There is great concern in Antioch for the fate of the head of the local Jewish community, Shaul Janudi, and his wife, whose home was severely damaged in the earthquake that occurred in the city yesterday.
Sources in the community said that the two were apparently in their house, which collapsed.
Since the entire house has collapsed, like many of the city's houses, the feelings in the community are extremely pessimistic.
Meanwhile, ancient Torah scrolls were removed from the ancient synagogue in the city of Antakya in Turkey, ending 2,500 years of Jewish prayer in a place considered one of the oldest synagogues in the world.
Rabbi Menachem Hitrik, the Chabad emissary in Turkey, who is currently in Antioch, told about the rescue of the Torah books from the ancient synagogue in the city.
These are 400-year-old books that were removed from the site.
The Jewish community in Antioch is very ancient, as Antioch was built by Antiochus 2,500 years ago.
It was quite sad to take out the Torah books, but it was the necessity of reality.
Who knows now when the community will return to the place."
The synagogue was used by the tiny Jewish community of less than ten families, was not destroyed in the earthquake but was considered unsafe and in danger of collapsing.
Antioch, which was known by its ancient name Antiochia, was founded by the successors of Alexander the Great and served as the capital of the Seleucid Empire.
Since the founding of the city, a Jewish community lived in it, which at times was large and very affluent.
During the twentieth century, the Jewish community shrank until there were less than 14 Jews living in the city without a prayer quorum for the synagogue.
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