He worked for two years as a teacher at a local Jewish school before assuming the role of principal in 1963.

He was Cantor in the local synagogue and had many connections in the Syrian government and would help the community with whatever they needed.

[4] In 1976, Rabbi Hamra was appointed chief rabbi, a position he held until he left Syria after years of aiding the community with financial support and helping thousands of Syrian Jews escape syria with most of the country's remaining Jews in October 1994 when then Syrian President Hafez al-Assad allowed the last Syrian Jews to leave, on condition that they immigrate to the United States rather than Israel.

[6] Upon his arrival in Israel,Rabbi Hamra settled in Holon and was appointed to the religious council.

[12] In December 2017, Rabbi Hamra's daughter Aliza and three of her children were killed in a house fire in Brooklyn, New York.