本-埃兹拉犹太教堂 | 开罗科普特人教堂
揭开本-埃兹拉犹太教堂丰富历史的面纱
在开罗老城，本-埃兹拉犹太教堂可能是埃及最著名的犹太礼拜堂，也是一座重要的历史古迹。同样，科普特开罗附近不仅有被驱逐的贫民窟，还有圣母悬挂教堂和科普特博物馆等艺术作品。多年来，埃及旅游和文物部多次对犹太教堂进行了修复，使其变得更加美观。如今，它仍然是开罗一日游的景点之一，对其历史背景感兴趣的本地和外国游客都可以前往参观。
本-埃兹拉会堂的历史瑰宝：开罗吉尼扎
此外，本-埃兹拉会堂最重要的组成部分之一是开罗 Genizah，它以非常罕见的档案集的形式展示了埃及犹太人过去 850 年的生活史。这些记录构成了 Genizah，收藏了有关社区日常生活、贸易、宗教历史的珍贵档案资料，以及家庭照片和法庭文件等温和的手稿。这些原始资料已被世界各地众多图书馆的学者在研究过程中利用，为研究犹太文明提供了很好的资料。与历史资料一起，Genizah 成为许多历史学家和游客感兴趣的对象，从而提升了犹太教堂作为科普特开罗必游景点之一的形象。
什么是本-以斯拉会堂？
会堂 “一词源于希腊语，意为 ”交融 “或 ”聚集在一起"，是指礼拜、教育或聚会的场所。本-埃兹拉会堂在历史和精神方面的意义都与它位于开罗老城尼罗河畔的中心位置有关。然而，根据大多数传统，这里正是传说中法老的女儿发现小摩西的地方，当时小摩西正乘着小船在尼罗河上漂流。正是这种神圣的联系提升了犹太会堂的美感，将其历史与《圣经》和基督教《圣经》中的故事融为一体。
本-以斯拉 "的名字
犹太教堂以犹太学者和哲学家亚伯拉罕-本-以斯拉的名字命名，他于公元 882 年购买了这处房产。据说当时它原本是一座科普特教堂，为了筹集统治者艾哈迈德-伊本-图伦所需的资金而被出售。本-以斯拉收购后，将其改建为犹太教堂，几个世纪以来，它已成为犹太人礼拜和学习的重要场所。对于游览开罗的游客来说，本-埃兹拉犹太教堂为他们提供了一个独特的机会，让他们了解埃及多样化宗教景观中一个经常被忽视的方面。
本-埃兹拉会堂的建筑和设计
本-以斯拉会堂的建筑和设计
Ben Ezra 犹太教堂现存建筑建于 1892 年，是前一个建筑坍塌后的产物。其建筑风格为基利卡式，呈长方形，分上下两层，并设有女士和男士休息区。犹太教堂的内部空间以其精细考究的地毯、精致的木门和大理石瓷砖而闻名，所有这些都结合了独特的犹太和中东艺术。传统的犹太律法规定，在任何犹太教堂内，托拉方舟都是面向东方的，而雕刻精美的托拉经卷的永恒居所则是面向东方的，更确切地说，是面向耶路撒冷的。
犹太教堂的一个有趣之处或许是令人惊讶的，那就是几乎所有房间的墙壁表面都覆盖着丰富的雕刻，上面绘制着美丽的花卉和几何图案。自 19 世纪开展翻修工程以来，一些库迪内机器人被存放在犹太社区中心，这些机器人也被肆意丢弃在南非社区，那里所谓的土耳其犹太教堂 Genizah 保存了自然历史遗迹，尤其是这种神圣的庙宇。
了解埃及多元宗教遗产的窗口
探索本-埃兹拉犹太教堂不仅有助于了解埃及犹太文化的两个方面，还有助于了解埃及人对礼拜场所保持原貌的态度。与卢克索和阿斯旺的神庙一样，这座犹太教堂也是埃及如何保护其宗教和文化多元化的典范。犹太教堂沉默不语，但同时又铿锵有力，体现了几个世纪以来犹太人在埃及的重要存在，因此对于希望探索埃及丰富多样历史的人来说具有重要意义。
参观本-埃兹拉犹太教堂，增强您的埃及之旅体验
当您开始准备在开罗的游览清单时，不要忘记抽出一些时间来欣赏本-埃兹拉犹太教堂和开罗科普特其他景点的美景。除了已经令人兴奋的吉萨金字塔、各种博物馆和埃及首都充满活力的市场之旅外，这还为埃及丰富的宗教历史增添了有趣的体验。开罗顶级旅游公司（Cairo Top Tours）可以为您提供专家建议，让您的埃及之旅充满埃及古老的风土人情。
本-埃兹拉会堂一般按照以下开放时间接待游客：
星期一至星期六 上午 9:00 至下午 4:00
星期日： 关闭
In the Old City of Cairo, the Ben Ezra synagogue is perhaps the most famous Jewish house of worship in Egypt and an important historical monument. Again, Coptic Cairo is near not only expelled slums but also works of art such as the Hanging Church of the Virgin Mary and the Coptic Museum. And over the years they have made it nice to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt, who restored the synagogue several times already. Nowadays, it is still one of the places included in a day tour in Cairo, accessible to local and foreign tourists interested in its historical background.
