Synagogues in Cairo

The Egyptian Jews constitute both one of the oldest and youngest Jewish communities in the world. The historic core of the indigenous community consisted mainly of Arabic-speaking Rabbanites and Karaites. After their expulsion from Spain, more Sephardi and Karaite Jews began to emigrate to Egypt and their numbers increased significantly with the growth of trading prospects after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. As a result, Jews from all over the territories of the Ottoman Empire as well as Italy and Greece started to settle in the main cities of Egypt, where they thrived. The Ashkenazi community, mainly confined to Cairo's Darb al-Barabira quarter, began to arrive in the aftermath of the waves of pogroms that hit Europe in the latter part of the 19th century. In the late 1950s, Egypt began to expel its Jewish population (estimated at between 75,000 and 80,000 in 1948),The 1947 census gives 65,639, possibly too low. See Joel Beinin. [http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft2290045n;query=;brand=ucpress The Dispersion of Egyptian Jewry: Culture, Politics, and the Formation of a Modern Diaspora]. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998. Introduction. also sequestering Jewish-owned property at this time. In 2016, the spiritual leader of the Jewish community in the city of Cairo, Magda Tania Haroun, stated that there were 6 Jews remaining in the city, all women over the age of 65.{{Cite web |title=Egypt's Jewish community diminished to 6 women after death of Lucy Saul |url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/egypt-s-jewish-community-diminished-6-women-after-death-lucy-saul |website=egyptindependent.com |date= July 30, 2016|accessdate=2017-03-03}} In 2022 it was reported that there were only three Jews remaining in Cairo, a decease from five Jews in July 2019.{{Cite web |last=Oster |first=Marcy |date=9 July 2019 |title=Only 5 Jews left in Cairo following death of Jewish community president |url=https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Only-5-Jews-left-in-Cairo-following-death-of-Jewish-community-president-595042 |website=Jerusalem Post}}

File:CairoShaarHashamayimSynagogue.jpg]]

{{main|Sha'ar Hashamayim Synagogue (Cairo){{!}}Sha'ar Hashamayim Synagogue}}

The Sha'ar Hashamayim Synagogue (in Hebrew: {{Script/Hebrew|שער השמים}}; in {{Langx|ar|links=no|كنيس عدلي}}) is located in Cairo. The synagogue was also known as Ismailia Temple and the synagogue at Adly Street. His historical leader was the great rabbi Chaim Nahum. In 2008, the synagogue celebrated its 100th anniversary.{{cite web|last=Ben |first=Hillel |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/cairo-synagogue-marks-100-years-of-grandeur-and-decline-1.232487 |title=Cairo synagogue marks 100 years of grandeur and decline - Haaretz - Israel News |website=Haaretz.com |date= |accessdate=2017-07-15}} The synagogue was built in a style similar to the ancient Egyptian temples, and once it was the largest building on the boulevard.{{cite web |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1151259.html |title=Bomb hurled at main synagogue in Cairo; no casualties - Haaretz - Israel News |accessdate=2010-02-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224053340/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1151259.html |archivedate=2010-02-24 }}

File:By ovedc - Ben Ezra Synagogue - 02.jpg]]

{{main|Ben Ezra Synagogue}}

The Ben Ezra Synagogue ({{langx|he|בית כנסת בן עזרא}}; {{langx|ar|معبد بن عزرا}}), sometimes referred to as the El-Geniza Synagogue ({{langx|he|בית כנסת אל גניזה}}) or the Synagogue of the Levantines (al-Shamiyin),{{cite book|author=Seeskin, Kenneth |title=The Cambridge companion to Maimonides |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PrF7lyX0OUUC&pg=PA23 |accessdate=7 June 2011 |year=2005 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-81974-9 |page=23 |via=Google Books }}{{cite web |url=http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/84/ |title=Ben Ezra Synagogue at Cairo, Egypt |work=Diarna.org |publisher=Digital Heritage Mapping |date=2015 |access-date=9 October 2024 }} is a former Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in the Fustat part of Old Cairo. According to local folklore, it is located on the site where baby Moses was found.{{cite news |quote="Finally, there is the Ben Ezra Synagogue, with its cool marble floors. Lore has it that the Nile once flowed up behind the synagogue, and there, in the reeds, baby Moses was hidden." |author=Slackman, Michael |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/travel/03hours.html?bl=&ei=5087%0A&en=3d30181e38ef380e&ex=1202533200 |title=36 Hours in Cairo |work=The New York Times |date=February 3, 2008 |access-date= |url-access= }}{{cite book |author=Kraemer, Joel L. |year=2008 |title=Maimonides: Vida y Ensenanzas Del Gran Filosofo Judio |language= |trans-title= |publisher= |isbn= |pages=165–168 }}

