Summary

• The Ben Ezra Synagogue, located in the Fustat area of Old Cairo, is one of Egypt’s most extraordinary artifacts, with a history dating back to at least 882 AD. It has undergone various reconstructions and renovations over the centuries.
• Originally a Christian church, the synagogue was sold to a Jewish group and transformed into a place of worship and religious teachings. It served as a pilgrimage site for North African Jews and a venue for massive festival celebrations.
• The current building, dating back to 1892, features basilica-style architecture with separate floors for men and women, an octagonal marble bima for Torah reading, and decorations that reflect Ottoman arabesque and a mix of Hatai and Roman influences.
• The synagogue was home to the Cairo Geniza, a treasure trove of rare documents recording the history of Cairo’s Jewish community since the 11th century, now stored at Cambridge University in England.
• Despite the departure of the majority of the Egyptian Jewish community in the 1950s, the Ben Ezra Synagogue remains an important tourist attraction, showcasing the historical coexistence of different faiths in Cairo and offering a unique blend of architectural styles.

Egypt is the home of many extraordinary artifacts from many eras and beliefs, such as Judaism. One of these beautiful monuments is the Ben Ezra Synagogue, which is located right behind the Hanging Church, which is rumored to be where the box of Baby Moses was found by the pharaoh’s daughter.

In ancient Greece, the word “Synagogue” meant “The Usual Place That Jews Gather to Worship and Receive Religious Teachings“. It was a place of pilgrimage for North African Jews and a holy location for massive festival celebrations.

Ben Ezra Synagogue History

In 882 AD, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria sold a church and its land to a Jewish group, which led to the creation of the Ben Ezra Synagogue. Then, around 1012, during the rule of Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, a harsh decree ordered the destruction of Jewish and Christian places of worship, leading to the demise of the original synagogue.

Afterward, under the next caliph, al-Zahir li-i’zaz Din Allah allowed for the reconstruction of Jewish and Christian sites. Between 1025 and 1040, the Ben Ezra Synagogue was reconstructed. Since then, it has undergone various renovations and rebuilds spanning centuries up to the present day.

Ben Ezra Synagogue Location and How to Get It

The Ben Ezra Synagogue is located in the Fustat area of Old Cairo, in the historic Jewish quarter of Cairo, within the complex of religions, which also includes several churches and mosques. You can take various modes of transportation depending on your starting point, such as a taxi, bus, or metro.

Ben Ezra Synagogue Facts

It was the oldest and most important Jewish temple in Egypt in the 19th century. A treasure was found in a hiding place for sacred books and worn-out Torah scrolls containing thousands of rare documents that recorded the history of Cairo’s community since the 11th during the medieval era in Egypt. These documents are now stored at Cambridge University in England.

It is rumored that the synagogue once held a copy of the original Old Testament. It’s considered an important tourist attraction since the majority of the Egyptian Jewish community left in the 1950s, following the occupation of Palestine, the founding of Israel, and the Free Officer’s Revolution.

Ben Ezra Synagogue Architecture

The current building, dating back to 1892, underwent extensive renovations after the collapse of the original temple. Ben Ezra synagogue has basilica-style architecture and two floors: the first for men and the second for women. The main floor is divided into three parts separated by steel bars, and right in the center is an octagonal marble bima, “A Platform for Torah Reading“.

All the decorations, like the star patterns, rectangles, and pentagonal patterns, go back to the Turkish period; Ottoman arabesque and a mixture of Hatai and Roman decorations are also found there.

Why is the Ben Ezra Synagogue Important?

The Ben Ezra Synagogue stands as a testament to the historical coexistence of different faiths in Cairo. It’s the oldest synagogue in Egypt, dating back to at least the 9th century AD. It is believed to be situated on the site where the pharaoh’s daughter discovered the baby Moses in the bulrushes.

It used to be a Christian church before it was sold and then transformed into a synagogue, which is why it showcases a blend of architectural styles, including Islamic and Jewish influences. The synagogue housed a vast collection of religious and everyday documents known as the Cairo Geniza in the 9th century.