Moreover, one of the most important elements of the Ben Ezra Synagogue is the Cairo Genizah, which offers the life history of the Jews in Egypt for the past 850 years in the form of a very rare collection of records. These records, which comprise the Genizah, house precious archival material on the history of the community’s daily life, its trade, religion, and mild manuscripts like family pictures and court documents. This raw material has been made accessible by various scholars in the course of research in numerous libraries all over the world, making good research on the Jewish civilization. Together with the historical materials, the Genizah became an object of interest for many historians and tourists, thus enhancing the image of the synagogue as one of the obligatory places to visit in Coptic Cairo.
The word “synagogue,” which refers to a house of worship, education, or gathering, is derived from the Greek language, where it means mingling’ or ‘coming together’. The significance of the Ben Ezra Synagogue, both in history and spirituality, is linked to its central position in Old Cairo to the Nile River. This, however, goes by most of the traditions, being the very location where the Pharaoh’s daughter was said to have found the little Moses, who was set adrift in a small boat down the river. It is this sacred bond that enhances the beauty of the synagogue, incorporating its history with the tales from the Torah and the Christian Bible as well.
The name "Ben Ezra"
The synagogue is named after the Jewish scholar and philosopher, Abraham Ben Ezra, who purchased the property in 882 AD. At the time, it is said to have originally been a Coptic church that was sold to raise funds required by the ruler, Ahmad Ibn Tulun. After its acquisition by Ben Ezra, it was converted into a synagogue, and over the centuries, it has become a prominent place of Jewish worship and learning. For visitors exploring Cairo, the Ben Ezra Synagogue offers a unique opportunity to connect with an often-overlooked aspect of Egypt’s diverse religious landscape.
The existing edifice of the Ben Ezra Synagogue was constructed in 1892 as a result of the preceding structure caving in. Its architecture is of the basilica pattern, which has a rectangular shape and two levels with a sectioning for ladies and gentlemen. The interior space of the synagogue is well known for its detailed and elaborate carpets, exquisite wooden doors, and marble tiles, all combining unique Jewish and Middle Eastern arts. The traditional Jewish laws state that within any synagogue, the Torah ark is Eastern facing, and the beautifully carved eternal abode of the scrolls of Torah, gazes East, more so Jerusalem.
An interesting and perhaps surprising feature of the synagogue is the rich carvings that cover the surfaces of the walls in almost all the rooms and that draw beautiful floral and geometric designs. Some Kudine robots were stored at the Jewish Community Center since renovation works were carried out in the 19th century, which also shed opened indiscriminately in the South African communities, where so-called Genizah’s of the Turkish Synagogue preserved natural historical monuments, especially such sacred temples.
A Window into Egypt's Diverse Religious Heritage
Exploring the Ben Ezra Synagogue not only helps in understanding two aspects of the Jewish culture in Egypt but also the attitude towards the places of worship in Egypt towards keeping them intact. As the temples of Luxor and Aswan, this synagogue is an example of how the country can protect its religious and cultural pluralism. The synagogue is silent yet articulate at the same time, an embodiment of the significant presence of the Jews in Egypt over the centuries, and as such holds importance for people wishing to explore the rich and diverse history of the country.
As you start preparing your list of places to visit in Cairo, do not forget to spare some time to appreciate the beauty of the Ben Ezra Synagogue along with other attractions in Coptic Cairo. This adds an interesting experience on top of the already exciting tours of the Giza Pyramids, the various museums, and the vibrant markets of the country’s capital, Egypt’s rich history of religion. Cairo Top Tours can make expert recommendations so that your trip to Egypt will be amazing and full of the ancient customs and practices in the land.
The Ben Ezra Synagogue generally follows these opening hours for visitors:
- Monday to Saturday: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
