Ben Ezra Synagogue

Name: Cairo Top Tours
Address: Egypt - Giza - Al-Ahram St.5th Hassan Said St. from Ahram St Giza P.O. Box 6, Egypt, EG
Telephone: +201022772955
Price range: 40$

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Ben Ezra Synagogue

05 16, 2023

Ben Ezra Synagogue

The exact date of the Ben Ezra Synagogue's establishment is uncertain, but documents found in the geniza suggest it existed before 882 CE and likely before the Islamic period. In 882, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church sold a church and its land to a Jewish group, leading some 19th-century scholars to believe this event gave rise to Ben Ezra. Yet, the purchasers supported the Talmudic schools in Babylonia, while Ben Ezra adhered to the teachings of the competing Talmudic schools in Syria Palaestina. Scholars today concur that the 882 land transaction was with a rival temple. Not much information is available about the original structure. Around 1012, Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, the Fatimid calipha, commanded the demolition of all Jewish and Christian religious sites. The original Ben Ezra Synagogue was demolished, with its bricks and timber being sold for scrap.

Building number two (11th century – 1168)

During the time frame of 1025-1040, the subsequent calipha, al-Zahir li-i'zaz Din Allah, authorized the restoration of Christian and Jewish establishments, leading to the reconstruction of the synagogue. Research of a carved wooden Torah ark door, with a proven attribution to the synagogue, illuminates the history of the synagogue's renovations. The door is co-owned by both the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore and the Yeshiva University Museum in New York. Radiocarbon dating confirms that the wood dates back to the 11th century CE.

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Egypt Tours FAQ

Read top Egypt tours FAQs

The Ben Ezra Synagogue is situated in the Fustat region of Old Cairo, Egypt. It is a Jewish place of worship. Originally a Coptic church, it was sold to the Jewish community in 882 AD. Subsequently, the synagogue was destroyed and reconstructed between 1025 and 1040, specifically during the Fatimid era.

The Ben Ezra synagogue is a special place that is connected to a smart person from a long time ago named Moses Maimonides. In the 1800s, people found a big collection of old papers there that tell us a lot about what life was like for Jewish people in the past. It's like finding a hidden treasure!

The Coptic Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., while most religious sites are open in the mornings for mass and during select afternoons for tours.

Ben Ezra Synagogue features a blend of architectural styles, including Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish influences. Visitors can explore the synagogue's interior, which includes a prayer hall, Torah ark, and a geniza (storeroom) where sacred texts and documents were stored.

Yes, Egypt boasts numerous luxurious resorts and health spas offering relaxation services and various treatments.

Originally a Christian church, the Synagogue was purchased by Abraham Ibn Ezra of Jerusalem in 882 for 20,000 dinars when the annual taxes levied by the Muslim rulers during the reign of Ahmed Ibn Tulun increased. From that point on, the church became a Jewish synagogue.

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