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Cairo
Synagogues :
- Char
(sometimes written as Shaar/Sha'ar) Hashamayim (Ismailia Temple), now
known as Adly Street Synagogue
, downtown (established in 1903-5).
- Ashkenazi
Synagogue, al-Noubi Street off al-Geish Street, Ataba (built
in 1887).
- Kubbeh
Synagogue, Misr-Sudan Street, Kubbeh Gardens
- Hanan
(Nessim Iskinazi) Synagogue, El-Daher
- Heliopolis
Synagogue.
- Meir
Y. Biton Synagogue,
Orabi and Road 13, Maadi
- Midrash
Synagogue, Beit Mosseri, Haret al-Yahood
- Ben
Ezra Synagogue, Old Cairo
- Neve
Chalom, Abbassia
- Issa
(sometimes written as Etz) Haiim, Abbassia
- Moshe
al-Dar'i in Abbassieh, Cairo
Cairo
Adly Synagogue :
The synagogue, completed in 1903-5 stood at the epicenter of the new European
district of Ismailia named in honor of Khedive Ismail Pasha who founded
the district.In the late 1940s Temple Ismailieh was gradually referred
to as the "Adly Synagogue." after the street where it is located.
Ben
Ezra Synagogue
Source:Ahram Weekly 9-15, 1999. The oldest existing synagogue in Cairo,
Ben Ezra Synagogue was originally a church, built in the sixth century
near the Roman Fortress of Babylon in Old Cairo. In the ninth century
Jews bought the church and a large piece of land surrounding it. For the
Jews, the synagogue has great historical, spiritual and religious importance:
it is also supposed to be the first place where Moses prayed. This
famous synagogue in Fostat (Old Cairo) was called originally the synagogue
of 'the men of Israel', built in the year 882 on the remains of the basilica
of a Coptic church that had been sold to Jews. It became known as the
Synagogue of Elijah the Prophet and as the Ben Ezr Synagogue. One of the
most famous Jews of the Middle ages, Moses Maimonides (Moshe Ben-Maimon
-HaRambam), physician, philosopher, authority on religious law, worshipped
at this synagogue while living in Cairo, as a result of which it was popularly
called the Maimonides Synagogue. During a restoration process
in the 1890's, a discovery took place: a medieval Geniza (hiding
place) was found. Sacred books and worn-out scrolls of the law were put
away in the Geniza. Thus, thousands of original documents of the Middle
Ages were found. From the 1980's the synagogue went through a restoration
process and today it is an historical monument and one of the most visited
Jewish sites.
Source: Child's Excersie Book, Ben Ezra Synagogue, Cairo, 10th century Museum
of the Jewish People Tel Aviv University The mutual architectural
influence of Jews, Muslims and Christians appears clearly in the Ben Ezra
Synagogue. Christian influence shows in the building style itself, which
is reminiscent of a basilica. The ceiling is supported by 12 marble columns.
Motifs used in many churches, like vines, sheaves of wheat and olive branches
are also in evidence. Islamic influence is even more evident on the carved
wood and the two chandeliers, on one of which are engraved the names of
the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs. On the other, the name of Sultan Qalawun
is inscribed, also in Arabic. Jewish symbolic and decorative elements
include the star of David and the menorah.
Sample
tour in Cairo:
(Lunch
Included)
Today we see Cairo's major sights: the Egyptian Museum, including the
Mummies Room. We'll continue to Royal Manial Palace of former Crown
Prince Mohamed Ali , on to the Coptic Museum, and the Church of Abu Sergha,
and the Beni Ezra Synagogue.
We'll see where , according to the legend, Moses was found along the banks
of the Nile by the Queen of the Nile and Pharaoh's wife .
We'll take our lunch at a local restaurant.
Enjoy a walking tour of the ancient Khan El Khalili Bazaar district ,
before we head back to your hotel.
Meyr
Biton Synagogue
Source:Egyptian Maill, August 13, 1994: In 1933, Meyr Yehuda Biton and
his wife Regina Chamma Levi purchased from the Delta Land Company
the plot of land totaling 3,174 sq.m. at the intersection of Mosseri Avenue
(now Orabi Street) and Road 13. Using their own funds plus those donated
by Maadi's Jewish community at that time, the Bitons commissioned engineer
Isaac Kipnis to build the Maadi temple which was duly inaugurated in 1946.
Ashkenazi Synagogue
Ashkenazi Synagogue was built in 1887, in Haret Al-Noubi, Ataba, Cairo.
Source:Cairo Jewish Community's Newsletter, July 1996,
volume 1, issue 2.
Alexandria
Synagogues :
-
Eliahou Halevi ( or Hanabi) synagogue (Nabi Daniel Street), a
150-year-old synagogue , it is the only active synagogue in Alexandria
,and houses the treasures of the seven other older and / or closed Alexandrian
synagogues.
- Menashe
(Menashe Street)
-
Zaradiel (Midan Street)
- Green
(Moharram bey district)
-
Marakesh (No. 31 Midan Street)
- As for
the great Diploston synagogue , alas it is yet to be discovered , the
search goes on , it was said to be so huge that during prayer time a
man had to stand in the middle of the synagogue to signal with a cloth
or a turban the correct moment for the Amen to people at the back.
Read
more on the Egyptian Jews in Alexandria:
Interested readers may find the more information, history & details
on the pages of the Historical Society of Jews From Egypt. On Jews
in Alexandria and Egypt in General.
<< Egyptian
Jews feel at home in Alexandria
Community struggles to survive but retains traditions .. By TANALEE
SMITH-- The Associated Press
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