Ben Ezra Synagogue | Coptic Cairo

The Ben Ezra Synagogue, also known as El-Shamieen Church and now situated behind the Hanging Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is one of the Egyptian Jewish temples and must be visited by anyone visiting Coptic Cairo.

Ben Ezra Synagogue Cairo

What is Ben Ezra Synagogue?

The Ben Ezra Synagogue is one of the Egyptian Jewish temples. It's Considered fone of the most popular attractions at Coptic Cairo co It is located in the Al-Fustat area (Old Cairo neighborhood)Not far from downtown Cairo and Tahrir Square. But Why is Ben Ezra Synagogue important? It is one of the largest and most important temples in Egypt tours. Especially with the Egyptian government taking care of it, restoring it, and transforming it into a tourist attraction. And because its library contains precious books and Jewish periodicals that chronicle the presence of the Jewish community in Egypt. The Synagogue of Ben Ezra is located within Coptic Cairo. One of the oldest visited Synagogues during Cairo day tours.

Generally, Ben Ezra Synagogue Fustat is described as "A prayer place for the Jews means in old Greek: "The usual place where the Jews assemble to receive religious teachings and to worship.  As for protection from any attack, not just for ablution and living". Most of these Temples were built close to a source of water. Ben Ezra Synagogue at Cairo is considered of the different attractions and things to do in Cairo was named El-Shamieen Church and is now situated behind the Hanging Church of the Holy Virgin Mary.

The Synagogue already had an old model of the Old Testament, it was said that ( Ezra Prophet (Al-Azir) had signed it. However, It is believed that the site of the Synagogue is where the box of Baby prophet Moses was found.

Most ancient books and research indicate that the synagogue was already a Coptic church you will discover them during your Egypt day tours that head to different Coptic Churches. and this opinion is based on the news that was narrated from the Church of "Angel Michael" that the patriarch sold to the Jews in 882 AD, in order to collect an amount of money or a measure of gold, imposed by Ahmed bin Tulun.

Ahmad Ibn Tulun Mosque

Ben Ezra Synagogue has to be covered by cruise passengers that dock in the various Egyptian ports our Egypt shore excursions can take you to spend quality time in Cairo during Excursions From Sokhna port or even if you only stop in another port we can make it from Port Said shore excursions 

Ben Ezra Synagogue interior design

The Synagogue received extensive restorations through the centuries. But the current building dates back to 1892 after the original collapse. The importance of the temple comes from the fact that it contains a "funeral room" located at the end of the women's hall. Which absorbed a huge treasure trove of funeral documents from the Middle Ages until the nineteenth century when it was discovered, as the temple contains artifacts including ancient wooden doors and paintings. You will be impressed by the Ben Ezra Synagogue's interior and exterior designs when you visit it through Egypt travel packages.

It is built in the shape of a basilica (rectangle), consisting of 2 floors; the 1st is dedicated to the men while the 2nd is dedicated to the women. The entrance is situated on the north side and is considered one of the important things to do in Cairo. The foyer also contains a prayer and preaching platform, the structure in the eastern wall heading to Jerusalem, and contains the ark of the covenant and scrolls of the Torah. And the second floor contains the balcony of women above the foyer of the temple, and the decorations that decorate its walls represent units of Jewish art, which are scenes inspired by The Torah, and Islamic decorative elements such as arabesque, brides, and star dishes.

During the restoration works in the 19th century, numerous Hebrew manuscripts were found in the treasury of the synagogue. In Egypt, any document bearing the name of God had to be preserved. And this allowed many documents, dating largely from the eleventh and twelfth centuries, to come down to us to discover in our Egypt classic tours.

After ending your tour in Ben Ezra Synagogue, Egypt welcomes you with its mighty Nile along the Nile valley as you will be exploring the Luxor east and west bank tour through Egypt Nile cruises. Also, you will pass to Aswan to discover more Aswan day tours. In Aswan and Luxor excursions you will find more religious tours and will learn about the great temples of Pharaohs with our Egypt luxury tours.