The Jewish community in Syria has been reduced to only 200 people. Rabbi Huder Shahada Kabariti told a French news agency that 150 live in Damascus, 30 in Haleb, and 20 Jews live in Kamashili. He said that five synagogues are in operation in Damascus, while 15 others have been closed. Of the 4,500 Jews who lived in Syria less than a decade ago, most took advantage of governmental permission to leave.