The OIC chose Aleppo? Why not… it’s symbolic of Islamic Intolerance and Persecution, after all

Hundreds of Muslim “dignitaries” have gathered in Aleppo, Syria for some kind of cultural conference, according to Al-Jazeerah:

“We appeal to the world for dialogue, Christians and Muslims united to edify this culture,” he said. “Muslims brought civilisation to (Spain’s) Andalusia. They protected the Jews and recognised and guaranteed everybody’s right of expression.”

So the Muslims are claiming that they protected the Jews?

Let’s take a look at the recent history of the city they’re meeting in:

There was a Jewish place of worship on the site of the Aleppo Synagogue since late Antiquity, perhaps from as early as the 5th century C.E. The oldest surviving inscription is from the year 834 C.E. These early buildings were damaged after the Mongol occupation of Aleppo during the 13th century and then turned into a mosque. The central synagogue was rebuilt at some point in the early 15th century. It had later on undergone a series of modifications until its destruction during the violent attacks against Jews by the local population in December 1947.

Keter Aram Tzova (The Aleppo Codex), the most authoritative manuscript of the Masoretic text of the Bible, was kept in the Central Synagogue of Aleppo for some 500 years until 1947. Apparently it was damaged in the fire of the synagogue in 1947, and thought to be lost until 1958, when it was brought to Israel. Now most of its pages, 295 of the original 487, are safeguarded in Jerusalem, Israel.

Must have been trying to protect the local Jews from the bitter winter or something. How nice of them to start a fire in a central gatheringpoint of Jewish culture in their city so all the Jews could keep warm.

Let’s learn a little more about the Syrians lovingly protecting the Jews back then:

Attacks against Jews, who remained in the Syria after World War I, increased. Pogroms in 1947 left Jewish shops and synagogues destroyed. Thousands of Jews left the country for America and Palestine.

The pogroms and destruction also placed the cherished Aleppo Codex in great jeopardy.

“When the synagogue was torched in 1947 during a pogrom, the Codex was saved and hidden. In 1957, it was smuggled out of Aleppo to Israel, where it was presented in 1958 to President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi.

“When the synagogue was torched in 1947 during a pogrom, the Codex was saved and hidden. In 1957, it was smuggled out of Aleppo to Israel, where it was presented in 1958 to President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi. It is housed in the Ben-Zvi Institute. Of the original 487 leaves, only 295 leaves remain. The Aleppo Codex is believed to be the most authoritative, accurate and sacred source document, both for the Biblical text and for the vocalization and cantillation. It has greater religious and scholarly import than any other manuscript of the Bible.”

After the birth of the State of Israel in 1948, persecution of Jews remaining in Syria was common. The Jews were no longer permitted to own property, travel or practice their occupation. Jews who tried to leave the country were persecuted. The Muslim dhimmi laws were strictly enforced. Those Jews who were permitted to travel for business purposes could not travel with family members because the Syrian government feared that they would flee. The Syrian government feared that Jewish men would join forces with Israel and fight against them in the Israeli Army.

When people tell you that Anti-Zionism isn’t Anti-Semitism and that they hate Israel but tolerate Jews, remember that in this one specific case the Syrians were destroying Jewish holy places and cultural centers, denying Jews basic rights of citizenship, and driving out the Jews to other lands. How many more cases like this? Hundreds? Thousands?

So, now that we know that Aleppo was one of countless sites of Islamic and Arabic persecution of Jews and part of the often-ignored explusion of Jews from Arabic and Islamic countries during their rejection of the founding of Israel, do the current “culture” experts acknowledge this wanton destruction of the holy sites of other religions?

Agha said earlier that Aleppo had been chosen by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) because of its role as the “main point of passage between East and West”, where cultures have met and melded in an “example of coexistence among religions, communities and races.“

That would be a Hell no, folks. And if you’re a family of Buddhists living there for God knows what reason, I’d seriously consider fireproofing the shrine you keep hidden in your closet from the authorities.