Following a popular uprising demanding that Damascus authorities return properties to the residents of the Jobar neighborhood, Edy Cohen—a figure close to Israeli decision-making circles—announced that the authority of “Abu Mohammad al-Julani” in Damascus had sold vast tracts of land in Jobar to Israeli Jews.
Cohen warned against encroaching upon these Jewish-owned lands, where construction projects are slated to begin soon.
But why Jobar?
Edy Cohen, who is close to decision-makers in Israel, announced that Abu Muhammad al-Julani’s authority in Damascus had sold a huge lands in Jobar-Damascus, to Israeli Jews.
Cohen warned against encroaching on the Jews lands, which is slated for construction soon.
The name of the historic Damascus neighborhood of Jobar is derived—both historically and in popular tradition—from the phrase “Jubb Barr.”
The breakdown of this name is as follows:
- Jubb: Refers to a small water well.
- Barr: Refers to the wilderness or the desolate forest that once surrounded the area.
The site is associated with the Prophet Elijah (Ilyas); historians recount that he took refuge in a cave within this wilderness area, where a water well (jubb) provided drinking water. Consequently, people named the site “Jubb Barr.” Over the course of time and successive eras, the two words merged and the pronunciation evolved into “Jobar.” Today, this historic well is located within the neighborhood’s ancient Jobar Synagogue.
The Significance of the Ancient Jobar Synagogue (Eliyahu Hanabi Synagogue)
This house of worship is classified as one of the oldest synagogues in the world and is linked to highly significant religious and historical narratives:
The synagogue was built over the cave where the Prophet Elijah (Ilyas) hid to escape the tyranny of King Ahab. Tradition also holds that it was constructed by his disciple, the Prophet Elisha (Alyasa), and that it was the site where Hazael was anointed King of Damascus.
For this reason, Israel is seeking to purchase the entire neighborhood—in addition to the deal concluded with the transitional Damascus authority, under which Israel paid exorbitant sums for the land surrounding the synagogue.