{{main|Ets Hayim Synagogue}}

The Ets Hayim Synagogue (in {{Langx|he|בית הכנסת עץ חיים}}; in {{Langx|ar|links=no|معبد حنان}}) is a synagogue located in Cairo. The temple was built in 1900. The synagogue is located in Daher district. The marble floor of the temple was damaged during the earthquake of October 12, 1992. The synagogue is protected by the Egyptian supreme antiquity council. The temple is guarded by a police officer. The synagogue was used for the last time in 1967.{{cite web|url=http://jimenaexperience.org/egypt/portfolio/etz-hayim-synagogue/ |title=Etz Hayim Synagogue |website=Jimenaexperience.org |date= |accessdate=2017-07-15}}

{{main|Maimonides Synagogue}}

The Maimonides Synagogue ({{langx|he|בית כנסת הרמב"ם|Bet Knesset ha-Rambam}}; {{langx|ar|كنيس ابن ميمون}}), also known as the Rav Moshe Synagogue or the Ibn Maïmoun Synagogue, is an historic former Jewish synagogue, located in the Jewish quarter, el-Muski.{{cite web |title=Maimonides Synagogue at Cairo, Egypt |url=http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/105/ |work=Diarna.org |publisher=Digital Heritage Mapping |date=2015 |access-date=10 October 2024 |format=includes image gallery }} A synagogue has existed in the area since the 10th century and was later called by the name of the famous Jewish philosopher, rabbi and doctor Maimonides, after his arrival, around 1168, as a result of his exile in Córdoba, Spain, at the hands of the Almohades.{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=8374834 |title=International News |website=Abcnews.go.com |date= |accessdate=2017-07-15}} It is believed that the original tomb of Maimonides is located within the building. In March 2010, the Egyptian government completed the restoration of the current building which dates from the late 19th century.

Other synagogues that are no longer in active, yet preserved, include the Moussa Dar'i, Pahad Itzhak, Vitali Madjar, Haïm Capoussi, Meyr Biton{{Cite web|url= http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/221/|title = Meyr Biton Synagogue (Meir Enayim or Maadi), at Cairo, Egypt}} and Ashkenazi{{Cite web|url= http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/2009/ |title = Ashkenazim Synagogue, Cairo, Egypt}} synagogues.

{{main|Beit Aharon Synagogue}}

Beit Aharon Synagogue, or Helwan Synagogue, also known as Beit Aharon Temple, was a former Jewish synagogue located in Helwan{{Cite web |date=2023-10-30 |title="الجنيزا القاهرية".. شواهد حية على حرية اليهود فى مصر |url=https://www.albawabhnews.com/4899926 |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=www.albawabhnews.com |language=ar |trans-title= }} and the first synagogue in Khedivate of Egypt. The small building was established in 1892 as a center for the Jewish community.{{Cite web |title=المسالك::كنائس اليهود |url=http://www.almasalik.com/locationPassage.do?locationId=29854&languageId=ar&passageId=10659 |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=www.almasalik.com |language=ar |date= |trans-title= }} It was last used for religious services in 1966, and it was sold and demolished in 1995.{{cite web |script-title=ar:13 صورة تروي تاريخ «حلوان» منذ عهد الفراعنة: مدينة «أولاد الأكابر» وصاحبة أول سد في التاريخ |url=https://lite.almasryalyoum.com/lists/91915/ |work=almasryalyoum.com |language=ar |trans-title= |date= |access-date= }}{{cite web |script-title=ar:تاريخ اليهود فى مصر والمعادى |script-website=ar:دليل كله في المعادي |url=https://www.maadi.to-all.com/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%87%D9%88%D8%AF-%D9%81%D9%89-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%89/ |language=ar |work=www.maadi.to-all.com |date= |access-date= }}{{cite web |url=https://www.alarabiya.net/arab-and-world/egypt/2014/12/30/%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%A8%D9%82%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%87%D9%88%D8%AF-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D8%9F- |title=ماذا تبقى من معابد اليهود في مصر؟ |work=www.alarabiya.net |language=ar |trans-title= |date= |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023103906/https://www.alarabiya.net/arab-and-world/egypt/2014/12/30/%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%A8%D9%82%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%87%D9%88%D8%AF-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D8%9F- |archive-date=2022-10-23 }}{{cite web |title=كنائس اليهود القاهرة |url=http://www.almasalik.com/locationPassage.do?locationId=29854&languageId=ar&passageId=10659 |language=ar |trans-title= |work=www.almasalik.com |date= |access-date= }}

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{{Synagogues in Egypt}}