear within their own group. It is unclear of persecution based upon race, ethnicity, whether this pattern will change with time. political or religious beliefs, or membership The Soviet refiigees, by contrast, fanned in a political or social group. They were out throughout the city. Although they are therefore eligible for a variety of govern­ heavily concentrated in several neighbor­ ment entitlement programs, such as Medic­ hoods in Brooklyn, one can find newcomers aid, food stamps, and public assistance.

SUMMER 1996 Journal of Jewish Communal Service / 262 from the former Soviet Union in all the 1994 will take advantage of this opportu­ other boroughs, and they tend to take ad­ nity. To judge by the former Syrian group, vantage ofthe cultural life ofthe city by a large number will do so, anxious to be traveling to museums, parks, and concert citizens of a country that allows them to halls. The majority of their children attend work, to live together, and to maintain their public schools. cultural uniqueness. Both groups faced the problem of chil­ dren acculturating faster than their parents, CONCLUSION which inevitably caused a modicum of fam­ Over 3,700 Syrian Jews immigrated to New ily conflict. The Syrian youngsters held York between 1992 and 1994. They came more steadfastly onto their cultural norms, from an intact and homogeneous commu­ as can be witnessed by the number of ex­ nity, with norms and customs different from tremely early marriages among the girls. and, at times in opposition to, those of their Soviet children, especially adolescents, were host country. At this time, almost all work­ more likely to test the waters of indepen­ ing-aged men ofthe community are em­ dence, in spite of parental opposition. ployed, some have opened stores, children The Soviet group learned English faster. are in schools, marriages have taken place, They were more familiar with being stu­ and over 300 babies have been bom. dents, having been in an educational system The potential for cultural conflict, the for much longer, and were less ghettoized clash of one culture bumping against an­ than the Syrians, necessitating use ofthe other, is ever present when a new group ar­ language. rives. Cultural sensitivity on the part of re­ Both groups tended to have a great dis­ settlement workers, as demonstrated by trust of government, having come from so­ NYANA's Syrian resettlement, is the cm­ cieties in which the government oppressed cial ingredient in providing for a smooth their brethren. The Soviet group, however, and successfiil adjustment. This experience saw all agencies and institutions as part of confirmed the importance of understanding the goverrmient, whereas the Syrians, from the diverse cultures of newcomers and pro­ their experience, were able to distinguish viding resettlement experiences that are between a private philanthropic agency and congment with those cultures. the goverrmient. Caseworkers working with both groups saw a major difference in the REFERENCES maimer in which each group handled a negative decision by the agency. The Syr­ Cohen, Hayyim J. (1973). The Jews ofthe ian group brought negotiation to a high art Middle East U60-1972. New York: John form, a famihar process in many Middle Wiley & Sons. eastern societies. The Soviet group, al­ Deshen, Shiomo, & Zenner, Walter P. (1982). though argumentative, perceived a decision Jewish societies in the Middle East. as such, rather than as a move in a verbal Washington, DC: University Press of chess game. America. Will the new emigres become U.S. citi­ Friedman, Sanl. (1989). Without future: The zens? This citizenship application process plight of Syrian Jewry. New York: is a lengthy one. To be eligible, the emigre Praeger. must live in the country for five continuous Sutton, Joseph A D. (1988). Aleppo years after status has been adjudicated. It is chronicles. New York: Thayer-Jacoby. thus too early to tell what percentage of the Parfitt, Tudor. (1987). The thirteenth gate. Syrians who arrived between 1992 and Baltimore: Adler & Adler.

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