Friday, September 01, 2023
Oldest Jewish temple in Egypt opened after restoration
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Thursday opened Ben Ezra Synagogue, the oldest Jewish temple in the country after undergoing restoration work, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement.
The ministry said the synagogue, named after Jewish scholar and philosopher Abraham Ben Ezra, dates back to the 12th century and was rebuilt in the 1890s, adding the restoration is part of a national project for rehabilitating Historic Cairo.
Once a hub for Jewish celebrations, gatherings, and prayers in Egypt, the temple has transformed into a tourist attraction after the majority of the Jewish community left in the 1950s.
The restoration work included meticulous architectural restoration work for the walls and the ceiling and maintenance of the lighting system, the statement added.
With a significant collection of books and documents reflecting the social life of Jewish communities in Egypt, the temple holds substantial importance in contemporary Jewish history.
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