« How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, thy dwelling places O Israel »
(Prayer on entering the Synagogue)
The fate of many synagogues in Suez, Ismailya, Port Said, Mansourah, Tantah, Kafr-el-Zayat, Damanhour, each housing 5 to 10 Sifrei Torah and religious artefacts, is unknown. A few among the numerous synagogues have survived in Cairo and Alexandria only (in bold here under):
Numbered the following (building date & location) :
Eliahou Hanabi | 1850 -- @ 69 Nebi Daniel Street, built on the location of a very old synagogue (cf. Voltera). Guarded round the clock. The gardens have been attractively landscaped on 3 sides. The synagogue is well maintained, although some renovation will soon be required to the ceiling and the ladies’ gallery (which could be used as museum). It is the only synagogue where services can be held. |
Menasce | 1882 -- @ Mancheya, Temple Menasce Street (Orabi / Consuls Square). Closed, cannot be visited. Could become an Annex to the Biblioteca Alexandrina dedicated to Jewish studies. |
Zaradel | 1381 & 1880 -- @ Old Fish Market, Amram Street. The oldest in Alexandria. The consecration stone, now disappeared, used to read “I Yehouda, son of Rav Saul Sephar, son of Isaac of revered memory, have brought…, built… for the forgiveness of my soul and my parents’ soul in the year 1311 of the destruction of the Temple…” |
Azouz | ?, rebuilt 1853 -- @ Souk el Hosr |
Green | 1901 -- @ Moharem Bey |
Sasson | 1910 -- @ Glymenopoulo |
Castro | 1920 -- @ Moharem Bey |
Nezah Israel | 1920 -- Ashkénaze |
Shaaré Tefila | 1922 -- @ Camp de Cesar – also known as Anzarut/Charbit |
Eliahou Hazan | 1937 -- @ Sporting |
Israélite | ? -- @ Daftarkhana Street |
Midrash | (?) -- @ 51 Midan Street |
Oratories | Goar – Safnat Paaneah – Moroccan – Guemilout Hassadim – Ben Porat Yossef – Teboul (Ibrahimieh) – Halab (Syrian) - Salama |
It is difficult to understand the authorities’ position that these synagogues, mainly contemporary, could have housed Sifrei Torah over 100 years old.
Emplacement de l’ancienne synagogue Zaradel (N°23), Merci à Emile Gabbay !
The Cairo and Alexandria communities have managed their estate differently. The Cairo community, whose members were more diverse for historical reasons, has attempted to maintain a large number of synagogues, many of which unfortunately require substantial renovation. The Alexandria community has reduced maintenance costs by concentrating on the most important one. Hence the difference in both resources and in the need of funds. Small groups endeavour to send a Minyan so that religious services can still be held during Festivals. Thanks to this Mitzvah, the harmonium at Nebi Daniel was heard once again in October 2005 during Simhat Torah.
Numbered 5 synagogues in the 15th century and around 15 in the 18th. Most were subsequently rebuilt. The following were active during the 20th century:
Shar Hashamayim (Ismailia) |
1905 -- @ 17 Rue Adly (Temple + Oratoire) |
Ben Ezra | (19th century) -- @ Fostat in « old Cairo », where the “Cairo Guenizah” was discovered. Restored and open to all as a tourist site. |
Rab Moshé (Ibn Maïmoun) |
+/-1205 -- @ Hart El Yahoud. The Rambam taught and was temporarily buried there. Restored in 1967 but since flooded by rising waters. In derelict condition since the roof collapsed and in need of serious restoration. |
Meir'enaim (Biton) | 1934 -- @ 55 Avenue 13, Ma’adi, in good condition, used by the expatriate community during Festivals. |
Haïm Capoussi | XVII° Century -- @ Hart El Yahoud. Ottoman style, restored at the beginning of the 20th century. |
Moussa Dar'i | 1932 -- @ 25 Sebyl El Khazindar Street, Midan el Gueish, Abbassieh |
Ashkénazim | --@ El Gueish Street, Ataba Place, restored in1945 |
Ets Hayim (Hanan) | 1900 -- @ 3 Qantaret Street, Ghamrah |
Pahad Itzhak (Kreim) | 1925 -- @ 9 Ibn Khaldoun Street, Sakkakini |
Vitali Madjar | 3 El Missalah Street, Heliopolis |
Eshkinazi | El Kaoua Street (Mansi, Daher) |
Rab Ishmael (Espagnols) | Hart El Yahoud, 13 El Sakalibah Street |
Shimon Bar Yochaï | 1905 --@ Hart El Yahoud, 16 El Sakalibah Street |
Yacob Abou Shaara | Hart El Yahoud attached to Rab Ishmael |
Ba'al Hanness | Hart El Yahoud, 20 Rue El Sakaliba |
Rab Zimra | Hart El Yahoud, 6 Hoch El Souf |
Torkia | Hart El Yahoud, 13 Darb El Kouttab |
Talmud Torah | Hart El Yahoud- initially converted into a Social Centre |
Portuguezim | Hart El Yahoud 5 Atfet El Fadda |
Rab Semham | Hart El Yahoud – Caraïte |
Karaïte | French Hospital Square (Abbassieh) |
Maguen Abraham | Wali el Ahad Street(Koubbeh Gardens) |
Synagogues | Hélouan, Green, Kéter Torah, Midrash Eliahou |
The synagogues, mainly destroyed, have now either been replaced by social housing or, at best, are used as mosques or warehouses throughout the country.
Those which have not been sold by the Communities, generally in ruins, are under the authority of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. About fifteen Jewish monuments are thus considered part of Egypt’s archaeological heritage. This may guarantee their survival, but what funds and resources will be allocated to them in competition with the pharaonic treasures? We should nevertheless be grateful to the Egyptian authorities who have protected synagogues and cemeteries against excited mobs in spite of a tense political background.