The head of an organisation which aims to relieve the suffering of refugees from Syria made an appeal to save the ancient synagogue of Aleppo from civil war in Syria.

This synagogue, one of the oldest in the world, is located between the sniper post of moderate rebels and forces fighting for the Assad regime. The area has suffered heavy bombardement over the last days. The building has also been hit.

Amalia, an organisation led by Israeli-American businessman Moti Kahan, made a public appeal for assistance in removing and preserving the Torah scrolls, prayer books and other holy objects from the old building.

He said the destruction of the synagogue “could also destroy any vestige of Jewish life that had been part of the city’s landscape for hundreds of years.”

The synagogue is believed to have been built in the 9th century A.D.