The Jewish Syrian Community which started in Gravesend Brooklyn is a rather recent community which has grown in size and unity since its major migration to the United States in the first half of the 20th century. This community has been deemed by some scholars to be the most cohesive Jewish community outside of Israel. This community has taken many steps to preserve its culture which can be broadly understood as a unique blend of Arabic and Jewish existence. How one becomes a member of this people and their way of life is no simple matter and we seek to understand exactly how one can attain “belonging” in a community so built on its distinctive past. By understanding this, we can see what allows this community to maintain its traditional values and cultural pastime in a completely different country and cultural context.
